Orange County Clerk Recorder

I never wanted a big wedding so when we decided to take the plunge we just figured we would «go down to the courthouse.» I did the license application online and made our appointment. I never expected the experience to be as nice as it was. There was no one else waiting when we got there, so after we did our license stuff, we were still waiting on a few family members to arrive and the person at the desk graciously offered to let us go into the ceremony room early to take pictures. Also, we had quite a bit more family show up than we originally expected and we practically filled their front waiting area but no one was ever rude or impatient with us. The guy who did our vows was nice and funny and the whole experience from the decorated room to the way he did the vows definitely felt like a «real wedding» not just the standing in front of a judge at a desk that I had anticipated. I would like to thank this office for playing the huge part in our special day. They were awesome!
(Note: parking is awful, so be prepared and give yourself plenty of time)

I pronounce you Mr. & Mrs… Whoa Whoa… Hold on there! Did you forget something? You can pay thousands of dollars for a wedding, but its no good if your officiant can’t sign something called, a Marriage License! Yeah, you can marry spiritually, but its not proof to the government. We start our journey through paperwork to getting married, but we all start here at the Orange County Clerk Recorder’s Office in Fullerton.
So, you decided to take the plunge?! Well, I don’t mean it in a bad way, but we all meet the love our life and forever be in debt to each other. Am I scaring you even more? Don’t be scared. Getting married is going to be one of the highlights of anyone’s life. For my fiancé and future wife, this will lead us to have a wonderful happy life. One of the reasons that the Orange County Clerk Recorder’s Office is the place to go is FLEXIBILITY. You’ll see why!
Located on the northwest corner of Harbor Blvd and West Amerige Ave., you will find the Orange County Clerk Recorder’s Office. To be honest, it looks more like a local store where you just go get copies of paper or hangout. Fortunately for us, the County Clerk-​Recorder, Hugh Nguyen, has created one special Saturday in the month for the upcoming Summer Wedding Season at two offices: Laguna Hills & Fullerton. When I heard about it, we reserved a 10:15am appoinment online through the Online Marriage Application System on the OC Recorder Webpage. TRUST ME: You will need an appointment!
When I said, «You will need an appointment!», when you arrive, there was a gathering outside the office. It looks like they were going to get married in front of a judge. OK, if I couldn’t afford a marriage ceremony, this would be the next big thing. There were some who walked in, but still needed to fill out an online application in the office. Save some time and fill an online application before you come to the office because the questions are very thorough. The online system will ask information from parent’s maiden name to parent’s state of birth.
The line does go very fast and you will get to see other applicants look at each other when the Clerk Recorder Representative asks the lovely couple questions. Although, we were next in line, I was already envisioning what it looked like to be in their footsteps. When we were called, we provided our Appointment Confirmation # as well as our Driver’s License and Social Security Card. You will also attest to the information that you provided are accurate by raising your right hand. My fiancé said, «I will» and I said, «I do». Both my fiancé and the Clerk Representative laughed. What?! I wanted to get ready when I head up the altar. Then the most painful experience. Paying the Marriage License Fee ($ 61-​$ 66).
We were in and out in 10 – 15 minutes. It wasn’t that bad of an experience, but now we are headed to the final planning stages of our marriage ceremony. I hope to look back on this review and see how my Unilocal Reviews became my journal of adventures. From eating fast food to healthy eats to meeting my fiancé to getting married. This is all a journey. I’m glad I don’t need to apply for a license to travel. Well, a Driver’s License and a Birth Certificate anyways.
Unilocal…My passion is not to write my reviews, but to share my experiences with you. Take that journey and share your story.

When it comes to getting legal documents to make your big day official, you’ll need to stop by the Orange County Clerk-​Recorder. In general, people gravitate toward the larger office in Santa Ana. Given that the other place is more popular, things may a bit hectic over there. Thankfully, the Fullerton location was recommended to us by our pastor who will perform our ceremony. This would be our saving Grace because it helped us avoid a lot of hassles in the end.
The Orange County Clerk’s Office is located on the corner of Broadway and Civic Center Drive in the heart of downtown Fullerton. Parking is a available in the public lot behind the building and in various nearby lots. The office is small and easy to miss when passing by but just realize that it is on the corner, adjacent to the street light.
One thing that makes this office more of a viable alternative to the Santa Ana location is convenience! Since the building is so small, they had to find a way to accommodate the public as they come inside. Most people made appointments online which made everything flow smoothly. Security will greet you at the door and you’ll queue up and wait to be called.
They are open Monday through Friday and on select Saturday’s of the month. We made an appointment for 10:00 on Saturday morning to get our marriage license. We booked it online in advance and had to bring our drivers license for identification purposes. Once you verify that all of the information on your application is correct, you’ll raise your hand. You’ll have you swear that you have been truthful with what has been written on your application. I wasn’t expecting to have to do this and it caught me off guard. After that, we paid our fee and were on our way!
They were experiencing technical difficulties on Saturday morning as one of the computers was down. Somehow, they managed to move people through that office efficiently without allowing a buildup of people in line. People were there feeling emotional as they prepared for one of the most important days of their lives. I liked that everyone seemed happy in the office because this was something that people looked forward to doing.
You have the option of dealing with long lines in Santa Ana or you can come to Fullerton and get it done at a much faster rate. The appointments go quickly so you shouldn’t procrastinate when making this decision. Head over to the Fullerton location to handle getting your marriage license, passport documents, or to take part in a civil ceremony. They’re well-​organized to get you in and out as quickly as possible!

