County Clerk-Recorder
Find recorded documents, recording requirements and certified copies. Find marriage licensing and county clerk services. Find fictitious business name (FBN / DBA) filing and renewal instructions. Business licenses are a separate service. Find the right local authority and check whether a license or another permit is needed.[47]
Source checked October 12, 2026[1]Opens this office’s own website. CountyWiki does not process applications, take payments or provide personal records.
Contact details & office locations ↓Online services & information
These links were found on official source pages. Each service is handled by the office.
Official county instructions for obtaining a new marriage license. Online application entry alone does not issue a license or replace the required appearance; confirm the license type, documents and visit arrangements.
Before you start
- Appointments · New marriage license — standard in-person application
- No appointment is necessary for a marriage license. [18]
- Information & documents · Marriage licensing — identification alternative
- If you don't have valid id, you can provide two Credible Witnesses—friends or family members who have valid personal identification and can sign an affidavit verifying your identity. [19]
- Deadlines · Public license — officiant return deadline (Family Code 359(e))
- The marriage license shall be returned by the person solemnizing the marriage to the county recorder of the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after the ceremony. [20]
- Deadlines · Confidential license — officiant return deadline (Family Code 506(c))
- The confidential marriage license shall be returned by the person solemnizing the marriage to the office of the county clerk in the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after the ceremony. [21]
Official Santa Clara County certificate information and application options. Follow the county’s instructions for the copy type and request method you need.
Before you start
- Information & documents · Informational birth certificate copies
- The request form for this type of certificate does not need to be notarized. [9]
Official Santa Clara County certificate information and application options. Follow the county’s instructions for the copy type and request method you need.
Official instructions for copies of an existing marriage record. This is separate from applying for a marriage license.
Start the county-linked pre-application. Follow the county instructions to complete issuance; submitting information online alone does not make you married.
The Business Division offers portal, office, mail and email routes. Submit the filing fee/payment information with the completed application; walk-ins may wait and an appointment is recommended.
Before you start
- Information & documents · All submitted applications
- Send the filing fee or appropriate payment information with the completed form. [38]
- Processing time · Posted processing estimate
- The county states processing can take up to five workdays. [39]
- Deadlines · Initial filing — state deadline
- File within 40 days after starting business under the fictitious name. [22]
- Eligibility & access · Where to file — principal place of business
- File in the county of your principal California business location. If you have no California business location, file in Sacramento County. [23]
- Deadlines · New or changed filing — newspaper publication
- Start publication within 45 days after filing. Use a qualifying newspaper in the filing county, or an adjoining county if no qualifying newspaper exists there. [24]
- Information & documents · Newspaper notice — publication frequency
- Publish once a week for four successive weeks. [25]
- Deadlines · After publication — file the affidavit
- File the publication affidavit with the County Clerk within 45 days after publication is completed. Check whether your newspaper files it for you. [26]
- Deadlines · Expiration — earlier changes or abandonment can end the statement
- A statement generally lasts five years, but changes or abandonment can end it earlier. [27]
- Eligibility & access · No-change renewal — publication exception
- An unchanged renewal filed within 40 days after expiration does not need republication. Changes can require a new publication. [28]
- Information & documents · California principal business location
- Provide the street address and county of the principal business location. A registrant’s separate mailing-address rule does not remove this requirement. [29]
- Information & documents · Individual registrant — owner mailing address
- For an individual owner, provide the full name and business mailing address if different from the business address. Do not apply older blanket residence-address instructions. [30]
Santa Clara County requires in-person research to view recorded real-estate documents. Bring a name, document number, or applicable book/page reference; a separate service explains copy purchases.
Before you start
- Availability · Research location and staff search services
- Research or view recorded documents in person; the Clerk-Recorder does not conduct searches for you. [44]
- Availability · Recorder search keys versus Assessor lookup
- The Recorder index does not search by address or APN. The county directs those searches to the Assessor to find a document number. [45]
County instructions for purchasing document and map copies.
County instructions for new real-estate recordings.
The Clerk-Recorder does not issue business licenses and directs readers to the city or town where the business is located. Unincorporated-area and activity-specific requirements still need separate confirmation.
Before you start
- Eligibility & access · Clerk-Recorder referral only
- This department statement is not evidence that every business in the county is exempt from licensing or other permits. [49]
Fees
Fees are quoted only when a source document supports the amount and conditions.
| Service | Amount | Conditions & source |
|---|---|---|
| Public marriage license | $80.00per license | Individual license fee; ceremony, certified copies and any payment-provider charges are separate. Confirm the current total with the Clerk.[15] |
| Confidential marriage license | $83.00per license | Individual license fee; ceremony, certified copies and any payment-provider charges are separate. Confirm the current total with the Clerk.[16] |
| Credible witnesses — identification alternative | $20.00county-listed fee | Identification alternative, not a wedding witness fee. Confirm the applicable affidavit charges with the Clerk.[17] |
| FBN — Statement — one business and one or two owners | $40.00per filing | Includes one certified copy; one business name and one or two owners. Effective date is not stated.[35] |
| FBN — Additional business name or owner | $7.00per additional name | Must have the same business address and owners on the same statement. Effective date is not stated.[36] |
These are individual fee items, not a quote for your total. Other charges or exemptions may apply; confirm the total with the office.
