In California, a marriage license is the legal document you must obtain before getting married. It gives you permission from the state to legally marry and must be signed by both partners and the officiant during the ceremony. A marriage certificate, on the other hand, is issued after the wedding has taken place and the completed license is filed with the County Clerk’s Office—it serves as the official record of your marriage. Without a recorded marriage certificate, your union is not legally recognized, even if you had a ceremony. For legal purposes such as immigration, insurance, or changing your name, the marriage certificate is what acts as your proof of marriage. In California, you can request a certified copy of your marriage certificate through the county where your license was filed, such as the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder or Orange County Clerk-Recorder. If you need to use your marriage certificate in another country, it may require an apostille from the California Secretary of State to be legally recognized internationally. Services like Get Married Today can help you not only issue your marriage license and conduct your ceremony on the same day but also assist in obtaining certified copies and apostilles for legal use worldwide.

The difference between a California marriage license and a California marriage certificate lies in their purposes and when they are obtained:

Marriage License:
Marriage Certificate:
In summary, a California marriage license is obtained before the marriage ceremony and authorizes the marriage to take place, while a California marriage certificate is issued after the ceremony as proof of the marriage. Both documents are important for legal purposes and may be required for various administrative procedures.