​​This All County Letter addresses the need for complete and satisfactory information entered upon a marriage license for the officiant’s religious denomination, if clergy, and their official title. If these entries are not clear on a Public License and Certificate of Marriage, California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) may ask the local registrar of marriages to verify the information to make the record complete and satisfactory for registration per Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 102310​.

​Religious Denomination, if Clergy

If the individual officiating a marriage is authorized under Family Code (FAM) section 400(a) to solemnize a marriage by ordination as clergy, they are required to enter a religious denomination in field 29B on a Public License and Certificate of Marriage (VS 117) or in field 28B on a Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage (VS 123), as specified in FAM section 422(c), FAM section 506(b), and HSC section 103175(a)(3). Regardless of the manner of their ordination, the officiant must indicate the religious denomination in this field. The entry of a dash (-) or “N/A” is not acceptable for clergy. If applicable, terms such as “Nondenominational,” “Nondenom,” “Interdenominational,” or “Interdenom” may be entered as religious denominations.

When submitting a marriage license with the religious denomination field empty or containing a dash (-) or “N/A,” and the officiant utilizes a clergy title, counties should verify the incomplete/missing information with the marriage officiant. The denomination can be entered into the remaining space available. If there is not enough remaining space in the field, a VS-24C amendment can be completed to correct the denomination.

If the officiant is not clergy, such as an authorized judge, authorized elected official, or deputy commissioner of civil marriages, etc., then a dash (-) or “N/A” is acceptable in the religious denomination field.

Official Title of “Officiant”

The person solemnizing a marriage must enter their official title that gives them the authority to solemnize a marriage in California in field 29D on a Public License and Certificate of Marriage or in field 28D on a Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage.

If a marriage license is submitted for registration with the title “Officiant” entered in the official title field, counties should confirm with the marriage officiant that is their official title that gives them the authority to solemnize a marriage in California, per FAM section 400-402.

If this is the correct title, please notate that the title has been confirmed on the back of the license inside the “Official Use Only” box. CDPH-VR will accept the title “Officiant” if this is the official title that gives the officiant the authority to solemnize a marriage in California. If this is an incorrect title, then their official title can either be entered in the remaining space available next to the word “Officiant,” or if there is not enough space, then a VS-24C amendment can be completed to correct the official title.

The official title of “Officiant” does not clarify how the officiant is authorized to solemnize marriages in California. If the denomination field contains a dash (-) or “N/A” and is paired with a title of “Officiant,” counties should verify how the marriage officiant is authorized to solemnize a marriage under California law and make a note of that information on the back of the license inside the “Official Use Only” box. A dash (-) or “N/A” entered in the religious denomination field with “Officiant” entered as the official title may only be accepted if that information is complete and satisfactory as nearly as can be ascertained. If that is the case, please make a note of it on the back of the license inside the “Official Use Only” box.

Incompatible Entries in Religious Denomination and Official Title

CDPH-VR regularly receives marriage certificates listing incompatible entries in the “Religious Denomination, if Clergy” and “Official Title” fields. For example, a marriage certificate listing an official title that is not clergy, such as “Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages” paired with “Non-Denominational” in the “Religious Denomination, if Clergy” field.” “Non-Denominational” refers to various religious faiths that do not follow or restrict themselves to any specific religious denomination. This places the authority to solemnize the marriage in question, since these entries are not compatible.

Local registrars of marriage should carefully examine the entries for the “Religious Denomination, if Clergy” and “Official Title” fields before accepting a marriage license for registration. Local registrars should also ensure that the denomination and title entered are complete and satisfactory as nearly as can be ascertained (HSC section 102310 and 103175(a)(3)). Please reference FAM section 400-402 for Persons Authorized to Solemnize Marriage in California.

For a Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage, county clerks should follow the same procedure, however, if counties have a question registering based on the entries in these fields, please consult with county counsel for guidance.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the CDPH-VR, Birth and Marriage Registration Unit at (916) 445-8494 or VRMail@cdph.ca.gov.​

CDPH VRRB, MS 5103 ●​ P.O. Box 997410 ● Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

(916) 445-8494 ● (916) 636-6007 FAX

Internet Address: www.cdph.ca.gov