| California Marriage Records show marriage license | | | | official copies of marriage and divorce records. |
| applications and marriages by county, name and | | | | Unfortunately, obtaining marriage records on your |
| date. Public marriage records in California are | | | | own can sometimes be a lengthy and onerous |
| maintained by the California Department of Public | | | | process. The California Office of Vital Statistics |
| Health Office of Vital Records. Confidential | | | | estimates a backlog of six months when |
| marriage records are only available through the | | | | processing requests for public marriage records of |
| particular county office which issued the marriage | | | | California and recommends that people go directly |
| license while divorce records can only be retrieved | | | | to county offices to view records and request |
| through the Superior Court of the county where | | | | copies of them. Respective counties have |
| the divorce decree was passed. Because of the | | | | different forms, fees and processes to retrieve |
| California Public Records Act, all public records in | | | | this information. |
| the state are accessible by any member of the | | | | Several companies can help you expedite the |
| public for view and copy. | | | | process of accessing and viewing state public |
| Free California marriage records can be viewed at | | | | records. They can surely help you order and |
| county offices across the state and online at | | | | receive certified copies of marriage records in a |
| various responsible government websites. This | | | | much more expeditious manner than people |
| information can be very useful for general | | | | generally can on their own. With information that |
| research purposes. Sometimes, however, a more | | | | you supply, these companies can directly fill out |
| official or formal set of marriage records is | | | | forms and make requests for you straight from |
| necessary. In California, the Office of Vital | | | | different counties as their network and |
| Records can release public marriage records and | | | | infrastructure are in place for it. |
| Certificates of Record for divorces. Certified | | | | Commercial public record brokers are |
| copies can be ordered only from the county and | | | | presumptively experienced and professional when |
| that would require a fee. | | | | it comes to public records. They are well-versed |
| Not unlike all other states, California marriage | | | | in forms, fees and state laws and generally |
| records can be retrieved directly by DIY | | | | charge reasonable rates to help you get your |
| (do-it-yourself) or through third-party companies. | | | | desired information smoothly and quickly. They |
| Each serves its purpose and the choice is a | | | | also develop and maintain live databases so people |
| matter of individual preference and fit. By and | | | | can view instant marriage records for free, in |
| large, the former method saves on financial cost | | | | some cases. |
| and may even be free-of-charge whereas the | | | | There are now an estimated 36 million people in |
| latter is employed when it is for a relatively more | | | | California and records have been kept since 1850. |
| serious or legal purpose. | | | | As a result, there are quite a few million California |
| In California, all public records can be viewed at | | | | marriage records in existence. Locating the one |
| Public Health county offices. They can also be | | | | that you seek precisely can therefore be quite a |
| requested via email. The California Department of | | | | challenge. It's probably best to engage professional |
| Public Health Office of Vital Records lists all of the | | | | service if time and integrity of information is of |
| pamphlets, forms and fees necessary to obtain | | | | the essence. |