Forms & documents
Official forms and document pages for this office’s services.
Sources & last checked19 source pages · 49 citations
Sources were checked by an AI-assisted research process. A checked website does not mean every service or fee on it has been reviewed.
- [1] County directory — C (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County · Department directory: County Clerk-Recorder
Source reviewed October 12, 2026View supporting excerpt
More Information
- [2] Santa Clara County — clerk-recorder (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County · Forms/document link: Forms
Source reviewed October 12, 2026View supporting excerpt
Forms
- [3] Santa Clara County — clerk-recorder (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County · Contact information — phone
Source reviewed October 12, 2026View supporting excerpt
00 am-4:30 pm Friday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Saturday: Closed (408) 299-5688 clerkrecorder@rec.sccgov.org Additional contact information Contact us Was this page helpful?
- [4] Santa Clara County — clerk-recorder (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County · Contact information — address
Source reviewed October 12, 2026View supporting excerpt
n Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder's Office 110 West Tasman Drive 1st Floor San Jose, CA 95134 View on map Sunday: Closed Monday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Tuesday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Wednesday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Thursday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Friday: 8:00 am-4:30
- [5] Santa Clara County — clerk-recorder (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County · Contact information — hours
Source reviewed October 12, 2026View supporting excerpt
an Jose, CA 95134 View on map Sunday: Closed Monday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Tuesday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Wednesday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Thursday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Friday: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Saturday: Closed (408) 299-5688 clerkrecorder@rec.sccgov.org Additional contact information Contact us Was this pa
- [6] Santa Clara County — Order a birth certificate | Office of the County Clerk-Recorder | County of Santa Clara (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County government · Official county certificate service heading and published application/copy information. This is an information destination; no unverified online-transaction promise.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
license Order a marriage certificate Order a birth certificate Order a death certificate Forms Business services Apply, renew or refile a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement File, search, and request copies California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Filings Register as a paraprofessional File Notary Public Oath and Bond Authenticate a County Medical Offi
- [7] Santa Clara County — Order a death certificate | Office of the County Clerk-Recorder | County of Santa Clara (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County government · Official county certificate service heading and published application/copy information. This is an information destination; no unverified online-transaction promise.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
ertificate Order a birth certificate Order a death certificate Forms Business services Apply, renew or refile a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement File, search, and request copies California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Filings Register as a paraprofessional File Notary Public Oath and Bond Authenticate a County Medical Officer signature Request tran
- [8] Santa Clara County — Purchase a marriage certificate | Office of the County Clerk-Recorder | County of Santa Clara (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County government · Official county certificate service heading and published application/copy information. This is an information destination; no unverified online-transaction promise.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
ervices Apply for a marriage license Order a marriage certificate Order a birth certificate Order a death certificate Forms Business services Apply, renew or refile a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement File, search, and request copies California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Filings Register as a paraprofessional File Notary Public Oath and Bond Authenti
- [9] Santa Clara County — Order a birth certificate | Office of the County Clerk-Recorder | County of Santa Clara (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County government · Specific county service instruction; copy type, channel and exceptions retained.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
The request form for this type of certificate does not need to be notarized.
- [10] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — Apply for a marriage license
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Apply for a marriage license
- [11] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — Start your marriage license application
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Start your marriage license application
- [12] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Marriage service contact — Marriage License Services — phone
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
(408) 299-5688
- [13] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Marriage service contact — Marriage License Services — address
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
110 West Tasman Drive 1st Floor San Jose, CA 95134
- [14] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Marriage service contact — Marriage License Services — hours
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
- [15] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — Standard marriage license: $80.00
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Standard marriage license: $80.00
- [16] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — Confidential marriage license: $83.00
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
Confidential marriage license: $83.00
- [17] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — The fee for Credible Witnesses is $20.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
The fee for Credible Witnesses is $20.
- [18] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — No appointment is necessary for a marriage license.
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
No appointment is necessary for a marriage license.
- [19] Santa Clara — marriage licensing information (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — Clerk marriage services · Official marriage licensing information — If you don't have valid id, you can provide two Credible Witnesses—friends or family members who hav
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
If you don't have valid id, you can provide two Credible Witnesses—friends or family members who have valid personal identification and can sign an affidavit verifying your identity.
- [20] California marriage services — public-return (opens in a new tab)
California Legislative Information · Official marriage licensing information — The marriage license shall be returned by the person solemnizing the marriage to the county recorder
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
The marriage license shall be returned by the person solemnizing the marriage to the county recorder of the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after the ceremony.
