California Confidential Marriage License | Get Married Today
California Confidential Marriage License

Private, Legal & Same-Day Marriage in California

A California confidential marriage license lets you get legally married without your record becoming public. With Get Married Today, you can receive your confidential license, complete your ceremony, and have everything filed for you on the same day – discreetly and professionally.

🔒 Not part of public record
✅ No witness required at ceremony
⚖️ 100% valid under California law
⏱ Same-day license & ceremony options
  • Perfect for couples who value privacy, safety, or a low-profile wedding.
  • Ideal for military, immigration, reconciliation, or personal reasons.
  • License issued and filed by authorized agents through Get Married Today.
What is a confidential marriage license?

How a Confidential Marriage License Works in California

In California, a confidential marriage license is a fully legal marriage license that is not part of the public record. That means friends, family, private investigators, and the general public cannot look up your marriage online or request a copy from the county. Only the married couple (or a court, with a valid court order) can access the record.

The license is issued and recorded by the county, just like a public license, but access to the record is restricted. Get Married Today, as authorized agents and officiants, can issue your confidential license and perform your ceremony in one streamlined appointment — without a courthouse visit. To see the core state requirements, you can also review the Marriage License Requirements checklist.

For couples comparing all of their options, the in-depth guide Confidential Marriage License in California: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Might Want One is another helpful resource.

Compare your options

Confidential vs. Public Marriage License in California

Both confidential and public marriage licenses result in a legally valid marriage certificate. The main differences are privacy, access, and ceremony logistics.

Feature Confidential Marriage License Public Marriage License
Privacy Not part of the public record; access is restricted. Public record; generally searchable and accessible to the public.
Who Can Request Copies Only the married couple can request certified copies from the county. Anyone who meets county rules may request copies from the recorder’s office.
Witness Requirement No witness signature required at the ceremony. At least one witness must sign the license at the ceremony.
Eligibility You must be living together as spouses at the time of application. No cohabitation requirement.
Where Filed Filed with the county clerk/recorder as a confidential record. Filed with the county clerk/recorder as a public record.
Same-Day Service With Get Married Today Yes – Available
Same-day license & ceremony options through Get Married Today services. 		Yes – With Proper Scheduling
May require a county clerk appointment if you do not use a same-day provider.
International / Apostille Use Certified marriage certificates can be used for apostille or embassy legalization. Certified marriage certificates can also be used for apostille or embassy legalization.

For a deeper dive into license types and timelines, see What Do You Need to Get a Marriage License in California? and What You Need to Know to Get Legally Married in California .

Why couples choose this option

Top Benefits of a Confidential Marriage License

🔒

Maximum Privacy

Your marriage record is not public, which can be especially helpful for public figures, high-profile professionals, or anyone who simply prefers to keep their relationship off searchable databases.

👀

No Witness Needed

With a confidential license, you don’t need a witness to sign the license at the ceremony. This makes it ideal for private elopements, hospital weddings, or situations where you do not have local friends or family.

⚡

Same-Day Convenience

Providers like Get Married Today can issue your confidential license and perform your civil ceremony in one seamless visit. Learn more in Eloping in California – How to Get Legally Married the Same Day .

🌎

International Use & Apostille

Your certified marriage certificate can be used for immigration, consular processes, and overseas recognition. For apostille and legalization, many couples partner with Orange County Apostille for marriage certificate processing.

🛡️

Protection Against Misuse

Keeping your marriage record confidential reduces the risk of identity theft, stalking, or misuse of your personal data. This is especially reassuring if you’ve experienced harassment in the past or work in sensitive roles.

💍

Second Marriages & Reconciliation

Many couples use a confidential license when remarrying each other, reconciling quietly, or when they prefer not to broadcast their new marriage to friends, family, or coworkers. Your relationship stays your business.

Who qualifies?

Eligibility for a Confidential Marriage License

California has straightforward requirements for confidential marriage licenses. To qualify, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old (court order required if under 18).
  • Be living together as spouses at the time of application.
  • Plan to have your ceremony in the State of California.
  • Present valid, government-issued photo identification for both partners.
  • Be currently unmarried and legally free to marry.

For the full checklist and documentation details, review the Marriage License Requirements page and the article What Documents Do I Need to Get Married Today? .

Simple, guided process

How a Confidential Marriage License Works With Get Married Today

Get Married Today is authorized to issue California marriage licenses and officiate your civil ceremony on the same day. Here’s how the confidential license process typically works from start to finish.