Short lines for getting a marriage certificate and marriage license. Courteous staff and great security guard. This is at the North Orange County Downtown Fullerton office.

This office located in downtown Fullerton. There are a lot of free parking garage near by this office. People are really friendly in this location — it makes things much more fun.

Went to get a birth certificate and I was in and out in 5 minutes! Super easy, very nice, new building, friendly people. Best government establishment I’ve been to.

Long lines no one to help. The guy out side helped me last time, where was my guy… Did 2 FBN’s. Would not care to go back unless there was more help —

Super easy to get a certified copy of a birth certificate or marriage license: Just complete the request on one of the computers in the office, wait in line, pay your fee (s) and you get your certified copy instantly. No more waiting weeks for it to arrive in the mail. Total wait time, about 3 minutes. Nice!

Waited online 28:55 listening to a recording telling me that all of their operators were busy helping other customers.
Never got an answer to my question.
FOLLOW-​UP WRITTEN 8 MONTHS LATER:
No one ever contacted me about my one star review. I would have thought something like that would get someone’s attention but apparently it’s not their job to care that much. Can’t wait to read the election materials next campaign season, telling us all how much they care about providing taxpayers with great customer service. Doesn’t even matter anymore now. The original issue is moot.

The guy standing outside telling you which computer to use is super rude. That is all.

So, I was kind of dreading going into a government office… soulless, miserable, and weaving through long, plodding lines.
Happily — my experience at the Fullerton location of the OC Clerk-​Recorder was almost none of those things!
First off, okay, the employees there were not super-​friendly OR welcoming. It’s clear they have a job to do — and they do it. No frills… frills are friendliness, it seems.
But, you go to a computer station (of which there are many) and submit your request… then you step in line and wait… it’s a short line though at this satellite location. Then you pay (check or credit card or cash) and you get your documents! Easy as pie… a piece of cake… and there’s a great little cupcake shop around the corner. So treat yoself — you just got an official public record!

Great location
The guy that married us was funny
The flowers and the gazebo type thing they have set up is really cute
We were in and out in about 1.5 hours with the actual ceremony and the license

My sister got married here. They had an online appointment and they waited in line for about 15 mins.
There’s plenty of parking in the surrounding areas. We were there on a Saturday so there was a lot of families inside waiting to watch the ceremonies. Not much waiting room so we stood on the street till we were up next. All the staff members were great and accommodating.
The guy that married my sister and her husband was awesome! He was accommodating and patient. There is a private room where the ceremony takes place. Cute little gazebo in a circular room with flowers and draping. Nicely painted walls with hand painting and bench’s lining the wall for the family to watch.
Lots of great places surrounding the area to celebrate post ceremony also!

I needed to go to the county clerk’s office to take my notary public oath and file my bond. This clerk’s office was easy to find with ample parking nearby. The office is small, but super clean and organized.
First, you sign in by using one of the computers on the left counter. Then, stand in line for a clerk to help you. The man who assisted me with recording my notary was very knowledgable and friendly. The whole process was quick and easy, literally taking no longer than 10 mins. I was in and out of there in 20 mins from beginning to end. Doesn’t get any better than that!

