County of Kern
Auditor-Controller-County Clerk
Ann K. Barnett
1115 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301-4639
Regular Office Hours 8:00am-5:00pm Mon-Fri
Open to the public 8:30am-4:00pm Mon-Fri
Applications for a Marriage License
List of Officiant Serving Kern County
- Reverend Kyle Brown Kern County Bridal Association 661-633-9200 or 661-979-1197
- Reverend Albert M. Haywood Non Denominational 661-663-8829 or 661-333-1004
- Weddings on Wings Non Denominational 661-203-4324
General Instructions:
Print the form
Completely fill out the form (All data must be completed.)
Bring the form to the County Clerk’s Office.
Click on the link below to print out the Kern County Marriage License Application in English or Spanish
All Forms open in ADOBE PDF
Instruciones:
Imprima la solicitud
Complete y traiga la solicitud. (Toda la informacion debe estar completa.)
Public Lic
NEW Marriage License Application (English) Fillable Online
This Application can be filled in online then printed and taken to the county clerks office.
Marriage License Application (English)
Marriage License Application (Spanish)
Confidential Marriage Lic
Application for a Confidential Marriage License (English)
Solicitud para licencia de Matrimonio Confidencial (en Espanol)
Topics Covered
How do we obtain a marriage license?
Is a blood test required?
What do I need to get a marriage license?
Marriage license types
Application for a Marriage License
When does a marriage license expire?
What happens to the license after the ceremony?
Can the marriage ceremony be performed in our office?
What You Should Know About The Name Equality Act of 2007
LO QUE DEBE SABER SOBRE LA LEY DE IGUALDAD DE APELLIDO DEL 2007
How do we obtain a marriage license?
Licenses are issued Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the County Clerk’s Office located in the Kern County Administrative building. To purchase a marriage license, both parties must appear together and have a completed marriage license application.
Kern County Administrative Building
1115 Truxtun Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, Ca 93301
(661) 868-3743
Is a Blood test required to obtain a Marriage License?
No. A blood test is no longer required.
What do I need to get a marriage license?
If you are 17 years of age or younger, you must call the Kern County Probation Department at (661) 868-4313 before you can purchase a marriage license.
If you are 18 years of age or older and would like to purchase a PUBLIC license, you will need a driver’s license or some form of government issued ID. Both parties must be present when obtaining a public marriage license.
If you are 18 years of age or older and are obtaining a CONFIDENTIAL marriage license, you will need a driver’s license or some form of government issued ID. Both parties must be present when obtaining a confidential marriage license.
For further information, please call the County Clerk’s Office at (661) 868-3743.
If your divorce was finalized within the last 90 days, you must provide final judgment of dissolution when applying for a license..
If you are in a SRDP(State Registered Domestic Partnership as registered with the Secretary of State), pursuant to Family Code, Section 298.5(c), no person who has filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership may enter a marriage with someone other than their registered domestic partner unless the most recent domestic partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity has been entered, or the domestic partnership terminated due to death of one of the domestic partners.
- MARRIAGE LICENSE TYPES -
PUBLIC LICENSE
» Public record
» License good for 90 days
» License can be used throughout the state of California
» Current fee is $67.00
» Couple must be living together and both must be at least 18 years of age.
CONFIDENTIAL LICENSE
» Not available for public inspection
» License good for 90 days
» License can only be used in the county where purchased
» Current fee is $80.00
» Couple must be living together and both must be at least 18 years of age.
Application for a Marriage License
General instructions – print the form, complete and bring with you to the County Clerks Office. All data must be completed. All Forms open in ADOBE PDF
Public Lic
NEW Marriage License Application (English) Fillable Online
This Application can be filled in online then printed and taken to the county clerks office.
Marriage License Application (English)
Marriage License Application (Spanish)
Confidential Marriage Lic
Application for a Confidential Marriage License (English)
Solicitud para licencia de Matrimonio Confidencial (en Espanol)
When does a marriage license expire?
The marriage license is only good for 90 days from the date issued. If not used within 90 days, a new license must be obtained.
What happens to the license after the ceremony?
Public Marriage Licenses
The license should be completed by the person performing the ceremony and returned to the Kern County Recorder’s Office within 10 days from the ceremony. The license is recorded and a certified copy will be made available to you within approximately 10-14 business days after it is received. The fee for a certified copy of your Public Marriage License is $13.00. If you need a certified copy of your Public Marriage License, please stop by the address below or call:
The Kern County Recorder’s Office
1655 Chester Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-6400
KERN COUNTY RECORDER ONLINE
Confidential Marriage Licenses
A certified copy of a Confidential Marriage License may be purchased 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday by only the parties to be married. Photo I.D., such as a California Driver’s License, is required. The fee for a certified copy of a Confidential Marriage License is $13.00. The Kern County Clerk’s Office accepts cash, money orders, bank imprinted personal checks made payable to the Kern County Clerk, or credit cards.
The license should be completed by the person performing the ceremony and returned to the Kern County Clerk’s Office within 10 days from the ceremony. Certified copies will be available within 5-7 business days after it is received.
Kern County Clerk
1115 Truxtun Avenue, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-3743
Can the marriage ceremony be performed by the Kern County Clerk Office?
The Kern County Clerk’s office dose not perform ceremonies.
Please feel free to contact us with any further questions you may have regarding your marriage license.
Our Address is:
Kern County Clerk’s Office
1115 Truxtun Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Or reach us by phone at: (661) 868-3743
Fee Schedule
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Public Marriage License
$67.00
Confidential Marriage License
$80.00
Duplicate Marriage License (to replace lost or damaged license prior to recording)
$5.00
Certified Copy of Confidential Marriage License
*available to couple only
$13.00
Amendment & Certified Copy of Confidential Marriage License after 1 year (or longer)
*available to couple only
$20.00
