How to Get a Marriage License in Los Angeles: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in California as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Los Angeles, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC), Headquarters: 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. Licences are also issued at seven RR/CC branch locations (the LAX office is temporarily closed for renovations per the site).
- Booking
- Appointment required. Appointments open up to 3 weeks in advance, first-come first-served, no waitlist; 5-minute grace period, then the appointment is cancelled. Express ceremony appointments (45 minutes) are available once a licence application is complete.
- Fee
- $91 Public licence $91; confidential licence $85; civil ceremony $35; RR/CC-provided witness $20. Card and mobile payments carry a $1.75 service fee.
- Payment
- Cash; check or money order payable to Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (signer ID required for checks); American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa; Apple Pay, Samsung Pay (card/mobile maximum $15,000). Not accepted: e-checks, temporary checks, foreign checks (except Canada and Mexico).
- Who attends
- Both parties must be present together with ID. Proxy marriages are not legal.
- Valid for
- 90 days. The completed licence must be returned to the Norwalk office for recording; only licences issued in LA County can be recorded there.
Step by step
- Apply. Complete the online marriage licence application, save the confirmation number, then book an in-person appointment to purchase the licence. Both parties appear together at the appointment.
- Book or plan your visit. Appointment required. Appointments open up to 3 weeks in advance, first-come first-served, no waitlist; 5-minute grace period, then the appointment is cancelled. Express ceremony appointments (45 minutes) are available once a licence application is complete.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both parties must be present together with ID. Proxy marriages are not legal. Cash; check or money order payable to Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (signer ID required for checks); American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa; Apple Pay, Samsung Pay (card/mobile maximum $15,000). Not accepted: e-checks, temporary checks, foreign checks (except Canada and Mexico).
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in California. 90 days. The completed licence must be returned to the Norwalk office for recording; only licences issued in LA County can be recorded there.
What to bring
- Government photo ID (driver's licence, passport, alien resident card); expired ID not accepted
- Documents must be in English or come with a notarized translation by a certified translator
- Parties must be unmarried; a previous marriage is valid until the final date of dissolution
- Certified copy of divorce/dissolution if it occurred within the last 2 years; if longer ago, state the date of final dissolution when requesting the licence
- Domestic partnership terminated within the last 2 years: certified copy of termination
- Under 18: notarized parent/guardian consent and a Superior Court order
- No residence or citizenship requirement; no blood test or health certificate
- SSN requirement not stated on the pages read
Good to know
- Confidential licence is for parties living together as spouses and needs no witness; a public licence needs a witness at an express ceremony
- Name changes must be requested before the licence is issued and cannot be made afterwards
- Who can marry you: priest, minister or rabbi of any denomination aged 18+, active or retired judge or commissioner, city clerk, Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages, county supervisor, or current/former elected city/county official
- Ordained ministers do not need to register with the County Clerk; online ordination is acceptable if the person has ordination papers (some online ordinations are marked entertainment-only)
- Lost licence cannot be reprinted; a new one must be bought. Errors after marriage: call 1-800-201-8999
- After the ceremony the completed licence must be returned to the Norwalk office; a copy of the certificate is NOT sent automatically, so request one when recording
- Offices are closed on federal holidays
Your nikah and the license
The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in California, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Los Angeles and our California nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Los Angeles?
The issuing office lists the license fee as $91. Public licence $91; confidential licence $85; civil ceremony $35; RR/CC-provided witness $20. Card and mobile payments carry a $1.75 service fee. Fees change, so check the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) page before you go.
Do I need an appointment in Los Angeles?
Appointment required. Appointments open up to 3 weeks in advance, first-come first-served, no waitlist; 5-minute grace period, then the appointment is cancelled. Express ceremony appointments (45 minutes) are available once a licence application is complete.
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
It depends on the state. 90 days. The completed licence must be returned to the Norwalk office for recording; only licences issued in LA County can be recorded there. Confirm with Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) whether your license can be used outside this county or state before you plan your ceremony.
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Only if you want the marriage to be legally recognized in California. A nikah on its own is religiously valid but is not a legal marriage. If you want both, you need a license and an authorized officiant, and one ceremony can cover both.
Planning a nikah in Los Angeles?
Tell us your date and we will help you find an imam, including one who can register the marriage if you want the legal side done the same day.
Details come from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC): marriage license page. Contact: (800) 201-8999 option 1 (marriage licences and ceremonies); recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov for records. This guide is general information, not legal advice.