Read these requirements carefully, and follow them exactly!

The marriage license applicant who is able to appear before the County Clerk-Recorder must obtain an "Inability to Appear" form from the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department.  This form is not published on their web-site, so you must go in person to the Old Courthouse to pick one up.  Take along something proves that your fiancé is incarcerated (a receipt from the prison store is fine).  The Clerk won't fax it or mail the form to you... you must go in person. 

The "Inability to Appear" form must be signed by the prisoner in front of a notary.  The notary can NOT be the same person as the officiant.  A notary with legal documents to sign may visit the prisoner at any time - not just during visiting hours.  Notaries can visit the prisoner during the same hours as the attorneys.

You can hire Us for $100  for Traveling Notary Service, and we accept cash or credit cards. We have an extra copy of the form, so you don't have to go to the courthouse to pick it up, however, you DO have to meet us at the jail and bring a drivers license or passport.  we provide the mobile notary service.

The applicant (Bride or Groom) must appear at the County Clerk-Recorder Department (in the Old Courthouse in Santa Ana, on the corner of Broadway and Civic Center) to obtain the marriage license.  Your minister, the person "solemnizing the ceremony" (Michael or Dominic) MUST ACCOMPANY YOU.  Original I.D.'s for both the bride and groom are required (no exceptions), along with proof that the person is incarcerated.

When you go to pick up your marriage license, follow these instructions:

1. Bring $300 cash for your wedding Officiant.  Or, you can pay in advance - we accept payment by VISA, Mastercard, or Paypal.  Money order or cashiers check are fine, but not a personal check, because we don't have time to cash it before filing your marriage license.
2. Bring $64 to pay for your marriage license (I believe the County Clerk accepts debit cards and checks)
3. Bring the notarized Inability to Appear form. 
   and contact us @ 714.510.1565 to arrange for a traveling notary to meet you at the prison and get the Inability to Appear form notarized.
4. Bring proof that your fiancé is incarcerated.  Any papers from the court showing your fiancé is in jail, or a receipt from putting money into your fiancés account at the jail will suffice.
5. Bring your drivers license.
6. Bring your fiancé's drivers license or passport (no exceptions - if you haven't got your fiancé's ID, call the County Recorder to ask for advice).

• Before you go to pick up your marriage license, fill out the on-line application form for a CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE on the County Clerk's web-site HERE.  To get a confidential license, you must state that the two of you have been living together at the same address.  Don't get a public license, because a witness will not be allowed to go with you on your prisoner visit.
   

• Meet your Officiant on the FRONT steps to the old court house.  The front of the court house faces Santa Ana Blvd., with the morning sunshine on the steps.
   

• Go inside with your Officiant and sign in on the clipboard in the marriage license office.  If you haven't filled out the on-line application, stop at a computer kiosk and fill out the information.  You will need to know information about your fiancés parents (names, places of birth, etc.) and the dates of past divorces.
   

• It's a good idea to tell the clerk to leave the date of marriage blank, just in case the marriage happens on Saturday or Sunday, instead of on Friday.  Plans can and do get messed up!
   

• After you receive your license (they're really slow), you and your Officiant will drive to the jail and get in line to visit the prisoner, where you will wait to visit the prisoner.  It is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY that you tell the guard when you check in that you need a visiting booth where you can "pass papers".  Get the name of the guard who you told that you need to pass papers, and when it's your turn to visit the prisoner, double check that you will be assigned a booth where you can pass paper - and get the name of that guard as well.  The guards like to play games, and pretend like you and/or your Officiant didn't request to pass papers, so get their names so you can say, "Officer Hernandez out front said we would be able to pass papers.
   

• Once in the visitors booth, your Officiant will try to get your fiancés signature on the paper at the beginning, and will conduct a legal wedding ceremony, after which your Officiant will take the completed marriage certificate (we will get it to the county recorders office), and leave you to spend the rest of your visit time with your new spouse.
   

The ceremony MUST occur the same day, or within 24 hours of the issuance of the license, unless the ceremony is on the weekend.  (We drive straight from the County Recorder's office to the jail, on Friday, during regular visiting hours.)

The officiate must complete and return the marriage license within 3 days of the ceremony.