
Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in California. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in California. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of California.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 90 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: 10 Days
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in California
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
2 Officiating a Wedding in California
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.
Select your County Clerk to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county contact

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3 License to Marry in California
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in California to get an Ordination Package and to add a Letter of Good Standing to her or his order. While Minister registration is not technically required in California you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerks before they will accept the marriage as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination will also provide peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.
There are more ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church operating in California than in any other state! Every month our office is inundated with lovely photos and videos of weddings that took place in the scenic state.
It is important to note that some county clerks in California may require wedding officiants to attach a statement avowing some of the elements in the marriage license upon submission, including the following:
-The time and location at which the wedding took place
-The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
-The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
-The printed name and address of the officiant
Please note that, when filling out a marriage license, the State requests that you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend", and not "Officiant", in Box #29D.
The County Clerks also require that you enter your denomination, "Universal Life Church", in box #29B. Failing to state a denomination results in a rejection, and requires a duplicated marriage license.
4 How to get Married in California
Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their California marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 90 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in California and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days of the marriage license signing.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in California, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new California wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.
5 California Wedding Planning Tips
If you are being asked to officiate a wedding in California, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind during your planning. It is the most ecologically diverse state, and California wedding venues can vary from northern alpine regions, to giant redwood forests, to beaches, and even to deserts. This means you should make sure to plan ahead for clothing and footwear choices that are appropriate for the location. Outdoor weddings venues in Southern California are ever-popular, but you will certainly need to plan ahead for the traffic. Los Angeles is world famous for the gridlock on its highways, so you should plan to leave plenty of time for travel to the big event. Fees for wedding officiants in California are dependent on a number of factors. Consider, for example, how much professional experience the officiant has, whether they’ll be required to travel to the ceremony destination, and how much preparation is required. The cost of living is greater in California than most places, and services like those provided by wedding officiants are not exempt -- don't be surprised to see higher price tags than you might in other states.

California Marriage Code
Marriage in California is governed by California's Family Code. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.§ 400. Marriage may be solemnized by any of the following who is of the age of 18 years or older: § 420. (a) No particular form for the ceremony of marriage is required for solemnization of the marriage, but the parties shall declare, in the physical presence of the person solemnizing the marriage and necessary witnesses, that they take each other as spouses. § 422. (c) The official position of the person solemnizing the marriage, or of the denomination of which that person is a priest, minister, rabbi, or other authorized person of any religious denomination. View the California Statutes on the official state site.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for California state:
California Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Alameda County
1106 Madison StreetOakland, California
Phone: (888) 280-7708
Alameda County Marriage Laws »
Alpine County
99 Water St.Markleeville, California
Phone: (530) 694-2281
Fax: (530) 694-2491
Alpine County website »
Amador County
810 Court StreetJackson, California
95642
Phone: (209) 223-6465
Amador County website »
Butte County
155 Nelson AveOroville, California
95965
Phone: (530) 538-7691
Fax: (530) 538-7975
Butte County website »
Calaveras County
891 Mountain Ranch RoadSan Andreas, California
95249
Phone: (209) 754-6371
Fax: (209) 754-6733
Calaveras County website »
City and County of San Francisco
City Hall, Room 168<br>1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PlaceSan Francisco, California
94102
Phone: (415) 554-4950
City and County of San Francisco website »
Colusa County
546 Jay Street Suite 200Colusa, California
Phone: (530) 458-0500
Colusa County website »
Contra Costa County
555 Escobar StreetMartinez, California
Phone: (925) 335-7900
Contra Costa County Marriage Laws »
Del Norte County
981 H Street – Suite 160Crescent City, California
Phone: (707) 465-0383
Del Norte County website »
El Dorado County
360 Fair LanePlacerville, California
95667
Phone: (530) 621-5490
