If you’re one of the lucky couples and your love life corresponds to the recent, monumental gay rights win, and you want to take advantage of gay marriage being legal (because we all know it’s not over yet). You may be wondering how to go about actually getting hitched. Well I found this great article on 365 gay that lays it all out for you.
Happy Hitching!!!
How do I get a marriage license in California?
LGBTPOV published the below, from the West Hollywood city clerk. Other California cities should have similar regulations/expectations.
Once the stay is lifted [which for now is 5 p.m., Aug. 18 - jv], ceremonies will be performed on a first-come first-served basis between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please continue to check our website for updates as we plan to eventually only perform ceremonies by appointment.
To obtain a civil ceremony you must first visit one of the County’s branch offices (see the listing below) and obtain a marriage license. While obtaining your license you must let the County know that you are planning to have a civil ceremony at the City of West Hollywood and ask to pre-pay for your ceremony. Please read the information below for more details on obtaining a marriage license. ??Once you have obtained your license please got to Kings Road Park – 1000 N. Kings Road Park, West Hollywood, CA 90069 – to have your civil ceremony. (Remember – Please bring all paperwork and receipts provided to you by County when coming to City Hall for your civil Ceremony.)
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office branch offices are listed below and at their website Their marriage information line is 562/462-2137. The closest branch to West Hollywood is the Beverly Hills Branch, highlighted below.
COUNTY BRANCH OFFICES
AVALON – Catalina Branch Court – (310) 510-0026 (Call for appointment)
BEVERLY HILLS – 9355 Burton Way, 1st Floor – (310) 288-1261 – Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F ?Closed the 3rd Wednesday of each month due to court closure.
LANCASTER - 1028 W. Avenue J2 – (661) 945-6446 – Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F
LAX COURTHOUSE – 11701 S. La Cienega Blvd, 6th Floor – (310) 727-6142 – Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F
LOS ANGELES – 4716 East Cesar Chavez Avenue – (323) 260-2991 – Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F
LOS ANGELES – 7807 S. Compton Avenue – (323) 586-6192 – Hrs. 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F
NORWALK – 12400 Imperial Highway – (562) 462-2137 – Hrs: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., M-F
VAN NUYS – 14340 West Sylvan Street – (818) 376-3700 – Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., M-F
If you wish to obtain a marriage license, couples are encouraged to complete the application for a marriage license online. It’s easy and saves time. Click on “Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies.” Once the online application is completed, you must pay for and pick up your marriage license at any location listed on the County’s website. Both couples must be present to pick up the license. Please see the requirements for obtaining a marriage license below.
Please note that once you obtain your license, you must have a ceremony to solemnize your marriage within 90 days. You are not married until you have the ceremony. The ceremony can either be a civil ceremony or a private ceremony performed by someone with the authority to solemnize a marriage. For more information about who can perform a ceremony, please visit the County’s website.
In order to obtain a marriage license: • Both parties must provide valid photo ID (driver’s license, passport, state ID card, resident alien card). If a person’s ID does not contain their full legal name they must provide a certified copy of their birth record or a social security card.
• Both parties must appear to apply for and pick up their marriage license. There is a fee of $90 for a public marriage license and $85 for a confidential license. The fee for a civil marriage ceremony is $25. And the fee to have a certified copy of you marriage license mailed to you is $13. (Cash, check or money orders will be accepted. If paying by check, valid identification i.e. driver’s license of the signer is required and must be presented at time of request.)
• If a person has been divorced within the last two years they must bring in a certified copy of their divorce decree. ?• Parties who have entered into a State Register Domestic Partnership must provide proof of termination, if the termination occurred within the last two years or less. If the termination was more than two years, written proof may not be required, but the date of the termination must be provided at the same time the license is requested.
• Parties marrying the same partner, who each entered into a State Register Domestic Partnership must present a copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership.
Changing your name when you get married The Name Equality Act of 2007 (AB 102, Chapter 567, Statutes of 2007) gives specific rights to parties at the time they are applying for a California marriage license to choose and list on the marriage license the name that each party will go by after marriage.
Parties are not required to have the same name, nor are they required to change their name. For specific rules and information regarding name changes please visit the County’s website.
Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has been one of the most ardent advocates for the legal rights of same-sex couples and the right to marry. It was one of the first cities in the country to pass a resolution in support of same-sex marriage. The City, along with a number of other cities in California, filed an amicus brief in the case in support of same-sex marriage rights. The City of West Hollywood is known throughout the world for its pioneering efforts on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) rights and established one of the first domestic partnership laws in the country in 1985.
For more information, please call our marriage hotline at 323-848-6332 and leave a message. Messages will be returned promptly.
me and my girlfriend live in montana and would like more info on how to get marride. or if we have to travel to get marride evewn thogh we cant afford iy.