Important. Documentary evidence regarding whether or not parties have been living together is neither required nor demanded. However, parties must understand that they are stating under penalty of perjury that they have been living together as husband and wife (or as partners).

Cost. A Confidential Marriage License in Los Angeles County costs $85. You will also need to order at least one Certified Copy of your marriage license and certificate on your wedding day. Certified Copies are required for federal and state governmental purposes, such as immigration issues, military benefits, and name change after marriage. The Registrar Recorder-County Clerk's office will mail you a certified copy of your marriage certificate within 6 to 8 weeks of your marriage date. Each additional certified copy is $17.

Protection. A confidential marriage license allows all personal information on a marriage license to be protected from public . Once the marriage is officially recorded, this information will be available to the married couple only. This benefits anyone who wishes to avoid public record and to keep their information private.

Legalities. A confidential marriage license is a completely legal license that can be issued either by the County Clerk's office or a special notary who has been authorized by the County of Los Angeles to issue marriage licenses. There are only six Los Angeles County Clerk's offices, all of which are open during normal business hours only. Therefore, it is often beneficial to avoid the hassle of the trip to one of the offices since the couples must appear together in order to obtain a marriage license. A special notary can issue marriage license any time of the week.

Requirements. A couple must state to the notary or Los Angeles county clerk office that they have been living together, as husband and wife or partners - not as roommates. There is no time requirement as to how long the couple has lived together and the notary has no way of checking that fact.