Public Marriage License
The County Clerk’s Office does not record nor have access to recorded Public Marriage Licenses. Public marriage licenses are recorded at the Kern County Hall of Records Office located at:
Hall of Records
1655 Chester Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-6400
The fee for a certified copy of a Public Marriage License is $17.00.
Confidential Marriage License
The fee for a certified copy of Confidential Marriage License is $17.00.
Your Confidential Marriage License is completed by the person performing your ceremony and should be returned to the Kern County Clerk’s Office within 10 days after the ceremony. Certified copies will be available within 5-7 business days after it is received in our office.
Only the parties to the marriage may obtain certified copies of a Confidential Marriage License. Anyone other than the parties to the marriage requesting a certified copy of a Confidential Marriage License must first obtain a Superior Court order for the release of that record.
In order to obtain a certified copy of a confidential marriage certificate, you must provide the following information:
• Full name of both parties to the marriage
• Date of Marriage
PLEASE NOTE: County Clerk staff cannot discuss any information regarding Confidential marriage licenses over the phone.
In person:
If you were married using a Confidential Marriage License, a party to the marriage must appear in person with valid photo identification such as a California Driver’s License, to the County Clerk's Office, located at 1115 Truxtun Ave, First Floor, Bakersfield, CA, 93301 between the hours of 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
By mail:
If requesting a certified copy of your
confidential marriage license from the County Clerk’s Office by mail, you must download the following form:
Application for Certified Copy of a Confidential Marriage Certificate. Please fill out the form completely. It must be notarized by a Notary Public. Any missing information may cause a delay in the process.
Mail your completed notarized request and information, along with a check or money order in the amount of $17 to the address below. If you are requesting additional copies, you must send a separate check or money order for these copies. You must include a self addressed stamped envelope.
Kern County Clerk
1115 Truxtun Avenue, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Please Note: If a record of the marriage is not found, the $17 fee is non-refundable and will be retained for searching the record (Health & Safety Code Section 103650). A Certificate of No Record will be issued to the applicant.
If you have any questions, please call (661) 868-3743