SB 575 amends Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 102356, by removing the exemption that allows County Recorders not to report minor marriage information, when a copy of a court order is not returned with the marriage license for registration.
Effective January 1, 2025, regardless of whether a copy of a court order is returned with the marriage license for registration, the County Recorder shall collect and report to the State Registrar all of the following information for each marriage certificate accepted for registration during the calendar year, January 1 through December 31, where one or both of the parties were minors at the time of solemnization of the marriage:
- The total number of those marriage certificates.
- Itemized for each of those marriages certificates, the age of each party at the time of solemnization of the marriage.
- Itemized for each of those marriages certificates, the gender of each party, if available.
To ensure accurate reporting of all minor marriages in California, each county should develop and implement a procedure to accurately track and report all marriages registered within their local registration district in which one or both parties were minors at the time of soleminization. If necessary, each county should work with their county counsel to develop a procedure that is best suited for their county.
An updated Excel spreadsheet reflecting changes pursuant to the SB 575 is attached for recording the information specified by HSC section 102356. The new reporting requirement for minor marriage data goes into effect in 2025, but the updated Excel spreadsheet may be used to report data for 2024 minor marriages. The County Recorder must submit the completed document to the State Registrar by email to VRMail@cdph.ca.gov no later than January 31 of each year.
If there are any questions regarding this information, please contact the CDPH-VR Birth and Marriage Registration Unit at (916) 445-8494 or VRMail@cdph.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Original signed by:
Tomás Aragón, MD, DrPH
Director & State Public Health Officer
California Department of Public Health
CDPH Vital Records, MS 5103 ● P.O. Box 997410 ● Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
(916) 445-8494 ● (916) 606-6007 FAX
CDPH.ca.gov