If you're looking to get married at an Orange County Courthouse, here are a few essential steps to follow:

1. Obtain a Marriage License: The first step must complete the Orange County marriage license online application prior to visiting any of the OC offices. Online application website. Appointments are highly recommended and can be made online.  You can obtain a marriage license from any California County Clerk's office. The Orange County Clerk-Recorder's office has several locations throughout the county where you can obtain your marriage license.
2. Schedule Your Ceremony: Walk-ins are based on first come first serve with priority given to couples who have an appointment.

   Marriage Ceremonies Update: Currently, civil marriage ceremonies are only being performed for couples who obtained their marriage license from the Office of the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department.

3. Appear in person.
4. The couple must provide at least one witness if they are having a marriage ceremony performed at any of our available locations after having obtained a public marriage license.
5. A marriage ceremony will not be performed if a couple does not have a witness present who can sign their public marriage license and who can physically witness the marriage ceremony.
6. Both individuals must be able to read, speak and understand English. If not, the couples must bring a sole witness who is able to translate to obtain a license and to have a ceremony performed.

By following these essential steps, you can have a beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony at an Orange County Courthouse.

Civil non-sectarian wedding ceremonies are $28. There are currently 3 branches where ceremonies can be performed at

1. North County Branch Office in Anaheim
2. South County Branch Office in the Laguna Hills Civic Center
3. The Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana.

A marriage license must be purchased prior to the ceremony;  please click here for further information on obtaining a marriage license. Both individuals must be able to read, speak, and understand English. If not, the couple must bring a witness who can also serve as a translator to have a ceremony performed. The department does not provide translation services.

It's also worth noting that the cost of a civil ceremony at an Orange County Courthouse is separate from the cost of obtaining a marriage license, which is a requirement for getting married in California. The cost of a public marriage license in Orange County is currently $61.

To get married at a courthouse in California, you will need to bring several documents with you when you apply for a marriage license. Here are the essential documents you will need:

1. Valid Identification: You will need to bring valid government-issued identification, such as a driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.
2. Proof of Age: Applicants must be over 18 years old.
3. Proof of Divorce or Death: If divorced within the last 90 days,  provide a copy of the divorce decree. If the spouse is deceased within the previous 90 days, provide a certified copy of the death certificate.
4. Payment: You will need to pay a fee to obtain a marriage license. The fee varies depending on the county, but in Orange County, the fee is currently $61. Payment can be made by cash, credit/debit card, check, cashier's check, and/or money order. Make checks and money orders payable to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. 

It's important to note that the requirements for getting married at a courthouse in California may vary slightly by county. It's always best to check with the county clerk's office or the courthouse directly to confirm the specific requirements in your area.

Online Marriage License Application

To obtain an Orange County marriage license you must first fill out the online marriage license application. This is your first step towards obtaining your official marriage license.

Once you have applied online, you may pick it up at any of the three Orange County marriage license locations; Anaheim City Centre, the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana, or Laguna Hills.

You have 90 days from the date your online application is submitted for both parties to appear together in person to complete and obtain an official marriage license.