California County Clerk Offices & Courthouses
This page is a California-wide directory to help couples quickly find the official county resources for: (1) marriage license issuing offices (County Clerk / Clerk-Recorder) and (2) courthouse location directories (Superior Courts). It also includes official Get Married Today chapel addresses for couples who want a private, appointment-based alternative.
Why this matters: California marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk, and the marriage license must be returned for registration within required timeframes. [oai_citation:0‡California Department of Public Health](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Marriage-License-Information.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
California has 58 superior courts (one in each county). Use the statewide directory to jump to any county’s courthouse locations. [oai_citation:1‡California Courts](https://courts.ca.gov/courts/superior-courts?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Clerks issue licenses; courts handle divorces and many court records. Marriage records access depends on public vs. confidential status. [oai_citation:2‡California Department of Public Health](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/pages/county-registrars-and-recorders.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Get Married Today offers appointment-based chapels in multiple regions for couples avoiding courthouse settings. [oai_citation:3‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/chapel-addresses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Get Married Today Chapel Addresses
These are the official chapel regions and addresses listed by Get Married Today. Use them if you want a private, appointment-based ceremony and/or confidential license workflow outside a government setting. [oai_citation:4‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/our-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Irvine
17875 Von Karman Ave, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92614
- Semi-formal indoor chapel + nighttime balcony option (by package)
- Popular for Orange County couples & international couples
Backlinks: Irvine Same-Day Marriage • Requirements
Anaheim / Orange
333 City Blvd W, Suite 1700, Orange, CA 92868
- North Orange County convenience
- Great alternative when clerk calendars are limited
Backlink: Our Services
Costa Mesa
555 Anton Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
- Central OC access
- Common for quick signing + ceremony flow
Backlink: FAQ
Westwood (Los Angeles)
2180 Westwood Blvd, Suite 2B, Los Angeles, CA 90025
- Central LA / UCLA area
- Popular with international & USC/UCLA-area couples
Backlink: Westwood Location Page
San Juan Capistrano
27131 Calle Arroyo, Suite 1722, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
- South OC calm, private setting
- Great for appointment-based signing
Backlink: All Chapel Addresses
Los Angeles (Canoga Park)
6603 Independence Ave, Unit A, Canoga Park, CA 91303
- Valley access / courthouse alternative
- Common for urgent scheduling needs
Backlink: Locations (FAQ)
How to Use This Directory
TITLE: California County Clerk Offices & Courthouses (How to Navigate)
GOAL:
- Find the correct official county office for marriage licenses and the correct courthouse directory for that county.
KEY RULES:
- County Clerk (or Clerk-Recorder/County Clerk) issues marriage licenses (public + confidential).
- Superior Court websites list courthouse locations and court services by county.
- Public vs. confidential marriage records may be handled by different county offices (clerk vs. recorder depending on record type).
FAST PATH:
1) Choose your California county below.
2) Open the “County Clerk/Recorder (Marriage)” link to find license info and office locations.
3) Open the “Superior Court (Courthouses)” link to see every courthouse facility in that county.
4) If courthouse calendars are limited or you want a private setting, compare to Get Married Today chapel addresses above.
OFFICIAL STATEWIDE DIRECTORIES:
- Superior Court directory for all 58 counties: https://courts.ca.gov/find-your-court
- General marriage license guidance: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Marriage-License-Information.aspx
The official “Find Your Court” directory provides links to each county’s court website and their Locations pages. [oai_citation:5‡California Courts](https://courts.ca.gov/find-your-court?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
All California Counties — Clerk & Courthouse Links
This directory lists every California county and provides: (1) a link to the official Superior Court county site (use its “Locations” section to view every courthouse), and (2) a Clerk/Recorder link for marriage/vital records entry points. For Los Angeles and Orange Counties, additional official location pages are included due to multiple facilities. [oai_citation:6‡California Courts](https://courts.ca.gov/find-your-court?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Los Angeles courthouse directory and the statewide superior court directory are official Judicial Branch resources. [oai_citation:7‡Los Angeles Superior Court](https://www.lacourt.ca.gov/pages/cp/gi-courthouses-all?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
International Use Tip (Apostille After Marriage)
If your marriage certificate will be used outside the U.S., it may require an apostille. The California Secretary of State provides apostille guidance and the Sacramento office address for submissions. [oai_citation:8‡California Secretary of State](https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/request-apostille?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
California Secretary of State — Apostille
Marriage Records Basics
Get Married Today Support Pages
FAQs (20)
Quick answers for couples comparing courthouses, county clerks, and private chapel options.
