CHAPTER 2. Approval of Notaries to Authorize Confidential Marriages [530. - 536.]

Cal. Family Code - FAM 2.

in effect

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 530. Section 530.

(a) No notary public shall issue a confidential marriage license pursuant to this part unless the notary public is approved by the county clerk to issue confidential marriage licenses pursuant to this chapter. (b) A violation of subdivision (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or six months in jail.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 531. Section 531.

(a) An application for approval to authorize confidential marriages pursuant to this part shall be submitted to the county clerk in the county in which the notary public who is applying for the approval resides. The county clerk shall exercise reasonable discretion as to whether to approve applications. (b) The application shall include all of the following: (1) The full name of the applicant. (2) The date of birth of the applicant. (3) The applicant’s current residential address and telephone number. (4) The address and telephone number of the place where the applicant will issue confidential marriage licenses. (5) The full name of the applicant’s employer if the applicant is employed by another person. (6) Whether or not the applicant has engaged in any of the acts specified in Section 8214.1 of the Government Code. (c) The application shall be accompanied by the fee provided for in Section 536.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 532. Section 532.

No approval, or renewal of the approval, shall be granted pursuant to this chapter unless the notary public shows evidence of successful completion of a course of instruction concerning the issuance of confidential marriage licenses that was conducted by the county clerk in the county of registration. The course of instruction shall not exceed six hours in duration.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 533. Section 533.

An approval to issue confidential marriage licenses pursuant to this chapter is valid for one year. The approval may be renewed for additional one-year periods provided the following conditions are met: (a) The applicant has not violated any of the provisions provided for in Section 531. (b) The applicant has successfully completed the course prescribed in Section 532. (c) The applicant has paid the renewal fee provided for in Section 536.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 534. Section 534.

(a) The county clerk shall maintain a list of the notaries public who are approved to issue confidential marriage licenses. The list shall be available for inspection by the public. (b) It is the responsibility of a notary public approved to issue confidential marriage licenses pursuant to this chapter to keep current the information required in paragraphs (1), (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 531. This information shall be used by the county clerk to update the list required to be maintained by this section.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 535. Section 535.

(a) If, after an approval to issue confidential marriage licenses is granted pursuant to this chapter, it is discovered that the notary public has engaged in any of the actions specified in Section 8214.1 of the Government Code, the approval shall be revoked, and the county clerk shall notify the Secretary of State for whatever action the Secretary of State deems appropriate. Any fees paid by the notary public shall be retained by the county clerk. (b) If a notary public who is approved to authorize confidential marriages pursuant to this chapter is alleged to have violated a provision of this division, the county clerk shall conduct a hearing to determine if the approval of the notary public should be suspended or revoked. The notary public may present any evidence as is necessary in the notary public’s defense. If the county clerk determines that the notary public has violated a provision of this division, the county clerk may place the notary public on probation or suspend or revoke the notary public’s registration, and any fees paid by the notary public shall be retained by the county clerk. The county clerk shall report the findings of the hearing to the Secretary of State for whatever action the Secretary of State deems appropriate.

Cal. Family Code - FAM § 536. Section 536.

(a) The fee for an application for approval to authorize confidential marriages pursuant to this chapter is three hundred dollars ($300). (b) The fee for renewal of an approval is three hundred dollars ($300). (c) Fees received pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in a trust fund established by the county clerk. The money in the trust fund shall be used exclusively for the administration of the programs described in this chapter.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026