Marrying Someone in County Jail — We Make It Simple
It's a long process with real paperwork — notarized affidavits, county clerk rules, facility approvals. We've done it many times, and we'll walk through every step of it together.
Want to marry someone who's in county jail in Southern California? It's absolutely possible. California law lets the county clerk issue a marriage license even though your partner can't appear — using a notarized Affidavit of Inability to Appear signed inside the jail. On Call Notary handles that notary visit and guides the whole process for San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange County facilities. Call or text (909) 751-8439, 24/7.
Have this ready — or we'll help you get it
You don't need everything in hand to start. But the sooner these pieces come together, the faster you'll be married. Here's what counties ask for:
- Your partner's info: full legal name, booking number, and which facility they're in.
- Photo ID for BOTH of you — including the inmate. A valid driver's license, state ID, or passport. In Riverside County the jail "face sheet" is explicitly not accepted, so confirm their real ID is in their jail property or at home.
- Certified birth certificates — Riverside County requires certified full copies for both parties in jail cases (abstracts are rejected). Smart to have in any county.
- Divorce papers, if either of you was married before — Riverside requires the final decree no matter how long ago; LA requires a certified copy if it ended within the last 2 years.
- License fee budget — county fees as of July 2026: San Bernardino $120 public / $135 confidential; Riverside $111 / $122; Los Angeles $91 / $85. We confirm current fees and payment rules when you call.
- An officiant plan — county clerks require the notary and the officiant to be different people. We'll explain your county's options, including LA's free volunteer chaplain.
Missing something? Call anyway.
Most couples don't have this list ready on day one — that's normal. Tell us your situation and we'll map out exactly what to get, in what order, for your specific facility.
- We handle the notary visit — the affidavit and application signed inside the jail.
- We know each county's paperwork — forms, fees, clerk appointment quirks.
- We coordinate with the facility — scheduling, protocols, what the ceremony allows.
- One flat package quote — before we start, so there are no surprises.
County fees and jail policies change — figures on this page are current as of July 2026 and confirmed again when you call. And if your situation needs legal help beyond the marriage paperwork, ask us — we're glad to point you toward the right resources.
How an inmate marriage works, start to finish
Every county differs in the details, but the road is the same. We stay with you the whole way.
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1
Call or text us
Tell us the facility and your situation. We confirm that facility's current rules, which license type fits (public vs. confidential), and quote the notary work as one flat package.
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The notary visit — our specialty
We visit your partner in jail so they can sign the marriage license application and the Affidavit of Inability to Appear, and we notarize their signature on the spot. This is the legal key that lets the clerk issue your license without your partner present. (In Riverside County this is the official ACR 845 form from the county's Jail Marriage Packet — and every signature must be in black or dark-blue ink, so we bring the right pens.)
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Gather your documents
IDs, birth certificates, divorce decrees, proof of incarceration — whatever your county requires from the checklist above. We tell you exactly what your clerk will ask for so you only make one trip.
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The county clerk issues the license
You (and in most jail cases, your officiant) bring the notarized paperwork to the clerk. For public licenses the law issues the license to the officiant, who keeps it until the ceremony. The license is valid for 90 days anywhere in California.
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The facility approves & schedules
Each county's jail has its own path — LA County requires the application at least 15 days before the ceremony; San Bernardino ceremonies run through regular visiting; Riverside is coordinated facility-by-facility. We navigate this with you.
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The ceremony — you're married
The officiant performs the marriage under the facility's visiting rules, everyone signs, and the license goes back to the county clerk within 10 days for recording. Then you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate.
What each county requires
Verified against county clerk and sheriff sources, July 2026. Rules change — we re-confirm everything for your case when you call.
San Bernardino County
License: $120 public / $135 confidential (per the county fee schedule effective 7/1/2026) at the Hall of Records or Hesperia — appointment only. The county doesn't post its inability-to-appear form online; it comes through the Recorder-Clerk.
- Sheriff policy: jail staff won't assist with the process — your team on the outside does everything. That's us.
- Jail chaplains can't perform the marriage — an outside officiant is required.
- Ceremony happens as a non-contact regular visit — we prepare you for the format.
Riverside County
License: $111 public / $122 confidential. Riverside publishes an official Jail Marriage Packet (form ACR 845) — the strictest paperwork of the three counties.
- Inmate must have a real photo ID — the booking face sheet is rejected.
- Certified full birth certificates for both parties + proof of incarceration + any divorce decree, no matter how old.
- No refunds on licenses — we confirm the facility's rules before you pay the county.
Los Angeles County
License: $91 public / $85 confidential through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. The jail side runs on a written application — timing matters most here.
- Application to the facility at least 15 days before the ceremony, through the Sheriff's Religious & Volunteer Services unit.
- You can request a free volunteer chaplain to officiate — or bring your own.
- Bring one adult witness (deputies won't witness); everyone entering passes visiting screening.
Also planning a marriage at an Orange County facility? We serve those jails too — call for that county's current process.
Inmate marriage questions, answered straight
What does an inmate marriage cost?
Three kinds of costs: the county license (as of July 2026: San Bernardino $120 public / $135 confidential; Riverside $111 / $122; LA $91 / $85 — we confirm current amounts when you call), the notary visit to the jail, and any officiant costs. We quote our notary work as one flat package up front — call or text (909) 751-8439.
How long does it take to marry someone in county jail?
Plan on several weeks, not days. The license itself comes quickly once paperwork is complete and stays valid for 90 days. LA County jails require the marriage application at least 15 days before the ceremony; San Bernardino and Riverside timing depends on the notary visit, clerk appointment, and the facility's visiting schedule. Our job is to keep every step moving so nothing expires.
How does my partner sign the paperwork from inside jail?
That's the heart of our service. California law (Family Code §426 for public licenses, §502 for confidential) allows the clerk to issue a license when one party can't appear — via a notarized Affidavit of Inability to Appear. We visit the jail, your partner signs the application and affidavit, and we notarize their signature on the spot.
What documents do we need before starting?
Valid government photo ID for both of you (the inmate's real ID, not a jail face sheet), and — depending on county — certified full birth certificates, proof of incarceration, and final divorce papers if either of you was previously married. See the checklist above, and if you're missing pieces, call anyway — we'll build the list together.
Can the jail chaplain marry us?
Depends on the county. San Bernardino: no — sheriff policy bars jail chaplains and department volunteers from officiating, so you need an outside officiant. LA County: yes — you can request a volunteer custody chaplain free of charge, or bring your own. Also, county clerks require the notary and the officiant to be different people — we help you plan both roles.
What will the ceremony actually be like?
Honest answer: it's a jail visit, not a banquet hall. Ceremonies follow normal visiting rules — usually non-contact through glass, inmate in facility clothing, no ring exchange during the visit, and a short attendee list. It is still a real, legal California marriage. Many couples plan a vow renewal celebration after release — the jail ceremony makes you married; the party can come later.