1) Who issues a California marriage license?＋
The County Clerk issues public and confidential marriage licenses. [oai_citation:9‡California Department of Public Health](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Marriage-License-Information.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
2) Where do I find every courthouse in my county?＋
Use your county’s Superior Court website “Locations” section, or start at the statewide directory. [oai_citation:10‡California Courts](https://courts.ca.gov/find-your-court?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
3) What’s the fastest way to find the correct county site?＋
Search your county name in the directory above and open the “Superior Court” and “Clerk/Recorder” links.
4) What’s the difference between the Clerk and the Court?＋
Clerks issue licenses and manage records; courts handle legal cases and courthouse facilities. [oai_citation:11‡California Courts](https://courts.ca.gov/courts/superior-courts?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
5) Can Get Married Today replace a courthouse ceremony?＋
Yes—many couples choose an appointment-based chapel or mobile ceremony to avoid courthouse environments. [oai_citation:12‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/our-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
6) Do both partners need valid ID?＋
Yes. Both parties must have valid ID (and be able to consent). [oai_citation:13‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/chapel-addresses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
7) What does “coherent enough” mean?＋
Both parties must understand the process, answer questions, and freely consent to marriage. [oai_citation:14‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/chapel-addresses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
8) Why does Los Angeles have extra links?＋
LA County has many courthouse facilities and branch clerk offices, so official directories are provided. [oai_citation:15‡Los Angeles Superior Court](https://www.lacourt.ca.gov/pages/cp/gi-courthouses-all?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
9) Why does Orange County have extra links?＋
OC provides multiple clerk-recorder locations and separate court facility locations; the official pages are linked. [oai_citation:16‡OC Recorder](https://ocrecorder.com/about-us/hours-locations?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
10) Where do I check if a county requires appointments?＋
Use the county’s Clerk/Recorder “Marriage Services” or “Marriage License” page for current requirements. [oai_citation:17‡OC Recorder](https://www.ocrecorder.com/services/marriage-services?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
11) Are marriage records handled by the court?＋
Marriage records are typically handled by county clerk/recorder offices, not the court. [oai_citation:18‡California Department of Public Health](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/pages/county-registrars-and-recorders.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
12) How quickly must a completed license be returned for registration?＋
The officiant must complete and return the license within required timelines (often 10 days). [oai_citation:19‡California Department of Public Health](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Marriage-License-Information.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
13) Where can I learn about confidential marriage licenses?＋
Start with Get Married Today’s confidential license guide and requirements checklist. [oai_citation:20‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/our-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
14) If I’m traveling from out of state, which resource helps most?＋
Use the county clerk marriage page for licensing details, then compare private chapel scheduling if courthouse calendars are full. [oai_citation:21‡OC Recorder](https://www.ocrecorder.com/services/marriage-services?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
15) Where can I find LA County’s online marriage license application portal?＋
LA County provides an online portal for applying for a marriage license. [oai_citation:22‡Marriage Guide](https://marriage.lavote.net/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
16) Can we marry at our location instead of going to a courthouse?＋
Yes—Get Married Today offers mobile services for couples who want on-location ceremonies. [oai_citation:23‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/our-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
17) Where do I find Riverside County clerk office locations that handle marriage services?＋
Riverside County publishes a location list including services available (some offer marriage licenses and ceremonies). [oai_citation:24‡Riverside County Assessor](https://www.rivcoacr.org/locations?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
18) How do I locate a county’s courthouse locations page?＋
Use the statewide superior court directory and click your county, then “Locations.” [oai_citation:25‡California Courts](https://courts.ca.gov/find-your-court?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
19) If my marriage certificate will be used internationally, where do I start?＋
Start with the CA Secretary of State apostille instructions, then confirm you have the correct certified copy. [oai_citation:26‡California Secretary of State](https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/request-apostille?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
20) Where can I view all Get Married Today chapel addresses in one place?＋
Use the official chapel addresses page. [oai_citation:27‡Get Married Today - Same Day Marriage](https://getmarried.today/chapel-addresses/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)