Marriage License Fees Nearly Double in Los Angeles County

It’s about to cost more to say “I do” in Los Angeles County. For the first time since 2009, marriage license fees are going up, nearly doubling in price, with new rates set to take effect in 30 days

Love may be free, but in Los Angeles County, the paperwork is about to cost you more than normal. The Board of Supervisors has approved for the first time since 2009 marriage license fees are going up, and the increase is significant.

The price of a standard license nearly doubled, jumping from $91 to $176. Confidential licenses are climbing as well, from $85 to $172. 

County Clerk Dean Logan explained that inflation, rising wages, and legal changes over the past 15 years, like processing same-sex marriages, have all pushed up their operating costs. Until now, L.A. has kept its prices among the lowest in the state, so this jump, officials say, is simply catching up to reality.

It is not just about the license either. Couples that are tying the knot at the Norwalk County Clerk’s office will see the civil ceremony fee rise from $35 to $44, while the witness fee bumps up from $20 to $26. All of these new fees go into effect in 30 days.

Still, even with this increase, a license is a tiny fraction of what most weddings in L.A. actually cost. Compared to the thousands of dollars couples spend on dresses, venues, and DJs, the country’s new fees just might be the least painful check you’ll write on the road to “I do.”