How to Apply for a Solano County Marriage License
The Solano County Clerk issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. The office sits at 675 Texas Street, Suite 1900, Fairfield. All applications must be completed online before you arrive. The Clerk does not hand out paper applications at the counter. After you finish the online form, both applicants come in together with valid photo ID. The license is good for 90 days and may be used anywhere in California. The Solano County Clerk page on the marriage license spells out the steps.
Allow at least 30 minutes for issuance. Couples who arrive late in the day may not finish before the office closes. The license is effective the day it is issued. A blood test is not required in California. The full County Clerk page also lists ceremony, FBN, and notary services.
- Complete the online marriage license application on the County Clerk site.
- Pay the application fee through the online system.
- Schedule a time or walk in to 675 Texas Street, Suite 1900 in Fairfield.
- Both applicants appear together with valid photo ID that shows date of birth.
- Show divorce or annulment final judgment if either was final in the past six months.
- Pick up the signed license, valid 90 days statewide.
The image below comes from the official County Clerk marriage license page.
The page sets out ID rules, parent name fields, the 90-day validity rule, and online-only application rule.
Public vs Confidential Marriage Licenses
California offers two license types. The choice changes how the record is later accessed. Both cost a fee. Both run 90 days. The big split is access. See California Family Code section 511 for the confidential record rule.
| Feature | Public License | Confidential License |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Any couple meeting age and ID rules | Couple must live together as spouses; both 18+ |
| Record access | Public marriage record | Not open to the public; FAM 511 |
| Clerk inquiry | Can confirm record and date | Can only confirm a record exists; date needs a court order |
| Certified copy | Available to anyone with proper request | Only to a spouse, in person with ID, or by mail with notarized acknowledgment |
| Validity | 90 days, anywhere in California | 90 days, anywhere in California |
| Witness rule | One witness required at ceremony | No witness signature on the license |
Most couples take the public license. Confidential licenses appeal to people who want a private record. Both are legal marriages. Each carries the same weight in family court. The Clerk treats the choice as a checkbox on the online form.
Marriage License Application Fields
The online form asks for several pieces of personal data. Have it all on hand before you start. California Family Code section 306 sets license, solemnization, and authentication rules.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 full legal name | Yes | First, middle, last; must match ID. |
| Applicant 2 full legal name | Yes | First, middle, last; must match ID. |
| Date of birth | Yes | Both must be 18 or older for an ordinary license. |
| Valid picture ID | Yes | Driver license, passport, state ID, or military ID with DOB. |
| Parent 1 full name (each applicant) | Yes | Include middle name and mother's maiden name. |
| Parent 2 full name (each applicant) | Yes | Include middle name and mother's maiden name. |
| Parent state or country of birth | Yes | For each parent of each applicant. |
| Prior divorce or annulment within 6 months | Conditional | Bring the final judgment showing the date. |
| License type | Yes | Public or confidential; confidential needs cohabitation. |
| Application fee | Yes | Paid online; see Clerk fee schedule. |
Missing parent data slows the line. Couples sometimes call a parent to ask for the mother's maiden name on the day of. Better to write it down first.
Searching Solano Marriage Records
The Solano County Vital Records office handles certified marriage certificate copies. The office sits at 675 Texas Street, Suite 2700, Fairfield, in the Recorder Division. The marriage certificate fee is $19. The office only issues marriage certificates for licenses obtained in Solano County. Licenses issued in other counties must be requested from that county's recorder.
After the ceremony the license must be registered. The Clerk asks couples or officiants to drop the license off Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM, excluding holidays. Allow about two weeks for processing. Licenses received during the week are registered two weeks later on Wednesday if all rules are met. Certificates are then available for pickup the following Thursday after 10 AM. The Recorder Division page lists fees and contact details.
Order by mail or in person. By mail you submit a completed application and a check or money order for $19 per certified copy. In person you show ID and pay at the counter. The recorder also keeps the official records search at recorderonline.solanocounty.com for property records, but marriage records run through Vital Records directly.
The Recorder Division page shows the real property and vital records sections side by side.
Divorce Records in Solano County
Divorce is a family law case. The Family Law Division of the Solano Superior Court hears these cases at the Hall of Justice, 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield. The Family Law clerk can be reached at (707) 207-7340. The division covers dissolution of marriage, legal separation, nullity, parentage, child custody, visitation, child support, and domestic violence restraining orders.
To get a certified copy of a divorce judgment by mail, send a request to the Family Law Division with a check or money order for $15 payable to Solano Superior Court. Include the case number if you know it. If not, give first and last names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. For non-certified copies, the rate is $0.50 per page. The court tells the public to send a check not to exceed $20 and a self-addressed stamped legal-sized envelope with enough postage. See the Family Law forms, fees, and filing instructions page for current rules and forms.
