# The bride lost the license

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bride-lost-the-license/586012>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 19, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bride-lost-the-license/586012 "2011-06-19T04:57:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Marcieg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Marcieg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcieg)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bride-lost-the-license/586012/1 "2011-06-19T04:57:24Z")

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What happens when the bride loses the marriage license and there is nothing for the Officiant and witnesses to sign? When does the marriage become legal? On the date of the ceremony or the actual date a signature is affixed to a replacement license? This is a California question. In all my years of officiating this is a first. Help!

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bride-lost-the-license/586012/2 "2011-06-19T05:08:54Z")

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This seems to kinda sorta address the issue. The bottom line seems to be that you need it in hand to get officailly married. They need to get a new one. If the clerk has record of them having paid already it’s possible there may be an adjustment or dispensation on the fee, but that’s not adresssed here.  
[California Marriage License, Registration and Ceremony Information](http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/documents/marriage%20ceremony%20info.pdf)

> [@](#):
>
> 1. When is a duplicate marriage license issued?  
>  According to Family Code Section 360, “(a) If a certificate of registry of  
> marriage is lost or destroyed after the marriage ceremony but before it is  
> returned to the county recorder, the person solemnizing the marriage, in  
> order to comply with Section 359, shall obtain a duplicate certificate of  
> registry by filing an affidavit setting forth the facts with the county clerk of  
> the county in which the license was issued. (b) The duplicate certificate of  
> registry may not be issued later than one year after issuance of the  
> original license and shall be returned by the person solemnizing the  
> marriage to the county recorder within 10 days after issuance.” Contact  
> the County Clerk in the county where the license was issued to find out  
> the cost and process for issuing duplicate marriage licenses.
> 2. Do I have to review the marriage license prior to solemnizing the  
> marriage?  
>  Yes. The marriage license must be reviewed by the marriage officiant  
> prior to solemnizing the marriage. Any person who solemnizes a marriage  
> without first reviewing the license is guilty of a misdemeanor (Penal Code,