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Cost of marriage licenses to nearly double in Los Angeles County
Couples in L.A. will be paying more than double for marriage licenses than the current amount.
(
Elly Yu
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The cost of tying the knot is going up in Los Angeles County after the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to nearly double the cost of marriage licenses from $91 to $176.
What’s changing: In a letter to the supervisors ahead of their Tuesday board meeting, Registrar Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said nearly half the increase can be attributed to cost-of-living adjustments for county employees since 2009, the last time the marriage license fee went up. The remainder reflects several “operational enhancements” and mandated changes like the addition of same sex marriages in 2013.
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Cost of marriage licenses to nearly double in Los Angeles County
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Current fees “no longer reflect the actual costs to the RR/CC to perform these services and do not take into account inflationary factors or mandated minimum wage increases,” Logan wrote. By comparison, it costs $61 for a marriage license in Orange County.
Other changes: It will also cost more to get married at the L.A. County Clerk's Office in Norwalk. A civil wedding ceremony fee will jump from $35 to $44, and the ceremony witness fee will go from $20 to $26. The cost of a confidential marriage license, which does not require a witness, will increase to $220 from $85. A confidential marriage license is a legally recognized marriage record that is not part of the public record.
What’s next: The fee increase will take effect in 30 days.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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