Walk-in copies are also possible during clerk hours at the Hall of Justice. The full Family Law page has FAQ entries on copies, judgments, and minimum waiting periods.
How to Search Solano Divorce Records
Use the Solano Superior Court Public Portal to look up family law cases by name or case number. Account creation is free. Registration asks for email, password, name, and phone. Confidential cases or sealed documents are not shown.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Number | text | Optional | Most precise search; family law often uses FL prefix. |
| Last Name | text | Optional | At least 2 characters. |
| First Name | text | Optional | At least 2 characters. |
| Filing Date From / To | date | Optional | Narrows a long name list. |
| Account / login | account | Yes | Search needs a free registered account. |
Attorneys must e-file civil, family, and probate cases as of January 2, 2025. Self-represented parties may still file in person, by drop box, or by appointment, though e-filing is open to them on a voluntary basis. The portal does not give certified records. Under California Rule of Court 2.504, an electronic record is not the official record unless it is electronically certified by the court. For a certified judgment, contact the Family Law clerk during normal business hours.
Types of Family Law Records
Family law case files in Solano can hold a wide mix of documents. Some are filed by the parties. Some are signed by the judge. Others are filings by third parties such as child support agencies.
- Petition for dissolution, legal separation, or nullity
- Summons and proof of service
- Response to petition
- Preliminary and final declarations of disclosure
- Request for order on custody, visitation, or support
- Child support orders, including DCSS filings
- Domestic violence restraining orders and renewals
- Judgment of dissolution and notice of entry of judgment
Some items are sealed under court order or restricted by statute. Custody evaluations, mediator notes, and child welfare records are not in the public file. Restraining orders may have addresses or contact details redacted to protect the protected party.
The Family Law forms and fees page lists current Solano local forms and Judicial Council forms used in dissolution cases.
Solano County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees split between the Recorder for vital certificate copies and the Superior Court for case-related copies. Court filing fees follow the statewide schedule under Government Code section 70626. Pay the right office or the request comes back.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate (Solano Recorder) | $19 |
| Birth certificate | $34 |
| Death certificate | $26 |
| Certified divorce judgment copy by mail | $15 |
| Non-certified divorce copies | $0.50 per page; cap around $20 plus postage |
| Court record search longer than 10 minutes | $15 |
| Record search request (Local Form 4021) | Per statutory schedule |
Marriage license fees vary. The County Clerk lists current rates on its schedule of fees. Check that page before you pay. Statewide court filing fees apply to family law petitions and responses under the Government Code schedule.
Confidential Records and Restrictions
Some family records are not open to the public. Confidential marriage license records are limited under California Family Code section 511. The Clerk may confirm a record exists but will not give out the date without a court order. Only a spouse may obtain a certified copy.
Restraining order files may have information redacted. The protected party's address and contact details are often masked. Minors' names may appear as initials. Custody and child welfare attachments are usually not in the public file. Some judges seal entire family files where there is a strong privacy reason. Sealing follows California Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551. A party must file a motion and show a substantial overriding interest before a record is sealed. The court must make findings on the record. Sealed records sit outside the public view until the order is lifted or modified.
Adoption files are separate and are heavily restricted by statute. They are not searched through the public portal.
Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help
The Solano Legal Access Center and Family Law Facilitator help people who do not have a lawyer. Help is free. Staff explain court forms, walk through filing steps, and review papers before they go to the clerk. See the Family Law Facilitator page for hours, location, and email contact. The service covers divorce, custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support questions.
The statewide Self-Help site offers step-by-step guides on dissolution, response, default, judgment paperwork, restraining orders, and parentage. It links to the Judicial Council family law forms used in every California county. The court's online services hub also has links to fee waivers, financial hardship requests, ADA accommodations, and local self-help.
The facilitator cannot represent you. Staff cannot tell you what to do. They can show you the forms, point out what is missing, and explain the next step. That is often enough.
Solano County Clerk
675 Texas Street, Suite 1900
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 784-7485
Family Law Division
Hall of Justice, 600 Union Avenue
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 207-7340
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Solano marriage license stay valid?
Ninety days. The license is effective the day it is issued by the County Clerk. The couple must marry within that 90-day window. The license may be used anywhere in California. After 90 days an expired license cannot be used and a new application is required.
Are divorce records public?
Most are. Family law case files are open to the public unless sealed. Confidential parts such as financial declarations, custody evaluations, and child welfare attachments are not in the public view. Sealed records follow California Rules of Court 2.550 and 2.551. Use the Solano Superior Court Public Portal to search by name or case number.
How do I get a certified divorce judgment?
Send a written request to the Family Law Division at 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield. Include the case number if you have it. If not, list both parties' names and the year of the divorce. Send a check or money order for $15 payable to Solano Superior Court. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope with enough postage. Allow a few weeks for the certified copy to come back. Walk-in requests are also possible during clerk hours.