Fax: (530) 621-2147
El Dorado County website »
Fresno County
2220 Tulare StFresno, California
93721
Phone: (559) 600-2575
Fresno County website »
Glenn County
516 West Sycamore Street, 2nd FloorWillows, California
95988
Phone: (530) 934-6412
Fax: (530) 934-6571
Glenn County website »
Humboldt County
825 5th Street, 5th FloorEureka, California
95501
Phone: (707) 445-7593
Humboldt County website »
Imperial County
940 W. Main Street Suite 202El Centro, California
92243
Phone: (760) 482-4427
Fax: (760) 482-4271
Imperial County website »
Inyo County
168 N. Edwards Street,Independence, California
Phone: (760) 878-0222
Fax: (760) 878-1805
Inyo County website »
Kern County
1115 Truxtun Ave., 1st FloorBakersfield, California
Phone: (661) 868-3743
Kern County website »
Kings County
1400 W. Lacey Blvd.Hanford, California
93230
Phone: (559) 582-2470
Fax: (559) 582-6639
Kings County website »
Lake County
255 North Forbes StLakeport, California
95453
Phone: (707) 263-2311
Lake County website »
Lassen County
220 S. Lassen Street, Suite 5Susanville, California
96130
Phone: (530) 251-8217
Lassen County website »
Los Angeles County
12400 Imperial HighwayNorwalk, California
90650
Phone: (800) 201-8999
Los Angeles County Marriage Laws »
Madera County
200 W. 4th StreetMadera, California
93637
Phone: (559) 675-7721
Madera County website »
Marin County
3501 Civic Center DriveSan Rafael, California
Phone: (415) 473-6772
Marin County website »
Mariposa County
5100 Bullion St. & 10thMariposa, California
Phone: (209) 966-2007
Mariposa County website »
Mendocino County
501 Low Gap Road Room 1020Ukiah, California
95482
Phone: (707) 234-6822
Fax: (707) 463-4257
Mendocino County website »
Merced County
2222 M St.Merced, California
Phone: (209) 385-7627
Fax: (209) 385-7626
Merced County website »
Modoc County
108 E. Modoc StreetAlturas, California
Phone: (530) 233-6205
Modoc County website »
Mono County
74 School St., Annex IBridgeport, California
93517
Phone: (760) 932-5530
Fax: (760) 932-5531
Mono County website »
Monterey County
168 West Alisal Street, 1st FloorSalinas, California
Phone: (831) 755-5450
Monterey County website »
Napa County
2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive Building #4Napa, California
Phone: (707) 253-4247
Fax: (707) 259-8149
Napa County website »
Nevada County
950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 210Nevada City, California
95959
Phone: (530) 265-1221
Nevada County website »
Orange County
211 West Santa Ana Blvd.Santa Ana, California
92701
Phone: (714) 973-6605
Orange County Marriage Laws »
Placer County
2954 Richardson DriveAuburn, California
95603
Phone: (530) 886-5610
Fax: (530) 886-5687
Placer County website »
Plumas County
520 Main Street, Room 102Quincy, California
95971
Phone: (530) 283-6218
Plumas County website »
Riverside County
4080 Lemon St, 1st FloorRiverside, California
92501
Phone: (951) 955-6200
Riverside County Marriage Laws »
Sacramento County
600 8th StreetSacramento, California
Phone: (916) 874-6334
Sacramento County Marriage Laws »
San Benito County
440 Fifth Street, Room 206Hollister, California
95023
Phone: (831) 636-4029
Fax: (831) 636-2939
San Benito County website »
San Bernardino County
222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Flr.San Bernardino, California
92415
Phone: (909) 387-8306
San Bernardino County Marriage Laws »
San Diego County
1600 Pacific Highway, Ste 273San Diego, California
Phone: (619) 237-0502
San Diego County Marriage Laws »
San Joaquin County
44 North San Joaquin St. Second Floor Suite 260Stockton, California
Phone: (209) 468-3939
Fax: (209) 468-8040
San Joaquin County website »
San Luis Obispo County
1055 Monterey St., Rm. D120San Luis Obispo, California
93408
Phone: (805) 781-5080
Fax: (805) 781-1111
San Luis Obispo County website »
San Mateo County
555 County Center, 1st Flr.Redwood City, California
94063
Phone: (650) 363-4500
San Mateo County website »
Santa Barbara County
1100 Anacapa StreetSanta Barbara, California
Phone: (805) 568-2250
Fax: (805) 568-2266
Santa Barbara County website »
Santa Clara County
70 West Hedding Street, 1st floorSan Jose, California
95110
Phone: (408) 299-5688
Santa Clara County Marriage Laws »
Santa Cruz County
701 Ocean Street, Rm. 210Santa Cruz, California
95060
Phone: (831) 454-2060
Santa Cruz County website »
Shasta County
1643 Market St.Redding, California
Phone: (530) 225-5730
Fax: (530) 225-5454
Shasta County website »
Sierra County
100 Courthouse Sq., Rm. 11Downieville, California
Phone: (530) 289-3295
Fax: (530) 289-2830
Sierra County website »
Siskiyou County
510 North Main St.Yreka, California
96097
Phone: (530) 842-8084
Fax: (530) 841-4110
Siskiyou County website »
Solano County
675 Texas Street, Suite 1900Fairfield, California
94553
Phone: (707) 784-7485
Solano County website »
Sonoma County
585 Fiscal Dr, Room 103Santa Rosa, California
95403
Phone: (707) 565-3800
Fax: (707) 565-3957
Sonoma County website »
Stanislaus County
1021 I StreetModesto, California
Phone: (209) 525-5250
Fax: (209) 525-5804
Stanislaus County website »
Sutter County
433 Second StreetYuba City, California
95991
Phone: (530) 822-7134
Sutter County website »
Tehama County
633 Washington St., Room 11Red Bluff, California
96080
Phone: (530) 527-3350
Fax: (530) 527-1745
Tehama County website »
Trinity County
11 Court StreetWeaverville, California
96093
Phone: (530) 623-1215
Fax: (530) 623-8398
Trinity County website »
Tulare County
221 S. Mooney Blvd. Courthouse, Room 105Visalia, California
93291
Phone: (559) 636-5051
Fax: (559) 740-4329
Tulare County website »
Tuolumne County
2 S. Green Street, Second FloorSonora, California
95370
Phone: (209) 533-5573
Fax: (209) 533-5627
Tuolumne County website »
Ventura County
800 S. Victoria AveVentura, California
93009
Phone: (805) 654-2263
Ventura County website »
Yolo County
625 Court Street, Rm. B01Woodland, California
95695
Phone: (530) 666-8130
Fax: (530) 666-8109
Yolo County website »
Yuba County
915 8th St., Suite 107Marysville, California
95901
Phone: (530) 749-7850
Fax: (530) 749-7854
Yuba County website »