Frequently Asked Questions |
7. Can you write your own vows?
Yes, your day is special to you, you should have vows with meaning to both of you. The vows must meet minimum
California family law requirements.
Yes, your day is special to you, you should have vows with meaning to both of you. The vows must meet minimum
California family law requirements.
2. Is Bayview Officiants Yelp reviewed?
YES, proud of our 5 Star Rating.
YES, proud of our 5 Star Rating.
3. What is Bayview Officiants?
The company by which I am both owner and operator as a wedding officiant
The company by which I am both owner and operator as a wedding officiant
4. What areas are covered by officiants listed on this site?
Along the Monterey Coast from Carmel Highlands, Pacific Grove, Monterey to Watsonville. Salinas Valley from Prunedale to
the King City area including Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, and all areas in between. I will also preform weddings in and
around Gilroy and Morgan Hill. I do not do weddings at Big Sur.
Along the Monterey Coast from Carmel Highlands, Pacific Grove, Monterey to Watsonville. Salinas Valley from Prunedale to
the King City area including Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad, and all areas in between. I will also preform weddings in and
around Gilroy and Morgan Hill. I do not do weddings at Big Sur.
More questions answered as they come in.
5. Are any Bayview Officiants bilingual?
We do not have a bilingual officiant associated with Bayview Officiants at this time. However, I know of and independent
Officiant, Miguel Rocha. I am happy to provide his phone number.
We do not have a bilingual officiant associated with Bayview Officiants at this time. However, I know of and independent
Officiant, Miguel Rocha. I am happy to provide his phone number.
9. What is required in California to get married?
The following is a copy of the California Family Code regarding marriage.
FAMILY.CODE SECTION 420-426
420. (a) No particular form for the ceremony of marriage is
required for solemnization of the marriage, but the parties shall
declare, in the physical presence of the person solemnizing the
marriage and necessary witnesses, that they take each other as
husband and wife.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a member of the Armed Forces
of the United States who is stationed overseas and serving in a
conflict or a war and is unable to appear for the licensure and
solemnization of the marriage may enter into that marriage by the
appearance of an attorney in fact, commissioned and empowered in
writing for that purpose through a power of attorney. The attorney in
fact must personally appear at the county clerk's office with the
party who is not stationed overseas, and present the original power
of attorney duly signed by the party stationed overseas and
acknowledged by a notary or witnessed by two officers of the United
States Armed Forces. Copies in any form, including by facsimile, are
not acceptable. The power of attorney shall state the full given
names at birth, or by court order, of the parties to be married, and
that the power of attorney is solely for the purpose of authorizing
the attorney in fact to obtain a marriage license on the person's
behalf and participate in the solemnization of the marriage. The
original power of attorney shall be a part of the marriage
certificate upon registration.
(c) No contract of marriage, if otherwise duly made, shall be
invalidated for want of conformity to the requirements of any
religious sect.
421. Before solemnizing a marriage, the person solemnizing the
marriage shall require the presentation of the marriage license. If
the person solemnizing the marriage has reason to doubt the
correctness of the statement of facts in the marriage license, the
person must be satisfied as to the correctness of the statement of
facts before solemnizing the marriage. For this purpose, the person
may administer oaths and examine the parties and witnesses in the
same manner as the county clerk does before issuing the license.
422. The person solemnizing a marriage shall, sign and print or
type upon the marriage license a statement, in the form prescribed by
the State Department of Public Health, showing all of the following:
(a) The fact, date (month, day, year), and place (city and county)
of solemnization.
(b) The printed names, signatures, and mailing addresses of at
least one, and no more than two, witnesses to the ceremony.
(c) The official position of the person solemnizing the marriage,
or of the denomination of which that person is a priest, minister,
rabbi, or other authorized person of any religious denomination.
(d) The person solemnizing the marriage shall also type or print
his or her name and mailing address.
423. The person solemnizing the marriage shall return the marriage
license, endorsed as required in Section 422, to the county recorder
of the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after
the ceremony.
425. If no record of the solemnization of a California marriage
previously contracted under this division for that marriage is known
to exist, the parties may purchase a License and Certificate of
Declaration of Marriage from the county clerk in the parties' county
of residence one year or more from the date of the marriage. The
license and certificate shall be returned to the county recorder of
the county in which the license was issued.
426. If for sufficient reason, as described in subdivision (d),
either or both of the parties to be married are physically unable to
appear in person before the county clerk, a marriage license may be
issued by the county clerk to the person solemnizing the marriage if
the following requirements are met:
(a) The person solemnizing the marriage physically presents an
affidavit to the county clerk explaining the reason for the inability
to appear.
(b) The affidavit is signed under penalty of perjury by the person
solemnizing the marriage and by both parties.
(c) The signature of any party to be married who is unable to
appear in person before the county clerk is authenticated by a notary
public or a court prior to the county clerk issuing the marriage
license.
(d) Sufficient reason includes proof of hospitalization,
incarceration, or any other reason proved to the satisfaction of the
county clerk.
The following is a copy of the California Family Code regarding marriage.
