Inyo County California

A marriage license must be purchased prior to your ceremony. 

You must make an appointment to apply for a Marriage licenses in person at the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder's office located in the Courthouse at 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence CA 93526. Please call 760-878-0224, or email clerk-recorder@inyocounty.us to make your appointment. Licenses are issued during in-person business hours Monday through Friday (legal holidays excluded).

• Both parties to the marriage must be at least 18 years old.
• Both parties to the marriage must be appear in person.
• Both parties must have valid identification a photo and birth date. (i.e., driver's license, passport, etc.)
• Both parties will need to know their parents full birth names, including their mother's maiden names.
• Both parties will need to know the state or country their parents were born in.
• If either party has been previously married, they will need the date of dissolution of the most recent previous marriage.

The application process will be done on the kiosk in our office. To save time you may fill out the Marriage license application on our Self Service site 10 days before your appointment.  However, if you would like to review our application before your appointment, you may print this copy for your use: application for a Public Marriage License (informational only). You will not need this during your appointment.  

The fee for issuing the license is $52.00.

If either party wants to change their name

If one or both of the parties want to have their new name (s) shown on the marriage license, the new name must be entered on the marriage license application at the time they are applying for the marriage license. The parties may choose any of the following middle or last names as the name they wish to be known as after marriage [FC § 306.5(b)(2)]:

A person may adopt any of the following middle names:

• The current last name of either spouse
• The last name of either spouse given at birth
• A combination of the current middle name and the current last name of the person or spouse
• A combination of the current middle name and the last name given at birth of the person or spouse

A person may adopt any of the following last names:

• The current last name of either spouse
• The last name of either spouse given at birth
• A name combining into a single last name all of a segment of the current last name of the last name of either spouse given at birth
• A combination of last names

IMPORTANT: 

• You may not change your first name using this process.
• You may not change the marriage license after it has been issued to add or amend the name you wish to be known as after you are married. The name you choose on the marriage license application will be your new name.
• No blood tests are required.
• There is no waiting period - the license may be used upon issuance.
• The license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.
• Marriage ceremony may be performed anywhere in the State of California

You can be deputized as a Commissioner for a Day to officiate a wedding ceremony.  You must make an appointment to appear in person at the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder's office located in the Courthouse at 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence CA 93526. Please call 760-878-0224, or email clerk-recorder@inyocounty.us to make your appointment.  During your in-person appointment at our office, you will to complete the application process and be given the oath and deputized. To save time, you may fill out the application on our Self Service site 10 days before your appointment. 

You must have the following information to complete the application:

• Full names of the couple to be married
• Date of ceremony
• City and county of ceremony
• County where marriage license was/will be purchased

Our office will review your application, collect the fees, and give you instructions about how to complete the license after you perform the ceremony. After we provide you with instructions, we will give you the oath. At that time, you will be deputized to perform a civil marriage ceremony.

You may encounter two types of marriage licenses:

Public Marriage License -- If the couple purchased a public marriage license in California, you may perform the ceremony anywhere in California. At least one witness, other than you, must be present and sign the license. As the officiant, you cannot be the witness. A public marriage license requires a minimum of four people: Party 1, Party 2, Officiant (you), and a witness.

Confidential Marriage License -- If the couple purchased a confidential marriage license in California, you may perform the ceremony anywhere in California and witnesses are not required to be at the ceremony, although they are allowed. A confidential marriage license only requires three people: Party 1, Party 2, and Officiant (you).

What are my responsibilities as a Deputy Commissioner for a Day?

As part of your duties, you must review the license before performing the ceremony according to the California Penal Code 360, or be guilty of a misdemeanor. You may perform the ceremony when the following requirements have been met:

• The marriage license is in your presence
• The issue date must be on or before date of marriage (Box 28A - Public or 27A - Confidential)
• The date of marriage must be no later than the expiration date (Box 25B)

Within 10 days after the ceremony has been performed, it is your personal responsibility to return the completed marriage license to the Recorder's Office.

The Ceremony

There are no specific requirements for the content of the ceremony except that the parties shall declare, on your physical presence and the physical presence of any necessary witnesses that they take each other as spouses. Family Code 420.

Come into our office to start the process! 

The Inyo County Clerk-Recorder may officiate your marriage ceremony in the County Clerk’s office or designated areas at the Historic Courthouse, located at 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence, California.

You must make an appointment in advance by calling (760) 878-0224.

You need to have at least one witness.

You may have guests at your ceremony.

Our office offers Officiant services in Spanish for bilingual wedding ceremonies.

Nuestra oficina ofrece servicios de oficiante en español para ceremonias de bodas bilingües.

Once the wedding has taken place, it is the Officiant’s responsibility to return the completed Public Marriage License, either by mail or in person, to the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder's office located at 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence, CA 93526, or by mail at P.O. Drawer F, Independence, CA 93526.

A certified copy is not automatically mailed to you.  See below for information on how to purchase your Marriage Certificate. 

How do I order a copy of a Marriage Certificate?

To protect the privacy of individuals, only certain people are authorized to receive a certified copy of a Marriage Certificate. The fee for each copy is $17.00. You can order an authorized certified copy of a marriage certificate, in the following ways:

• In person. You can come into our office at 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence, CA 93526 during business hours. No appointment needed.

                                   -or-

• Online. You can order a copy online through VitalChek.

                                   -or-

• Through the mail. You can order a copy through the mail by following the steps outlined below.

1. Download the application for an authorized certified copy of a Marriage Certificate
2. Complete the form
3. Have your signature notarized
4. Include a check or money order for $17.00per copy
5. Mail the form to:

•  
  • Inyo County Recorder
  • PO Drawer F
  • Independence, CA 93526

A confidential license is available to couples that declare they are unmarried, not minors, and have been living together. The confidential marriage will not be made a part of the public record. In order to obtain a certified copy after you are married, you must appear in person and show identification or present a certificate by mail prepared by a notary attesting to the identification of either party.

1. Your Social Security Card

To get a new Social Security Card, you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate along with a proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate). Please visit https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name

2. Your Driver’s License

Having your new Social Security Card with your updated name and marital status will make it much easier for you to get a new driver’s license. All you need is to take a few identification documents to the DMV and file for a new driver’s license: Please visit- https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/updating-information-on-your-driver-license-or-identification-dl-id-card/

3. Your Passport

You can get a new passport with your new name by simply filling out an application form online and mailing it to your passport office. Please visit- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/change-correct.html

4. Bank Accounts

Check with your branch to complete the formalities.

5. The Post Office

If you're moving out of your current residence, you'll need to change your postal address with the post office. This can be done by filling out the Change of Address form on the USPS website. Please visit- https://moversguide.sps.com/ 

6. Utilities

Don't forget to update your name change with the billing offices of different utilities. Check to see if these companies require a specific procedure for a name change. Don't forget these utilities:

• Your cell phone provider 
• Your cable TV company
• Gas and electricity
• Waste disposal company
• Your internet provider  

7. Your Credit Card Company

Your new name needs to be updated with your credit card company. 

8. Your Employer

You will have to formally submit your marriage certificate to your employer so that your new name can be added to their records. You'll also want to update your address if you moved to a new place.

9. Companies You Have Loans With

A change in marital status, name, and address need to be updated with the companies from whom you have taken a loan. 

10. Medical Providers

You will need to get your new name and address updated with your medical providers. 

11. Insurance Companies (car insurance, health insurance, home insurance, etc.)

Your Social Security Card (which reflects your new name, address, and marital status) is needed to update your details with insurance companies.