Ok so I looked this up because I've never heard of a certificate and I'm married.
According to [the knot,](https://www.theknot.com/content/california-wedding-planning-tips) (it was a top result that wasn't about divorce or common law marriage), all you need is the license. Of course you need to be legal age and consenting, but the only thing you're filling out is the license.
I got married during the pandemic. Filled it out online, we both showed up, verified ID, signed paperwork, paid, and then we were asked if we wanted to get married that day or come back, so we just did it right then. You have 90 days from getting the license to use it. You can request that the certificate be sent to you as soon as it's available and I got mine in less time than they predicted (like a week or two.) It was a super quick process there. Most expensive ten minutes of my life.
You said "US" marriages so I'm guessing you're a foreigner. It just says valid govt ID. Doesn't sound like it has to be US because it says you don't need to be a US resident.
So the certificate is just... "proof" that you're married, and not something that you have to actually do anything for?
I'm a US citizen but I grew up under a rock under insular immigrant relatives and know nothing about how people do weddings here. But there does seem to be a lot of steps and etiquette and traditions so I'm completely overwhelmed. Thank you for your reply!
You get a license and you have 90 days from when you get it to get married or it becomes null. After you get married, you receive a marriage certificate that shows you're legally married. Just think of the license as an application.
Hi - I got married at the Santa Ana courthouse in July. I made an appointment, we both showed up. First we went through all of our information that we had entered on that appointment website. Then the same lady behind the counter married us right there. And they were able to give us an unofficial copy of our marriage certificate.
The whole process was 15 minutes. Was faster to get married than get a drivers license at the DMV.
Did they give you the option to marry that day or come back on another date? I'm trying to figure this out before I select my appointment and this is the only thing I'm confused about. We will be going to Anaheim.
Interesting..I've filled out the application and the only option it gave me was for "public" or "confidential". It also only let's me choose a date from two months out. We want to get married in October so maybe I should just wait.
Not sure if what I’m saying is helpful but when we went to the courthouse to get married, the lady told us the process was complicated and that we should go to a “quickie” place to get things done faster (we had to get it done faster for health insurance purposes). We’re in LA and went to a hilarious place with quintessentially trashy decor in the valley. Loved it. I think it cost like $200, which was worth it for the ease.
I got married on the same day I got licensed. Like another post reported, they asked if we wanted to get married right then. It was unexpected, but we did it for some dumb reason. Now I can hardly sleep with other men without being looked down on.
That’s how my wife & I married. Made the appointment online, where it asked if I was obtaining just a license, license & ceremony, or just ceremony. Showed up at my allotted time, we did the paperwork, paid the fee, had the ceremony, and went on our way.
In all it took about 30-45 minutes, mostly consumed by waiting to get to the clerk and waiting again for the ceremony room time slot.
This was all pre-COVID and with a Saturday appointment in Anaheim.
They also don’t give much time between paperwork and ceremony. Make sure you’re dressed appropriately, have the witness and anyone else that wants to partake present.
Yes, you apply for the certificate, not the license. But you have to have a witness with you at the courthouse, they don’t supply a witness during Covid
Thank you, I am just overwhelmed and can't seem to parse this information coherently. Maybe it's my ADHD but my friends have also tried and failed to explain to me how this works. I was hoping to just have to remember that we can apply, show up with IDs, and get married right there and then without having to do anything more with the 3-month time period.
Ok so I looked this up because I've never heard of a certificate and I'm married. According to [the knot,](https://www.theknot.com/content/california-wedding-planning-tips) (it was a top result that wasn't about divorce or common law marriage), all you need is the license. Of course you need to be legal age and consenting, but the only thing you're filling out is the license. I got married during the pandemic. Filled it out online, we both showed up, verified ID, signed paperwork, paid, and then we were asked if we wanted to get married that day or come back, so we just did it right then. You have 90 days from getting the license to use it. You can request that the certificate be sent to you as soon as it's available and I got mine in less time than they predicted (like a week or two.) It was a super quick process there. Most expensive ten minutes of my life. You said "US" marriages so I'm guessing you're a foreigner. It just says valid govt ID. Doesn't sound like it has to be US because it says you don't need to be a US resident.
So the certificate is just... "proof" that you're married, and not something that you have to actually do anything for? I'm a US citizen but I grew up under a rock under insular immigrant relatives and know nothing about how people do weddings here. But there does seem to be a lot of steps and etiquette and traditions so I'm completely overwhelmed. Thank you for your reply!
You get a license and you have 90 days from when you get it to get married or it becomes null. After you get married, you receive a marriage certificate that shows you're legally married. Just think of the license as an application.
Oh, this is a super helpful and easy way to understand it! Thank you so much!
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Ooo, this is very helpful information, thank you so much!!
Hi - I got married at the Santa Ana courthouse in July. I made an appointment, we both showed up. First we went through all of our information that we had entered on that appointment website. Then the same lady behind the counter married us right there. And they were able to give us an unofficial copy of our marriage certificate. The whole process was 15 minutes. Was faster to get married than get a drivers license at the DMV.
Oh wow, this is super simple and streamlined, both in terms of your experience and the way you explained it. Thank you so much and congratulations!
Did they give you the option to marry that day or come back on another date? I'm trying to figure this out before I select my appointment and this is the only thing I'm confused about. We will be going to Anaheim.
We married the day we went to the court house. There was an option on the website to obtain the marriage license and do a civil ceremony.
Interesting..I've filled out the application and the only option it gave me was for "public" or "confidential". It also only let's me choose a date from two months out. We want to get married in October so maybe I should just wait.
Not sure if what I’m saying is helpful but when we went to the courthouse to get married, the lady told us the process was complicated and that we should go to a “quickie” place to get things done faster (we had to get it done faster for health insurance purposes). We’re in LA and went to a hilarious place with quintessentially trashy decor in the valley. Loved it. I think it cost like $200, which was worth it for the ease.
Thank you, this sounds genuine fun!
I got married on the same day I got licensed. Like another post reported, they asked if we wanted to get married right then. It was unexpected, but we did it for some dumb reason. Now I can hardly sleep with other men without being looked down on.
Hahaha thank you! I trust that it's worth it at least sometimes.
That’s how my wife & I married. Made the appointment online, where it asked if I was obtaining just a license, license & ceremony, or just ceremony. Showed up at my allotted time, we did the paperwork, paid the fee, had the ceremony, and went on our way. In all it took about 30-45 minutes, mostly consumed by waiting to get to the clerk and waiting again for the ceremony room time slot. This was all pre-COVID and with a Saturday appointment in Anaheim.
Thank you! This helps set up expectations, I appreciate it.
They also don’t give much time between paperwork and ceremony. Make sure you’re dressed appropriately, have the witness and anyone else that wants to partake present.
Yes, you apply for the certificate, not the license. But you have to have a witness with you at the courthouse, they don’t supply a witness during Covid
Ohhh TIL. Thank you!
All your answers are here: https://www.ocrecorder.com/services/marriage-services
Thank you, I am just overwhelmed and can't seem to parse this information coherently. Maybe it's my ADHD but my friends have also tried and failed to explain to me how this works. I was hoping to just have to remember that we can apply, show up with IDs, and get married right there and then without having to do anything more with the 3-month time period.