Marriage Services

NOTICE: CLERK SERVICES AT 1450 COURT ST, SUITE 108 ARE UNAVAILABLE EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 9AM TO 11AM FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. 

Overview

Congratulations on your impending nuptials! Our office is responsible for issuing all Shasta County marriage licenses, officiating civil wedding ceremonies, recording confidential marriage certificates, deputizing commissioners of civil marriages, and various other marriage services. 

Before getting married in California couples must purchase a Marriage License from a County Clerk in the state. Marriage Licenses purchased in California are valid for ceremonies anywhere in California. 

To get a marriage license the couple must submit an application, appear together in-person at the office and provide valid photo ID. Expired ID and/or ID without a photo is unacceptable alone. Please call (530) 225-5730 if you have questions about acceptable ID when applying for a Marriage License.

Getting Married in California

To get legally married in the state of California, you must:

  1. Purchase a Marriage License.
    • The Marriage License must be purchased before having a wedding ceremony.
  2. Have a wedding ceremony.
    • You have 90 days after purchasing the marriage license to have a wedding ceremony.
    • The wedding ceremony must be in the same state where you purchased your license.
  3. Turn in your completed Marriage License.
    • Public Marriage Licenses are returned to and recorded at the Shasta County Recorder's Office at 1450 Court Street, Suite 208, Redding, CA 96001.
    • Confidential Marriage Licenses are returned to and recorded at the Shasta County Clerk's Office at 1450 Court Street, Suite 108, Redding, CA 96001.

Minor Marriage 

Minors under the age of 18 can get married in California, with additional steps and requirements. Contact Court Services at (530) 225-5707 for more information on how to obtain the required court order. A court order must be obtained prior to issuance of the license.

Inability to Appear

Please call (530) 225-5730 for information on getting married to someone incarcerated in the Shasta County jail or hospitalized.

Marriage License

Overview

Only one marriage license application is required per couple. Marriage license applications are electronic. The application is completed online and submitted to our electronic queue. Do not print the application. 

The application will not be reviewed until the couple appears in office, together. 

Required Information

The application will request the couple's basic information, such as age and date of birth. The application also requests the couple's parental information (name and place of birth). Any previous marriage for either party must be listed, with the date it ended and how it ended. If either party has had a divorce finalized in the past 6 months, please provide documentation when you come into the office. 

Application Process

  1. Complete the marriage license application.
    1. There are 2 options for completing & submitting the application; you may choose either.
  2. Visit our office to complete the process.
    • Both parties must appear in person and present a valid ID containing their picture, birth date, and signature.
  3. Review the previously submitted application with a clerk.
    • We will review your application with you and make sure all required information is provided.
  4. We will collect your payment and print your marriage license.
  5. We will provide an information packet and instruct you on your next steps. 

Wedding Ceremony

After the couple obtains their marriage license, there is a 90 day window to have a wedding ceremony. Marriage licenses expire 90 days after issuance, so if the couple does not have a wedding ceremony within 90 days of purchasing a marriage license, they will need to purchase a new marriage license. 

Marriage licenses purchased in the state of California can only be used for wedding ceremonies that take place in California. 

Your wedding ceremony must be officiated by someone qualified to perform wedding ceremonies in California. Please review CA family Code Section 400 for a complete list of who qualifies California Code, FAM 400 

Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages

The Deputy for a Day program allows you to get deputized to perform a civil wedding ceremony for a particular couple on a particular day. After the couple purchases their marriage license, submit an electronic Deputy Commissioner for a Day application (https://clerkselfservice.shastacounty.gov/web)  and then come into our office with valid photo ID. We will review the application and provide instructions on how to officiate, complete the marriage license, and get the license recorded after the ceremony. 

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

Our office is responsible for performing civil wedding ceremonies in Shasta County. 

We have a small room we utilize for performing ceremonies, that can fit up to 12 guests (not including the couple getting married, and children 13 and under.) For weddings with more than 12 guests we can perform the ceremony outside our office, however there is not a reserved, dedicated space for this use. Please be aware outside ceremonies are performed in a small, paved courtyard, near the street. 

We offer ceremony appointments on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Appointment times are at 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Please call (530) 225-5730 to schedule, or email countyclerk@shastacounty.gov.

We accept walk-in wedding ceremonies during office hours, M-F from 8am to 5pm. Walk-in wedding requests will be accommodated as staffing and booked appointments allow. The wedding room may not be available for all walk-in weddings. 

There is no required waiting period after purchasing a marriage license. Our office can issue your marriage license and perform your ceremony at the same time. 

In-Office Ceremony Process

  1. Come into our office at 1450 Court Street, suite 108.
    1. Bring or apply for your marriage license.
    2. Provide valid photo ID.
  2. We will direct your guests to our wedding room.
    1. Please contain all wedding activities to the wedding room, such as music or flower petals.
  3. We will collect some information from the couple about how they would like the ceremony conducted.
  4. We will officiate the wedding ceremony.
  5. We will turn your completed marriage license in for recording. 

After the Ceremony

No matter if you have your wedding ceremony in our office, or elsewhere, it must be completed and submitted for recording by your wedding officiant. 

Public Marriage Licenses are returned to and recorded at the Shasta County Recorder's Office at 1450 Court Street, Suite 208, Redding, CA 96001.

Confidential Marriage Licenses are returned back to the Shasta County Clerk's Office for recording to 1450 Court Street, Suite 108, Redding, CA 96001.

Deputy for a Day

Did you know you can have a friend or family member perform your wedding ceremony? The Deputy Commissioner for a Day program allows someone to take an oath and register to officiate your wedding ceremony.

1. To become deputized, the deputy must visit our office and:

  • Submit an electronic Deputy for a Day Application.
    • Include the names of the couple to be married, the ceremony date and location, the type of license purchased and from which county it was purchased.
  • Present photo ID.
  • Pay the current fee.

Marriage License Alternative

Our office does not register Domestic Partnerships. For information about this process please contact the California Secretary of State. 

Congratulations & Best Wishes

Family Code 350.

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