Civil Ceremony in our Office
Our office conducts civil marriage ceremonies for a fee of $49. Ceremonies are conducted weekdays at all of our
office locations
by a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages on staff.
You must obtain a marriage license before the ceremony can be performed. At the time of the ceremony, you must provide a witness, unless the marriage is performed using a confidential marriage license, in which case no witness is required. If you do not have a witness, our office can provide one for $27.
- Wedding ceremony guests is limited to 10 guests at each location. Please note that infants and children should be counted in the guest count.
- Call our office at (916) 874-6131 or
schedule an appointment online.
General Information
Laws concerning marriage ceremonies are set forth in
Sections 400-426 of the Family Code. According to state law, the following officials who are 18 years of age or older may solemnize a marriage:
- A priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination.
- A judge or retired judge, commissioner of civil marriages or retired commissioner of civil marriages, commissioner or retired commissioner, or assistant commissioner of a court of record in this state.
- A judge or magistrate who has resigned from office.
- Any of the following judges or magistrates of the United States:
- A justice or retired justice of the United States Supreme Court.
- A judge or retired judge of a court of appeals, a district court, or a court created by an act of the United States Congress.
- A judge or retired judge of a bankruptcy court or a tax court.
- A United States magistrate or retired magistrate.
- A Member of the Legislature or constitutional officer of this state or a Member of Congress of the United States who represents a district within this state, or a former Member of the Legislature or constitutional officer of this state or a former Member of Congress of the United States who represented a district within this state.
- A person that holds or formerly held an elected office of a city, county, or city and county.
- A city clerk of a charter city or serving in accordance with subdivision (b) of
Section 36501 of the Government Code, while holding office.
- Ships’ captains
have no authority to solemnize California marriages unless they fall into one of the categories listed above.