How do we obtain a marriage license?

Licenses are issued Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the County Clerk's Office located in the Kern County Administrative building. To purchase a marriage license, both parties must appear together and have a completed marriage license application.

Kern County Administrative Building
1115 Truxtun Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, Ca 93301
(661) 868-3743

Is a Blood test required to obtain a Marriage License?

No. A blood test is no longer required.

What do I need to get a marriage license?

If you are 17 years of age or younger, you must call the Kern County Probation Department at (661) 868-4313 before you can purchase a marriage license.

If you are 18 years of age or older and would like to purchase a PUBLIC license, you will need a driver's license or some form of valid government issued photo ID. Both parties must be present when obtaining a public marriage license.

If you are 18 years of age or older and are obtaining a CONFIDENTIAL marriage license, you will need a driver's license or some form of valid government issued photo ID. Both parties must be present when obtaining a confidential marriage license.

For further information, please call the County Clerk's Office at (661) 868-3743.

If your divorce was finalized within the last 90 days, you must provide proof of court order when applying for a license.

If you are in a SRDP(State Registered Domestic Partnership as registered with the Secretary of State), pursuant to Family Code, Section 298.5(c), no person who has filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership may enter a marriage with someone other than their registered domestic partner unless the most recent domestic partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity has been entered, or the domestic partnership terminated due to death of one of the domestic partners.

Application for a Marriage License

General instructions - bring the completed form to the County Clerk's Office when applying for the license. All data must be provided.

Application for a Public Marriage License (English)
Application for a Confidential Marriage License (English)

Instruciones: traiga la solicitud completa al Departamento de County Clerk cuando llegue para aplicar por su licencia. Debera proveer toda la información.

When does a marriage license expire?

The marriage license is only good for 90 days from the date issued. If not used within 90 days, a new license must be obtained.

What happens to the license after the ceremony?

Public Marriage Licenses

The license should be completed by the person performing the ceremony and returned to the Kern County Recorder's Office within 10 days from the ceremony. The license is recorded and a certified copy will be made available to you within approximately 10-14 business days after it is received. The fee for a certified copy of your Public Marriage License is $14.00. If you need a certified copy of your Public Marriage License, please stop by the address below or call:

The Kern County Recorder's Office
1655 Chester Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-6400

KERN COUNTY RECORDER ONLINE

Confidential Marriage Licenses

A certified copy of a Confidential Marriage License may be purchased 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday by only the parties to be married. Photo I.D., such as a California Driver's License, is required. The fee for a certified copy of a Confidential Marriage License is $14.00. The Kern County Clerk's Office accepts cash, money orders, bank imprinted personal checks made payable to the Kern County Clerk, or credit cards.

The license should be completed by the person performing the ceremony and returned to the Kern County Clerk's Office within 10 days from the ceremony. Certified copies will be availiable within 5-7 business days after it is received.

Kern County Clerk
1115 Truxtun Avenue, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-3743