By Kathy Chouteau
In a true sign of the times during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office has adapted its services to now offer virtual civil wedding ceremonies using Zoom or FaceTime.
County residents can receive both marriage licenses and civil marriage ceremonies via the online platforms, with Clerk-Recorder staff performing the duties. Appointments for marriage services are available Tuesday through Thursday during June.
“June is traditionally a month of many weddings,” said County Clerk-Recorder Deborah Cooper in a statement. “We are pleased to offer our constituents a creative new method to be married during this crisis.”
The news comes on the heels of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent Executive Order permitting the issuance of marriage licenses and the conducting of civil wedding ceremonies remotely through teleconferencing technologies.
To receive the wedding services, at least one member of the couple must be a Contra Costa County resident and the couple must appear together and be physically present in California, per the Clerk-Recorder’s Office. Invited guests are also permitted to join in to watch the ceremony.
The Clerk-Recorder’s Office advises that the couple must complete the relevant forms in advance of the ceremony and that additional software is unnecessary for the license or ceremonial services.
“A computer, tablet or cell phone with a microphone/camera and an internet connection is required,” stated the office.
For more info or to schedule an appointment, contact the Clerk-Recorder’s Office at [email protected] or call 925-335-7900.
