UncategorizedJune 16, 2025June 16, 2025Camden Alchanati

How Fast Can You Get a Marriage License?

When love can’t wait, couples are often left wondering just how quickly they can make their union official. Whether you’re planning a spontaneous elopement, facing a deployment, navigating immigration deadlines, or simply ready to say “I do” today—getting a marriage license fast is possible, especially in California.

This blog post explores the speed at which you can obtain a marriage license, the factors that influence timing, and how Get Married Today offers same-day marriage license issuance and wedding ceremonies—often within hours of booking.

What Is a Marriage License?
How Long Does It Normally Take to Get a Marriage License?
States with No Waiting Periods
What Documents Are Required?
Can You Get a Marriage License the Same Day?
How Fast Is “Fast” with Get Married Today?
Weekend, Holiday, and After-Hours Licenses
Military and Immigration Cases: Time Is Crucial
Apostille and International Marriage Certification
Start Today: How to Get a Marriage License Fast

1. What Is a Marriage License?

A marriage license is a legal document issued by a government authority that allows a couple to marry. It’s required before any legal marriage ceremony can occur, and in most states, it must be signed and returned after the ceremony for the marriage to be legally recognized.

Without a valid marriage license, your marriage may not be legally binding—and that could affect immigration benefits, health insurance, tax filing, and more.

Learn more from official sources like CA Department of Public Health.

2. How Long Does It Normally Take to Get a Marriage License?

The time it takes to get a marriage license can vary significantly depending on the state, county, and method of application. Some counties require appointments booked weeks in advance, while others offer walk-in services.

Here are average timelines by method:

Walk-in Clerk Office: Same day, but wait times may be long and limited to business hours.
Appointment with County: 1 to 3 weeks wait time.
Online Application Only: 3 to 7 business days for processing, then in-person verification may still be needed.
Third-Party Legal Providers like Get Married Today: Same-day availability including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

3. States with No Waiting Periods

Some states allow you to get married the same day you receive the license. California is one of them.

Here are other states with no mandatory waiting period:

California
Nevada
Colorado
Florida (only if premarital course is completed)
Texas (waivable)
Idaho

But even in states with no waiting period, scheduling with the county clerk or city hall may take days or weeks.

That’s where Get Married Today comes in—we eliminate the wait entirely.

4. What Documents Are Required?

To obtain a marriage license quickly, you must bring the correct documents. Most counties (including all of California) require:

Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
Both parties present
Social Security Number (if applicable)
Divorce Decree or Death Certificate (if previously married)
Application form (some counties let you complete this online beforehand)

Missing any of the above can delay your license by days or even weeks.

We streamline this process at Get Married Today by guiding you through every requirement before your appointment—even offering services if your ID is expired or missing.

5. Can You Get a Marriage License the Same Day?

Yes, in California, you can receive a marriage license and legally marry on the same day.

But there’s a catch: County Clerk offices are only open on weekdays during business hours, and most require advance appointments.

This is where Get Married Today changes the game:

We are authorized to issue confidential marriage licenses as Notaries Public and Authorized Deputies.
We provide the license and perform the ceremony in one visit.
We are open 24/7—including holidays.
We can even come to your location: your home, hospital room, courthouse steps, or favorite beach.

See our services page to book.

6. How Fast Is “Fast” with Get Married Today?

Our process is designed for maximum speed and minimum stress:

Step	Time
Book Online or By Phone	Instant
Meet at Our Office or Your Location	Within Hours
Fill Out Marriage License Forms	10 Minutes
Ceremony + Legal Filing	20–30 Minutes
Proof of Marriage Issued	Immediately

If you’re truly in a rush, we can legally marry you in less than one hour from the moment you contact us.

Learn more at https://getmarried.today.

7. Weekend, Holiday, and After-Hours Licenses

Most government offices are closed:

After 5:00 PM
On weekends
On federal and state holidays

But we’re not. Get Married Today offers evening, weekend, and holiday services, including:

Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
New Year’s Eve/Day

So if your only free time is Saturday night or early Sunday morning—we’ve got you covered.

8. Military and Immigration Cases: Time Is Crucial

We specialize in helping:

Military couples needing to marry quickly before deployment.
Immigration petitioners needing legal marriage proof for USCIS (I-130, I-485, K-1 visas).
Couples on expiring travel visas needing immediate marriage and apostille service.

No one should be turned away because of urgency. That’s why our team works 24/7.

Learn more about our military discounts and urgent processing here.

9. Apostille and International Marriage Certification

If you or your partner are from another country, you may need to apostille your marriage certificate for it to be legally recognized overseas.

At Get Married Today:

We can order your certified marriage certificate directly from the county for you.
We can apostille your marriage record with the California Secretary of State or U.S. Department of State.

This means you don’t have to navigate the complex paperwork—we’ll handle it.

See our apostille service details at https://getmarried.today/apostille.

10. Start Today: How to Get a Marriage License Fast

✅ Step 1: Contact Get Married Today

Visit getmarried.today or call us now. We respond immediately and can schedule you for same-day service.

✅ Step 2: Provide Basic Information

We’ll guide you through required documents, fees, and booking.

✅ Step 3: Meet and Get Married

We’ll issue your license, perform the ceremony, and file your documents legally.

✅ Step 4: Receive Proof of Marriage

We issue a proof of marriage on the spot, and we’ll also handle official copies and apostilles as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get a marriage license fast?

Standard county clerk fees in California range from $61 to $85 for a license, but they may charge more for expedited services (if even available). With Get Married Today, you pay a flat service fee that includes convenience, license issuance, and optional ceremony.

See our pricing at getmarried.today/pricing.

Can we get married without visiting the courthouse?

Absolutely. With us, you never have to go to the courthouse. We handle everything from license issuance to ceremony and document filing—all in one visit.

How fast will we receive our official certificate?

The official certified copy from the county usually takes 5–8 weeks. However, we provide proof of marriage immediately and can place the certified copy order on your behalf.

Can we get married at our home or favorite location?

Yes! We travel to:

Private homes
Beaches and parks
Event venues
Hospitals
Hotels
Prisons (on a case-by-case basis)

Wherever you want to legally marry, we’ll meet you there.

What if one partner is unavailable?

California requires both parties to be present to receive the license. However, if your partner is incarcerated or hospitalized, a power of attorney or special exception may be available in certain cases. Contact us for help.

Trusted Resources and Backlinks

California Marriage License Info – CDPH
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder
Orange County Marriage Services
San Diego County Marriage Info
USCIS – Green Card Through Marriage
California Secretary of State Apostille Info
Get Married Today Official Website
Same-Day Marriage Info
Confidential Marriage License in CA

Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait to Get Married

Whether it’s love at first sight or a carefully planned union, the process of getting legally married shouldn’t be slow, bureaucratic, or overwhelming.

With Get Married Today, you can skip the county office, avoid the waitlists, and get your marriage license within hours—no red tape, no courthouse, no stress.

Book now at https://getmarried.today and walk away legally married—today.

California Department of Public Health – Marriage Licenses

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk – Marriage Services

Orange County Clerk-Recorder – Marriage Services

San Diego County – Marriage Licenses

Riverside County Clerk – Marriage License Info

Sacramento County Clerk – Marriage License Appointments

San Bernardino County Recorder – Marriage Services

City of Beverly Hills – Marriage Services

City of Newport Beach – Marriage License Information

City of Anaheim – City Clerk’s Marriage Page

U.S. Department of State – Marriage Abroad