With lots of of miles of shoreline, a number of wine areas, and breathtaking mountain ranges, it’s not laborious to see why you’d need to marry within the Golden State.
Fortunate for you, getting married in California is comparatively easy, irrespective of the place you’re coming from.
Listed below are finest practices and necessities to bear in mind earlier than your large day.
First Issues First: Get a Prenup
In case you reside in California, getting a prenup have to be merchandise primary in your record.
Prenuptial agreements are contracts that override the default California legal guidelines on essential subjects like property division and spousal help. A prenup enables you to and your associate (as an alternative of California courts) decide how your marriage runs and what occurs if issues don’t work out.
Nonetheless, a prenup is greater than only a authorized doc — it’s a relationship software.
Working by essential conversations along with your associate about your views and values on cash provides you an unimaginable alternative to deepen your relationship earlier than you tie the knot.
You get to be on the identical web page and set your self up for long-term success heading into the marriage by talking brazenly and truthfully about your previous, current, and future monetary and life objectives.
Be sure to know the ins and outs of California prenups so you’re feeling strong as a pair, even earlier than you propose to get your marriage license.
Getting a Marriage License in California
Step one to getting married in California is buying your marriage license. The wedding license is what you and your associate, your witness, and your officiant will signal on the day of the ceremony.
To be able to acquire your marriage license in California, you and your fiancé might want to make an appointment with the County Clerk’s workplace. Some counties mean you can apply on-line, however you’ll nonetheless want to select up the license in-person.
Listed below are the necessities to bear in mind to your appointment:
- You have to be not less than 18 years previous.
- Each events should seem collectively to acquire the license.
- You should present legitimate photograph identification. This is usually a state driver’s license, US or foreign-issued passport, naturalization certificates, resident alien card, or navy ID. Sure counties require a start certificates along with this stuff.
- A wedding license payment prices between $35-$105 relying on the county by which you file.
- You probably have been married earlier than, you have to present the date and motive that the wedding ended.
Public Marriage License vs. Confidential Marriage License
Moreover, there are two forms of marriage licenses in California, a public marriage license and a confidential marriage license.
The principle distinction is {that a} public marriage license requires not less than one witness, whereas a confidential marriage license doesn’t require any witnesses. You should even be dwelling collectively as spouses on the time of the appliance as a way to be eligible for a confidential marriage license.
Do I Have to Be a California Resident to Marry in California?
No, you’ll be able to marry in California so long as you’ve legally obtained a wedding license from a County Clerk’s workplace in California. You can’t use a wedding license from a unique state.
Do I Want a Wedding ceremony Officiant?
Sure, a marriage officiant is required to signal and submit your license on the marriage ceremony ceremony. The excellent news is that your marriage ceremony officiant might be anybody over the age of 18.
Nothing in California regulation requires that the individual performing the marriage have a sure non secular denomination, be a sure gender, or reside in a selected space. Your minister isn’t even required to register on-line, although it’s usually really helpful that this individual get ordained within the uncommon case that any disputes or questions come up.
In case you’re on the lookout for a extra official possibility, California Household Code Part 400 suggests any of the next licensed individuals: priest, minister, rabbi, US choose or Justice of the Peace, or any legislator or constitutional officer representing a California district.
How Lengthy Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in California?
There isn’t a ready interval in California. When you’ve submitted your utility and it’s been permitted, you’ll obtain your marriage license instantly.
How Lengthy is a Marriage License Legitimate For?
In California, your marriage license is legitimate for 90 days from the date it was issued.
What Is Wanted to Full My Marriage License?
To be able to full your marriage license, you have to the license doc, an officiant, and not less than one witness to signal in the course of the ceremony (with room for as much as two witnesses to signal). Your officiant should return the signed license to the County Clerk’s workplace inside 10 days of the ceremony.
As soon as your license is recorded, this turns into your marriage certificates. To get a duplicate of your certificates, you’ll must make a request to the county the place you have been married and pay a payment.
Last Ideas on Getting Married in California
Total, tying the knot in California is comparatively painless. Simply make sure you have essential talks about cash and get a prenup earlier than anything so that you just and your associate are 100% able to decide to turning into legally married.
Comply with the state necessities, decide up your marriage license forward of your ceremony, and final however not least — have the time of your life.
In case you want help on California prenups, e book a name with me to ensure your settlement is hermetic and also you and your associate are headed on the best path to marital success.