FAMILY.CODE SECTION 420-426
420. (a) No particular form for the ceremony of marriage is
required for solemnization of the marriage, but the parties shall
declare, in the physical presence of the person solemnizing the
marriage and necessary witnesses, that they take each other as
husband and wife.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a member of the Armed Forces
of the United States who is stationed overseas and serving in a
conflict or a war and is unable to appear for the licensure and
solemnization of the marriage may enter into that marriage by the
appearance of an attorney in fact, commissioned and empowered in
writing for that purpose through a power of attorney. The attorney in
fact must personally appear at the county clerk's office with the
party who is not stationed overseas, and present the original power
of attorney duly signed by the party stationed overseas and
acknowledged by a notary or witnessed by two officers of the United
States Armed Forces. Copies in any form, including by facsimile, are
not acceptable. The power of attorney shall state the full given
names at birth, or by court order, of the parties to be married, and
that the power of attorney is solely for the purpose of authorizing
the attorney in fact to obtain a marriage license on the person's
behalf and participate in the solemnization of the marriage. The
original power of attorney shall be a part of the marriage
certificate upon registration.
(c) No contract of marriage, if otherwise duly made, shall be
invalidated for want of conformity to the requirements of any
religious sect.
421. Before solemnizing a marriage, the person solemnizing the
marriage shall require the presentation of the marriage license. If
the person solemnizing the marriage has reason to doubt the
correctness of the statement of facts in the marriage license, the
person must be satisfied as to the correctness of the statement of
facts before solemnizing the marriage. For this purpose, the person
may administer oaths and examine the parties and witnesses in the
same manner as the county clerk does before issuing the license.
422. The person solemnizing a marriage shall, sign and print or
type upon the marriage license a statement, in the form prescribed by
the State Department of Public Health, showing all of the following:
(a) The fact, date (month, day, year), and place (city and county)
of solemnization.
(b) The printed names, signatures, and mailing addresses of at
least one, and no more than two, witnesses to the ceremony.
(c) The official position of the person solemnizing the marriage,
or of the denomination of which that person is a priest, minister,
rabbi, or other authorized person of any religious denomination.
(d) The person solemnizing the marriage shall also type or print
his or her name and mailing address.
423. The person solemnizing the marriage shall return the marriage
license, endorsed as required in Section 422, to the county recorder
of the county in which the license was issued within 10 days after
the ceremony.
425. If no record of the solemnization of a California marriage
previously contracted under this division for that marriage is known
to exist, the parties may purchase a License and Certificate of
Declaration of Marriage from the county clerk in the parties' county
of residence one year or more from the date of the marriage. The
license and certificate shall be returned to the county recorder of
the county in which the license was issued.
426. If for sufficient reason, as described in subdivision (d),
either or both of the parties to be married are physically unable to
appear in person before the county clerk, a marriage license may be
issued by the county clerk to the person solemnizing the marriage if
the following requirements are met:
(a) The person solemnizing the marriage physically presents an
affidavit to the county clerk explaining the reason for the inability
to appear.
(b) The affidavit is signed under penalty of perjury by the person
solemnizing the marriage and by both parties.
(c) The signature of any party to be married who is unable to
appear in person before the county clerk is authenticated by a notary
public or a court prior to the county clerk issuing the marriage
license.
(d) Sufficient reason includes proof of hospitalization,
incarceration, or any other reason proved to the satisfaction of the
county clerk.
6. What is an Elopement package, a Basic package, and a Custom package ?
An elopement is a pre-written ceremony with only the couple getting married and a few friends, usually under 10 people.
A Basic ceremony is a pre-written ceremony with over 10 people and may include a processional, recessional. Can include
minor changes.
A Custom is a ceremony which is created with components selected or written by couple getting married. Can include
blessings, readings, special items, and additional items the couple may desire. Usually designed for large weddings.
An elopement is a pre-written ceremony with only the couple getting married and a few friends, usually under 10 people.
A Basic ceremony is a pre-written ceremony with over 10 people and may include a processional, recessional. Can include
minor changes.
A Custom is a ceremony which is created with components selected or written by couple getting married. Can include
blessings, readings, special items, and additional items the couple may desire. Usually designed for large weddings.
8. Can either bride or groom purchase a certified marriage certificate?
Yes, a bride or groom can purchase a certified copy of the marriage certificate either in person, via mail, or online. See the
county website of the county you purchased your license for details.
Yes, a bride or groom can purchase a certified copy of the marriage certificate either in person, via mail, or online. See the
county website of the county you purchased your license for details.
1. Where can a couple get a marriage license in Monterey County?
You can get your marriage license at the Monterey County Recorder's Office located at 168 W. Alisal St. in Salinas.
OFFICE HOURS : Currently are Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM for marriage licenses. For certificates, 8 AM to 5 PM.
You can get your marriage license at the Monterey County Recorder's Office located at 168 W. Alisal St. in Salinas.
OFFICE HOURS : Currently are Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM for marriage licenses. For certificates, 8 AM to 5 PM.
| Click on the Monterey County icon above to go to the Marriage page for Monterey County for additional information on weddings in Monterey County. |