1. Valid Identification for Both Partners

Both partners must present valid, government-issued photo identification. Any one of the following types of ID is acceptable:

• Driver’s license (from any U.S. state)
• State-issued ID card
• Military ID card
• Passport (U.S. or foreign)
• Permanent Resident Card / Alien Registration Card
• Matricula consular or consular identification card

IDs must be unexpired or within an acceptable grace period under California standards. The names on your IDs will be used to prepare your confidential marriage license.

2. Previous Marriages & Proof (2-Year Rule)

If either partner has been previously married or in a state registered domestic partnership, we must record the details of how that prior marriage ended.

Here is how proof works with Get Married Today:

• If your previous marriage or partnership ended more than 2 years ago (from the date of your appointment), you do not need to bring physical proof. You will need to provide the exact date the marriage ended and the manner in which it ended (divorce, death, annulment, or dissolution).
• If your previous marriage or partnership ended within the last 2 years, you must bring physical proof to your appointment, such as:
  • Final divorce judgment or decree
  • Death certificate of your former spouse
  • Court order of annulment
  • Dissolution of state registered domestic partnership

For general state guidance on divorce and dissolution documentation, couples may review the California Courts self-help resources at California Courts Self-Help.

3. Parents’ Names & Basic Personal Information

For each partner, we must collect certain background details that appear on your marriage license and certificate:

• Birth name (if different from current legal name)
• Full legal name of birth father (first, middle, last)
• Full legal name of birth mother (first, middle, last)
• Place of birth (state or foreign country)
• Current residential address (where you are living or planning to live together)

Please bring this information written down if you are unsure of spelling, especially for international or hyphenated names. Accurate spelling is important for future use of your marriage certificate for immigration, employment, and other legal purposes.

4. Living Together Requirement (Confidential License)

California confidential marriage licenses require that the couple be living together as spouses at the time of the license, or that they are realistically planning to live together as a married couple.

By choosing a confidential license through our same-day marriage license service, you confirm that:

• You consider yourselves currently cohabiting or will be cohabiting as spouses after the marriage.
• You intend your marriage to be a genuine, ongoing marital relationship — not solely for convenience or fraud.

Confidential licenses are not posted as public records and are accessible only through specific authorized channels. However, your legal marriage is fully recognized in all 50 states and internationally, especially when paired with apostille services for foreign countries.

5. Age & Legal Capacity

Both partners must have the legal capacity to marry under California law:

• Both are generally at least 18 years of age.
• Each is entering the marriage freely and voluntarily, without coercion.
• Neither is currently married to someone else.

If you have a unique situation (for example, a court order involving age or guardianship), please review the state’s vital records guidance at CDPH Vital Records and consult your own legal counsel as needed.

6. Appointment & Deposit

To ensure a smooth same-day experience, you should reserve an appointment and be prepared to pay the required deposit through the primary booking options on Marriage License + Ceremony, Marriage License Only, or Ceremony Only.

Booking in advance allows us to prepare your confidential marriage license and ceremony paperwork so you can arrive, review, sign, and be legally married in a single visit.