WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO LICENSES IN CALIFORNIA, THE CONFIDENTIAL AND THE PUBLIC?

I am authorized to issue the Confidential Marriage License for Los Angeles County as a Notary Public. This makes it very convenient for my couples as they do not have to stand in line at the County Recorder?s Office. However, I also issue licenses to couples I am not marrying.

Please call my office for details on this process. In California we have two types of Licenses the Confidential and the Public. The Confidential was originally started for couples who had been living together and wanted to avoid the dreaded blood test. So starting around 1969 many couples avoided the blood test by taking out a Confidential License, stating that they had been living together. In 1970 California began to allow Notaries Public to issue the Confidential Licenses as a convenience to the public. You could still get the other license (with the blood test) if you went to a County office. However, in 1995 California did away with the Blood Test entirely and you still have the option to buy either license.

The advantage now of the Confidential license is that it is a "Sealed" document and only the couple can get a copy of it from the County Recorder. In this day of identity theft, many couples opt for the Confidential License. A disadvantage is that it must be used in the County in which it was issued - this does not mean you must have the ceremony performed only in that county. But, Los Angeles is a very large County and this usually isn't a problem for my couples. So it is up to you to decide which license best suits your needs - both types are available at a County Office - you are just as married with either type of license. Of course if I am marrying you in Orange or any other County (except LA), you will have to obtain your own license.