Legal Marriage Process
This page explains the complete legal marriage workflow with Get Married Today— from issuing your marriage license, to performing a civil ceremony, to providing a legal proof of marriage at the end of your appointment, to filing the license, to ordering certified copies mailed to your address.
What You Get in One Legal Appointment
A streamlined, end-to-end process built around California requirements and the Get Married Today same-day workflow.
Legally Complete
License issuance → civil ceremony → officiant signature → proof of marriage → county filing → certified copies.
Documentation-Friendly
Designed for benefits, immigration, international documentation, and time-sensitive life situations.
What This Service Covers
Marriage License Issuance
Your marriage license is prepared and issued during your appointment using the structured workflow described in Requirements for Marriage and Confidential Marriage License.
Civil Ceremony
A civil ceremony is performed immediately after your license is issued and signed—built to be short, meaningful, and legally compliant. Learn more from How Can I Get Married Today?.
Proof of Marriage
You receive a legal proof of marriage at the end of your appointment, following the explanation on What Is Proof of Marriage?.
County Filing
The executed license is filed with the county as required. This completes the legal recording step so your marriage becomes an official record.
Certified Copies
Certified copies can be ordered and mailed to the address you provide. This is what most couples use for name changes, benefits, and formal documentation.
International Use Support
If your marriage certificate will be used abroad, apostille support is available through Orange County Apostille and document notarization support through Your Local Notary Public.
What You Must Bring
The legal marriage process starts with identity verification and eligibility screening. Review the full requirements on Requirements for Marriage.
- Valid government-issued photo ID for both parties (non-expired, readable, and official).
- Both parties must be coherent enough to understand the process, answer questions, and consent freely.
- Accurate personal information (legal names, birth details, residence details, parents’ names as required on the license).
- If applicable: documentation related to recent prior marriage termination (as referenced in the requirements guide).
Quality & Compliance Check
Get Married Today uses a structured review process to prevent paperwork errors that can delay filing or certified-copy issuance. That same approach is reflected throughout the site, including: FAQs and Steps to Getting Married in One Day.
- ID verification and data consistency checks
- Eligibility confirmation
- License review before signatures
- Ceremony wording preserved for legality
- Filing readiness review
Step-by-Step Legal Marriage Workflow
Below is the complete process from start to finish—what happens, why it matters, and what you can expect at each stage.
Appointment Check-In
Both parties present valid ID and confirm readiness to proceed. Identity and eligibility are verified before any documents are issued.
License Issuance Setup
License information is collected and entered carefully to reduce errors. This aligns with guidance across Marriage Requirements.
Review & Sign License
The couple reviews the license for accuracy and signs. For confidential licenses, reference Confidential Marriage License.
Civil Ceremony Performed
A legally compliant civil ceremony is conducted. Couples may add short vows/rings while preserving required legal wording.
Officiant Signature
The officiant signs the marriage license immediately after the ceremony—this is the legal act that completes the marriage.
Proof of Marriage Provided
The couple receives proof of marriage at the end of the appointment as explained on What Is Proof of Marriage?.
County Filing
The executed license is submitted for county recording. This step converts your signed license into an official public record entry.
Certified Copies Ordered & Mailed
Certified copies can be ordered and mailed to the address provided by the couple. These are commonly used for benefits and legal updates.
What Couples Commonly Use This For
Health & Hospital Decisions
Couples often want legal marriage quickly for family recognition, medical access, and decision-making.
Immigration Documentation
Many couples need a legal marriage record for immigration. Helpful reading: Marriage for Immigration Purposes and Marriage for K-1 Visa.
Military Benefits
Time-sensitive marriage needs for benefits and deployment planning: Get Married – Military and Military Marriage Resources.
Benefits & HR Deadlines
A certified marriage record is commonly required for insurance, taxes, and employer benefit enrollments.
International Use
Certified copies can be apostilled for overseas use via Orange County Apostille.
Same-Day Convenience
Learn the same-day model across locations: Same Day Marriage in Irvine and Same Day Marriage at Your Location.
Key Pages & Resources
Use these resources to understand eligibility, timelines, documentation, and common scenarios.
Legal Marriage Process FAQs
Answers to the most common questions about how the process works from start to finish.
1. What happens first at the appointment?＋
Check-in begins with verifying both parties’ valid photo IDs and confirming eligibility and readiness to proceed.
2. Do we need a county clerk appointment first?＋
No. Your license is issued during your Get Married Today appointment using the same-day workflow described on the site.
3. What kind of ID is required?＋
Each partner must present valid, government-issued photo ID that is readable and acceptable for identity verification.
4. What does “must be coherent enough” mean?＋
Both partners must be alert and capable of understanding the process, answering questions, and freely consenting to marriage.
5. Is the ceremony optional if we only want the license?＋
The legal marriage is completed when the license is signed after a ceremony; Get Married Today structures the appointment to complete both steps.
6. How long does the civil ceremony take?＋
The civil ceremony is typically brief and legally compliant, with room for simple personalization while preserving required wording.
7. Do we get anything at the end of the appointment?＋
Yes. You receive proof of marriage at the end of the appointment as explained on the proof-of-marriage page.
8. Is the license filed for us?＋
Yes. The executed license is submitted for county filing as part of the legal workflow.
9. When do we receive certified copies?＋
Certified copies are issued by the county once the marriage record is processed; they can be ordered and mailed to your address.
10. What address is used for mailing certified copies?＋
The certified copies are mailed to the address you provide when the order is placed.
11. Can we use the certificate for immigration?＋
Yes. Many couples use certified copies for immigration-related filings; the site includes dedicated immigration resources.
12. Is this valid for military benefits?＋
Yes. Military couples commonly use the legal record and certified copies for benefits and time-sensitive documentation.
13. Can we use the certificate abroad?＋
Often yes—international use may require apostille. Orange County Apostille can assist with that step.
14. What if we made an error in our information?＋
Accuracy matters. The process includes a review step before signatures to reduce errors that can delay filing or certified copies.
15. Do we need witnesses?＋
Confidential licenses typically do not require witnesses; review the confidential license page for details.
16. Can we bring rings and personal vows?＋
Yes. Rings and short personal vows are welcome as long as the officiant preserves the required legal wording.
17. Is the process private?＋
Confidential licenses provide enhanced privacy compared with public licenses; see the confidential license explanation for specifics.
18. What is “proof of marriage” vs. a certified copy?＋
Proof of marriage is provided at the appointment; certified copies are official copies issued by the county after recording.
19. Can we schedule on a holiday?＋
Many services run on holidays and after-hours; see the holidays page for the broader same-day model.
20. Where can we learn the full one-day timeline?＋
See the one-day steps guide and the “How Can I Get Married Today?” guide linked above for the complete same-day structure.