Hooray for a well-​organized clerk office!
We were trying to get a last minute marriage license and certificate, so we looked into the LA, OC, and SD options.
LA pretty much requires appointments, except for the main office. We wanted to know what the expected wait time was for a Friday without an appointment and could not get a hold of anyone. We called one number, waited on the phone for 30+ minutes, then got transferred to another number, etc. Terrible.
SD would have been a good option with probably more appointment options. However, the OC allows you to make appointments online (yay for not having to call and talk to anyone!), but even if you don’t get one, you can still show up without an appointment. We asked the office and asked about expected wait times without appointments, and they said it’s just the wait in line and then they get it done pretty quickly. Just make sure you are physically there before the office closes, and they will get you in.
We waited in line for about 20 minutes to request the license and then waited 15 minutes to have the ceremony that lasted less than 10 minutes. An hour later and we’re legally married!
The whole office is really small, and the ceremony room is right in the back. It’s also small with two benches, and there is a gazebo-​thingy with fake florals. It is pretty nice for a courthouse ceremony. The room can seat maybe 6 people, but quite a few can stand. Another pro is easy, free parking behind the courthouse.
Just a note for the ladies: I would prep and primp before coming. There is a bathroom, but it is outside the courthouse and the staff has to walk you around the building to let you in the bathroom. It’s an option, but it just wasn’t that convenient.

SECOND TIME HERE AND BOTH TIMES I WAITED LESS THAN 5 MINUTES! I hope you can tell my excitement by using all caps!
Elizabeth helped us both times and she was quick and professional with an awesome smile! When you come in make sure to go straight to the computer before getting in line.

It says notary on the front door. I came here to get a single page document notarized for a student, and they informed me that they do not have a notary on staff. Ummmmm… what?
Apparently, they process notary applications. I’m already a notary but I cannot notarize my own signature, so sadly a notary application does not help me.

BEST/​FASTEST time ever! We filled out the application for our marriage license and went in the SAME day. No appointment needed, but you can make one online. Got in about 1pm on a Thursday and there was no wait. LOVE IT. Why can’t all County offices be like that? LOL. We were in and out in like 10 minutes.
Oh btw street parking 2hrs or the parking lot in the back.
Easy peasy! :D

Going to the chapal and your going to get married. Yup thats exactly what you can do here. You fill out an application online, then make an appointment here. Then show up, and have a civil ceremony. It’s easy peasy. So easy that my sister in law, before she was my sister in law did the deed here. Some good friends got married here. And recently a co worker got married here. But this is about me right? I must of gotten lost somehow because it took me about 11 years to get here. We were in no hurry. I joke and say we dated 3 decades. 99, the 00s and the 10s. It’s 3 decades right? If you add the 2 years we chatted online 97 and 98 thats a loooong time. One day in late July 2010 we said let’s do it, gave me my diamond from Lola, planned the wedding in 3 weeks and by August it was done. It didn’t even hurt. In fact it was on Friday the 13^th, in the late afternoon. Same day Bella Swan married Edward Cullen. Shhh. I tricked him into that date. No, Im kidding, besides, the werewolf is always better, and that’s who I married anyway.
Located at the corner of Harbor and Amerige street in downtown Fullerton, sits a county clerk office with a little chapel. Its hard to miss with all the glass windows. The best place to park is in the back, where all the bars are.
The secret room, where they do it behind closed doors has a little gazebo, and court room like benches. Not very glamorous but it gets the job done. A justice of the peace or worker at the county clerk puts on a black robe and marries you in less than 7 minutes. Lots of standing room if you’d like to bring friends and family, or they can just wait outside on Harbor and throw birdseed at you.
You will need at least 1 witness to sign your life away. Don’t think you can just sneak off and do it without anyone knowing. And sadly they said my dog doesn’t count.
Besides, weddings they do other things here and have a website with all their services.
Name changes are done at the SS office only. Again, I must of got lost since it took me over a year to get there too .
Anyways, if you do plan on coming here, do it in your 30s and make sure you know that person for a few years. I’m not saying wait 11 years like me, but long enough. Then have a huge party after.

I never knew a government office could be so efficient and convenient!
We finished our marriage license application online, and I was a little annoyed that the only Friday appointment available was 3 weeks away, and nothing in the afternoon at that. We signed up anyway. I thought it was going to be a busy office and that it would take terribly long, I gave my manager a heads up that I would be in really late for work that day.
We parked in the back, walked over to the front, and I was surprised on how small, and well, empty it was! I was expecting something like the DMV!
We did not use any of these computers, and there seemed to be enough for everyone.
The lady behind the desk was no-​nonsense, but friendly enough. She explained everything, made us swear that everything was correct. A little signing here and there, and Voila! Done and done!
She gave us a calendar along with the rest of the papers and put it in an envelope.
Our appointment was at 9:30, we got in around 9:25, and there was only one person in line who was just about done. We were walking to the car by 9:30! I gave them a comment card before we left!
This was SO convenient, I was not expecting to be back at work till at least noon, but I was at work by 10 am. You certainly don’t have to take a day off work for this. I’m not sure if it matters to have an appointment or not, but schedule one anyway, and perhaps an early one is best!