1 Plan Your Same-Day Marriage

Choose your preferred date, time, and general location in Southern California. Many couples coordinate confidential licenses with quick elopements, small office ceremonies, or in-home weddings. For ideas, explore Get Legally Married on Holidays.

2 Complete Your Pre-Visit Checklist

Review the checklist at Requirements for Marriage and gather your IDs. If you’re an international couple, you may also want to confirm any extra documentation you’ll need for your home country. See Same Day Marriage in California for International Couples .

3 Meet Your Authorized Agent & Officiant

At your appointment, your authorized agent from Get Married Today will prepare the confidential license, verify your IDs, and have you sign the required documents. This replaces a traditional county clerk counter visit and keeps everything in one place.

4 Ceremony – No Witness Needed

Your officiant conducts a civil or semi-formal ceremony at the agreed location – office, chapel, home, park, or other venue. For confidential licenses, no witness signature is required, making private or last-minute ceremonies easier.

5 Same-Day Filing With the County

After the ceremony, your officiant and issuing agent finalize the confidential marriage license and handle filing with the appropriate county. This ensures all timelines and legal requirements are met. For a combined license + ceremony overview, see Marriage License and Ceremony on the Same Day .

6 Receive Your Certified Marriage Certificate

Once the county records your confidential license, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. These copies can be used for name changes, immigration, benefits, and international apostille. A good reference is What Is Proof of Marriage?.

International use & apostille

Using a Confidential Marriage License for Immigration & Overseas Purposes

Even though your marriage license itself is confidential, the certified marriage certificate issued by the county can be used for:

  • Immigration filings and marriage-based visa cases.
  • Adjustment of status and consular processing.
  • Dual citizenship and foreign registration of marriage.
  • Overseas bank, inheritance, and legal matters.
  • Employer benefits, Social Security, and insurance updates.

For international recognition, many couples work with Orange County Apostille for:

  • California marriage certificate apostille and state authentication.
  • Federal and consular legalization when apostille is not accepted.
  • Translations, certified copies, and shipping abroad.

To learn more about marriage certificate apostille in particular, refer to Why You Need an Apostille for Your Marriage Certificate in the USA .

Answers before you book

Confidential Marriage License – Frequently Asked Questions

These general FAQs focus on how confidential licenses work in California and how they fit into the same-day marriage services offered by Get Married Today. For a broader FAQ, you can always visit the dedicated Frequently Asked Questions page.

Is a confidential marriage license just as legal as a public license?

Yes. Both confidential and public marriage licenses create a legally valid marriage under California law. The difference is in access and privacy. With a confidential license, the record is not public, and only the couple (or a court with a valid order) can request certified copies. Your legal rights as spouses are the same.

Do we need to prove that we live together?

No physical proof is usually required, but you must truthfully affirm that you are living together as spouses when applying. Lying on any part of the application can have legal consequences, so it’s important that the information you provide is accurate and up to date.

Can we still have guests if we use a confidential license?

Absolutely. A confidential license does not restrict your celebration style. You can have a private, two-person ceremony with no guests, or you can invite family and friends just as you would with a traditional wedding. The difference is that your license doesn’t require a witness signature.

Can international or non-U.S. citizens use a confidential license?

Yes. International and non-U.S. citizen couples can generally use confidential marriage licenses just like any other couple, as long as they meet California’s identification and eligibility requirements. Many of these couples also request apostille services afterward; for more details, see Legal Same-Day Marriage in California for International Couples .

Will our families be able to look up our marriage?

Not through public county records. With a confidential license, someone cannot simply search your names in the county system and obtain proof of your marriage. If you choose to share your certified marriage certificate, you can, but no one else can request a copy without your involvement.

How do we use a confidential marriage for name change, benefits, or HR?

After your license is recorded, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the county. Those certified copies are what you present to Social Security, your employer, banks, or insurance providers. The process looks the same as with a public license. For name-change specifics, see the resources on proof of marriage letters and documentation .

Keep exploring

Related Resources on Get Married Today & Partner Sites

For couples exploring confidential, public, and same-day marriage options in California, these pages and articles provide deeper detail on requirements, timelines, and documentation:

Book Your Marriage Appointment Today

{"cpt":"product","style":"1","columns":"3","show":15,"from_category":["add-ons","license-officiant","mobile-service"],"order":"DESC","orderby":"none"}

Confidential Marriage License