- [21] California marriage services — confidential-return (opens in a new tab)
California Legislative Information · Official marriage licensing information — The confidential marriage license shall be returned by the person solemnizing the marriage to the of
Source reviewed October 14, 2026View supporting excerpt
The confidential marriage license shall be returned by the person solemnizing the marriage to the office of the county clerk in the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after the ceremony.
- [22] Business and Professions Code 17910 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17910(a)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
File a fictitious business name statement in accordance with this chapter not later than 40 days from the time the registrant commences to transact such business.
- [23] Business and Professions Code 17915 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17915
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
A fictitious business name statement shall be filed with the clerk of the county in which the registrant has his or her principal place of business in this state or, if the registrant has no place of business in this state, with the Clerk of Sacramento County.
- [24] Business and Professions Code 17917 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17917(a)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Within 45 days after a fictitious business name statement has been filed pursuant to this chapter, the registrant shall cause a statement in the form prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 17913 to be published pursuant to Section 6064 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the fictitious business name statement was filed or, if there is no such newspaper in that county, in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county.
- [25] California — FBN publication-frequency (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · Government Code §6064
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Publication of notice pursuant to this section shall be once a week for four successive weeks.
- [26] Business and Professions Code 17917 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17917(d)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
An affidavit showing the publication of the statement shall be filed with the county clerk where the fictitious business name statement was filed within 45 days after the completion of the publication.
- [27] Business and Professions Code 17920 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17920(a)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Unless the statement expires earlier under subdivision (b) or (c), a fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.
- [28] Business and Professions Code 17917 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17917(c)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
If a refiling is required because the prior statement has expired, the refiling need not be published unless there has been a change in the information required in the expired statement, provided the refiling is filed within 40 days of the date the statement expired.
- [29] Business and Professions Code 17913 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17913(b)(2)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
If the registrant has a place of business in this state, insert the street address, and county, of the registrant’s principal place of business in this state.
- [30] Business and Professions Code 17913 — fictitious business names (opens in a new tab)
California Legislature · BPC §17913(b)(3)
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
If the registrant is an individual, insert the registrant’s full name and business mailing address if it differs from the business address.
- [31] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · Fictitious business name — Fictitious Business Name
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Fictitious Business Name
- [32] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN contact — Business Division — FBN applications — phone
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
(408) 299-5688
- [33] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN contact — Business Division — FBN applications — email
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
bus-rdc@rec.sccgov.org
- [34] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN contact — Business Division — FBN applications — address
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
110 West Tasman Drive, First Floor San Jose, CA 95134
- [35] Santa Clara — FBN fees (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN fee — FBN — Statement — one business and one or two owners
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
FBN Statement (includes registration of one business name, one or two owners, and one certified copy)$40.00
- [36] Santa Clara — FBN fees (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN fee — FBN — Additional business name or owner
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Each additional business name and/or owner (must have same business address and owners on the same statement)$7.00
- [37] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN official resource — FBN mail-in statement
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Fictitious business name statement (for mail in only)
- [38] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN requirement — All submitted applications
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Completed form must be submitted along with the filing fees . Form without appropriate payment information will be returned/rejected.
- [39] Santa Clara — fictitious business name instructions (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County — business name filing · FBN requirement — Posted processing estimate
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Up to 5 workdays to process your application.
- [40] Santa Clara recorder — property records and provider resources (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County · Official department homepage — Home | Office of the County Clerk-Recorder | County of Santa Clara
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Office of the County Clerk-Recorder
- [41] Santa Clara — property records (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Research recorded real-estate documents and maps
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
To research or view recorded real estate documents, you must come in-person to the Clerk-Recorder's Office.
- [42] Santa Clara — property records (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Purchase recorded-document and map copies
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
See information on how to purchase copies
- [43] Santa Clara — property records (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Record a new real-estate document
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Recording real estate
- [44] Santa Clara — property records (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Research location and staff search services
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
To research or view recorded real estate documents, you must come in-person to the Clerk-Recorder's Office. Our office does not provide search service.
- [45] Santa Clara — property records (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Recorder search keys versus Assessor lookup
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
Property addresses and Assessor's Parcel Numbers (APNs) are not searchable in the Clerk-Recorder's index. However, you may use this information to locate a document number on the Assessor's website.
- [46] Santa Clara — property records (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official service / referred provider · County Recorder — Clerk-Recorder — recorded-document research
Source reviewed October 15, 2026View supporting excerpt
bus-rdc@rec.sccgov.org
- [47] Santa Clara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
The Clerk-Recorder's Office does not issue business licenses. For business licensing information, please contact the city or town government office where your business is located.
- [48] Santa Clara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
The Clerk-Recorder's Office does not issue business licenses. For business licensing information, please contact the city or town government office where your business is located.
- [49] Santa Clara County — business licensing discovery (opens in a new tab)
Santa Clara County official website · Reviewed business licensing instructions
Source reviewed October 16, 2026View supporting excerpt
The Clerk-Recorder's Office does not issue business licenses. For business licensing information, please contact the city or town government office where your business is located.