Here Mel- this will clarify the differences- What is the difference between a Public and a Confidential marriage license? If public: You can get married anywhere in the State of California, you need at least one witness during your ceremony, and the marriage record is made available to the public. more info: http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/countyclerk/public1.htm#public If confidential: You must be living together, getting married in the County where you purchased your license, no witnesses are required, and the marriage record is only available to the husband and wife. more info: http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/countyclerk/public1.htm#confidential The state used to also require blood test for public record marriage and not confidential- now the state does not require blood tests at all. California is still surprising you !! Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Kelley <tkelley@yosemite.net> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, October 16, 2000 4:22 PM Subject: [CAMARIPO] confidential marriage records >Did ya'll know that there was such a beast? Confidential marriage records ! >Does anyone know when California started allowing these? Gee, this is >interesting! >Today I was told about these while at the Hall of Records. AND, if both >parties involved are no longer living, the family has to go to court to get >the records unsealed. This also means that those types of records are not at >the State office and are not listed in the index of marriages at the Hall. > >mel > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >If you have a family chronicle I will be happy to add it on the Mariposa County GenWeb Page. > >