Saturday 30 November 2013

California Free Marriage Records

By Ben Kingsley


For those individuals who want a certificate of marriage in California, they may get one from the Public Health Vital Record Divisions. These records are usually used to establish and serve as supporting documents to authenticate a person's identity. Some would also use the certified copies to claim spousal benefit, death and retirement benefit. The Records Division issues 2 types of copies - Authorized and Informational. Both are certified copies.

Authorized copies are copies that only certain individuals can obtain and can be used to establish the identity of the parties named in the certificate. Under the California Law, these individuals are those: that have legal affinity to the registrant including their parents or legal guardians, children and siblings, individuals that were handed with a court order such as an attorney or an agency in compliance to the requirements of the Court, law enforcement agencies who need the document in order to conduct their business, those individual(s) appointed by the court to act on behalf of the registrant and those individuals that are agents of a funeral establishment. For those individuals not mentioned above, they are only entitled to obtain an information copy. Informational copies have the same content but have a legend that indicates that it is not a valid document to establish the person's identity.

Each marriage record request costs about $14. For those who need a copy of Dissolution of marriage, the cost is $13. For affidavit to amend marriage certificate, the fee is $20 but this can be waived in certain instances. All requests must include the request form, a notarized sworn statement and a money order or check for payment. The Department does not accept cash and is not responsible for lost transactions.

Processing time would sometimes exceed a period of six months for certified copies and two months for marriage amendments, which would begin after the Office receives the request. For those who require the documents urgently, they can send in their request at the County Recorder Office where the license was issued. Certified copies fees and other costs might differ from that of the State's office and as such, one should contact the county responsible.

The CPDH also issues only public types of marriage certificates. For those who want a confidential marriage certificate, they can make their request at the County clerk office that issued the marriage license. To request from the CDPH, download the pamphlet available at the site and together with the supporting documents and send the forms by mail or courier. Keep in mind that the Office only accepts checks or money orders issued from USPS and US bank. Fees are not fundable and in cases where no results are found, the Office will release a No Public Record Certificate.

As processing can take quite some time due to the volume that the Office is receiving, another way to obtain marriage and divorce records is by checking the County Recorder's Office as well as the Superior court office. One can also access basic information from the internet, which is another way to obtain records conveniently.




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