Online Marriage: Counties Offer Online Licenses and Ceremonies

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, residents in San Bernardino County and Riverside County can still issue their marriage licenses and perform marriage ceremonies online. 

Because of the pandemic, and the restrictions imposed because of it, in-person wedding ceremonies and marriage license applications were shut down when county buildings and offices were closed to the public in March.

In San Bernardino County, the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk's office is now issuing marriage licenses and performing ceremony services online. On May 11, the clerk's office held the county's first-ever video marriage license and ceremony and is now accepting appointments until June 29. 

It was Deputy Recorder Melissa Garcia, who performed the county's first online marriage ceremony on May 11 for Yucca Valley residents, Trent and Crystal Bell.

And on May 18, the Riverside County officials announced that residents can now obtain their marriage licenses and get married in civil wedding ceremonies virtually. 

Despite everything, the demands for marriage services stayed at a high level. Hence, proving that indeed, love knows no boundaries. 

According to Peter Aldana, Assessor/County Clerk/Recorder of Riverside County, the demand for marriage services remained high throughout this pandemic. However, the traditional models of delivering public service weakened their ability to provide such services safely. 

Qualifications for online marriage

In San Bernardino County, the video conference is available to couples seeking marriage licenses and ceremonies only. And to qualify, couples must meet the following criteria:

One of them must be a San Bernardino County resident

• Couples must be physically present in California during the session
• Couples must be in the same room during the marriage license issuance and ceremony service
• Couples must be accessible via Zoom with video and audio connection
• Couples and their witnesses must be able to access their e-mails during the session
• Witnesses must be able to sign the license and join the ceremony

Guests are allowed to join the conference, but only after paperworks are finished and received by the county; it takes 10 to 20 minutes after appointment 

For those who want to make an appointment for an online marriage license and ceremony service, you may call 909-252-5651 or e-mail marriagedesk@arc.sbcounty.gov. 

San Bernardino County's marriage services are still available in-person at the clerk's office by the strict appointment-only policy. For in-person appointments, you need to call 909-387-8306.

For Riverside County, online marriage services are also only available to Riverside County residents, or at least one from the couple getting married must live in the county. 

For information, you can visit www.asrclkrec.com.

In-person appointments are also available however, on a limited basis only for those couples that have no video conference capabilities. 

For in-person appointments, you may call 951-955-6200 or e-mail accrmail@asrclkrec.com.

Although these marriage ceremonies may seem unusual and are far different than the normal and traditional ones, couples are still applying for it. Their determination to be with each other and get married overruled the restrictions that this pandemic brings, although still with safety precautions. After all, love is love; it will always find its way.