On-Line Marriage Application
ATTENTION
On January 1, 2009 the Name Equality Act of 2007 (download the full text) was put into effect. Please read the following KEY POINTS. The complete text is available for DOWNLOAD.
- The Name Equality Act of 2007 “allows one or both applicants/parties for a California marriage license, through the marriage license process, to elect to change the middle or last names by which each party wishes to be known after solemnization of the marriage.”
- Applicants to the marriage are not required to change their name.
- This process is only for the middle or last name. You may not change your first name on the marriage license. This must be done via a court order.
- Either applicant may choose to include on the marriage license the new name in the spaces provided on the marriage license application.
- The following middle or last names may be adopted:
- The current last name of the other spouse.
- The last name of either spouse given at birth.
- A name combining into a single last name from all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth.
- A hyphenated combination of last names.
- The name change can only be done at the time the marriage license is issued.
- Applicants may not add or amend this information on the current license after the marriage license has been issued. If before the ceremony, you decide you want to have your new name added to the marriage license, you must purchase a new marriage license and have the old license voided. If after the ceremony, you decide you want to have a new name, you must obtain a court ordered name change.
- DOWNLOAD the full text for further explanation. If you still have questions, you can contact our office for further assistance. You may also contact the California Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, Customer Service Unit at (916) 445-2684.
NOTICE: Please be sure to have the latest version of your web browser and Java plugin. Also some Firewall and Spam blocking software may interfere with the running of the Marriage Application.
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