| California Marriage Records contain data on | | | | the right forms and the appropriate fees. The |
| names, licenses and counties for marriage | | | | Department of Public Health Office of Vital |
| applications. All public marriage records in the state | | | | Records would be happy to advise you on that. |
| of California are kept by the California | | | | Both marriage records and divorce records can |
| Department of Public Health Office of Vital | | | | be obtained in this manner but it could be long and |
| Records. Individual counties issue confidential | | | | arduous. The California Office of Vital Statistics is |
| records pertaining to licenses that were issued out | | | | typically backlogged at 180 days. They actually |
| of their office. The same is true for divorce | | | | recommend that you visit the local county office |
| records. They will be found only in the county of | | | | directly to view or request copies of records. The |
| which the Superior Court ordered the divorce | | | | procedure varies from one county to the next, |
| decree. California's law - The California Public | | | | so call ahead to check. |
| Records Act - mandates that all public records | | | | A practical solution to get around the lead-time |
| and copies are made available to anyone. | | | | and legwork is by turning to commercial record |
| Websites by government agencies provide | | | | providers. With their experience and infrastructure, |
| adequate marriage records free of charge if you | | | | they can speed things up considerably for you. |
| are just looking for general information. The same | | | | They can turnkey the whole thing for you. Their |
| can be accomplished by searching the database | | | | service includes searching and retrieving the |
| on-site at the respective county offices. However, | | | | marriage records based on the information that |
| for formal proceedings, you would need | | | | you supply, placing order for them and follow |
| professionally packaged official marriage records. | | | | through on the delivery of their certified copies. |
| The Office of Vital Records is the authorized | | | | The public records business is demanding and |
| department to provide official marriage records in | | | | competitive. Industry leaders are highly |
| California. It can also release divorce Certificates | | | | professional and have extensive experience in |
| of Record. For both, there is a fee involved when | | | | getting public records from county offices. In |
| requesting certified copies. | | | | order to survive in the game, they have to |
| So, we therefore have the choice of going it | | | | charge affordable rates also. They will get the |
| ourselves in gathering California Marriage Records | | | | forms, enquire the fees and advise on applicable |
| or hire professional help to perform the task for | | | | state laws. Many of them have in-house |
| us. It's an individual thing and each has its own | | | | databases of marriage and divorce records for |
| merits and setbacks. Obviously, marriage records | | | | existing or potential customers, completely |
| from free sources save money but their | | | | circumventing the need to wait on government |
| standards inevitably won't match up to those | | | | agencies to produce those records. |
| from fee-based ones. Often too, circumstances | | | | With over 36 million residents living in California |
| demand that such information is obtained through | | | | today, on top of the hundreds of millions in years |
| certified bodies thus ruling out the DIY | | | | past, there are quite a bit of California marriage |
| (do-it-yourself) option. | | | | records on file and archive. Finding just the ones |
| Nevertheless, anyone has the right to view public | | | | spot-on is potentially daunting and error-prone for |
| records at the Public Health Office on a | | | | the amateur. In all practicality, it will be worth the |
| county-by-county basis within the state of | | | | cost to hire professionals for the task. After all, |
| California. You can also request some of the | | | | the subject of marriage records is hardly ever a |
| information by email. Do ensure that you have | | | | trivial matter. |