People sometimes confuse a marriage license with a marriage certificate. They are different documents with different purposes.

Marriage Licenses and Marriage Certificates

• A marriage license is the piece of paper that authorizes you to get married. In most states you apply for a marriage license through the county clerk’s office where you want to be married. You may both apply in person, or in some counties, you may complete the application online.

• A marriage certificate is the document that proves you are married.

Typically, after the wedding ceremony, you, your spouse, and the witnesses will sign the marriage license. The person who performs your wedding ceremony will sign the license and submit it to a county office. The county will issue your marriage certificate—usually within a month.

Get a New or Duplicate Marriage License

Most marriage licenses expire within 30 days to a year, depending on the issuing state.

• If your license expires before you get married, you can apply for a new one.

• If your license is lost or destroyed after the wedding, and before it's submitted to the county, the person who officiated your wedding should take action—they should contact the office that issued your license to get a duplicate.

Get a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate

For a certified copy of your marriage certificate, contact the vital records office in the state where you were married. You will find instructions on how to request a copy and information on any fees.

Although the guidelines vary by state, all requests should include:

• Full names of both spouses at the time of marriage

• Month, day, and year of the marriage

• Place of the marriage (city or town, county, and state)

• Purpose for requesting the copy of the marriage certificate

• Relationship to the people whose marriage certificate is being requested

• Your daytime telephone number (include area code)

In California, a marriage license and a marriage certificate serve different purposes. A marriage license is a document that authorizes a couple to get married and can be obtained from the county clerk's office, often requiring both parties to apply in person or sometimes online. This license typically expires within 90 days if the marriage does not take place. After the wedding ceremony, the marriage license is signed by the couple, witnesses, and the officiant, who then submits it to the county office to record the marriage. The county office then issues a marriage certificate, which serves as legal proof of marriage. If a marriage license is lost or destroyed before being submitted, the officiant should contact the issuing office for a duplicate. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate in California, one must contact the California Department of Public Health Vital Records or the county recorder's office where the marriage was registered. The request should include full names of both spouses at the time of marriage, date and place of marriage, purpose for the request, relationship to the individuals on the certificate, and a daytime telephone number.