La Paz County Marriage Records

La Paz County marriage records are kept by the Clerk of Superior Court in Parker. This is one of Arizona's smaller counties, but it still offers full marriage license services to residents and visitors alike. The clerk office is at 1316 Kofa Avenue in the Parker courthouse, and you can also get a marriage license at the Salome Justice Court or the Quartzsite Magistrate Court. La Paz County charges $83 for a marriage license, which is less than some of the larger Arizona counties. Hollie Lucas serves as the current Clerk of Superior Court and can help with any questions about marriage records in this area.

La Paz Clerk of Superior Court

The La Paz County Clerk of Superior Court handles all marriage license services in the county. Clerk Hollie Lucas runs the office. Staff can issue new licenses and provide copies of past marriage records. The main office sits in Suite 607 of the La Paz County Courthouse at 1316 Kofa Avenue in Parker. Call (928) 669-6131 with questions about marriage records or to check office hours.

La Paz County is fairly spread out. To help residents, the clerk has set up two extra spots where you can get a marriage license. The Salome Justice Court and the Quartzsite Magistrate Court both issue licenses on behalf of the county. This saves folks a long drive to Parker if they live in those areas. Call ahead to make sure the court you want to visit is open and has staff ready to process your license.

The office keeps standard hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff can look up old marriage records and help you find what you need. Walk-ins are welcome at the Parker location.

How to Get a La Paz Marriage License

Both people must show up to apply. Bring a valid government photo ID like a driver's license or passport. Under A.R.S. 25-121, you must also give your Social Security number to the clerk. The clerk keeps this info private. It does not go on the public record.

The license fee is $83 in La Paz County. Pay with cash, cashier's check, or money order. The clerk issues your license the same day you apply. There is no wait. No blood test. You can marry right after you get the license if you want. The license stays good for 12 full months. Use it anywhere in Arizona during that time. If you do not use it within a year, it expires and you have to start over with a new fee.

You need two witnesses at your ceremony. Both must be 18 or older. The person who performs your marriage must sign the license after the ceremony. They then send the signed license back to the La Paz County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by A.R.S. 25-123. Once the clerk gets the signed license back, the marriage is on file as a public record.

Note: Personal checks may not be accepted, so bring cash or a money order to be safe.

La Paz Marriage Records for Military

Active duty service members should know about a special form. The La Paz County Clerk recommends that military members buy an Affidavit of Record of Marriage along with their license. This is an extra certified document. The military records division prefers this form over the original marriage license. If you are in the armed forces and plan to get married in La Paz County, ask the clerk about this when you apply.

The Affidavit of Record of Marriage costs $30. It proves your marriage took place and was recorded with the county. Military personnel often need this to update their records, change benefits, or add a spouse to base housing lists. Getting it at the same time as your license saves a trip later. The clerk office can prepare both documents while you wait.

Getting Copies of La Paz Marriage Records

Need a copy of a marriage certificate from La Paz County? The clerk office can help. A certified copy costs $30. This is sometimes called an Abstract of Marriage. It shows the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and when the license was recorded. Under A.R.S. 25-130, the clerk can issue an abstract instead of a full copy of the original license.

To request a copy, you need basic info. Have the names of both spouses ready. Know the year or close to it. If you do not know what year the marriage took place, the clerk charges an extra $30 to search. This research fee covers the time spent looking through records. You can avoid this fee by doing the search yourself. The public is welcome to come to the courthouse and look through marriage records at no cost.

Marriage records in Arizona are public. Under A.R.S. 39-121, anyone can ask to see public records during business hours. You do not have to be related to the couple. You do not need to explain why you want the record. The clerk will provide what is on file as long as you pay the copy fee.

Below is a look at the La Paz County Superior Court Clerk home page. You can find contact info and more details there.

The clerk website has links to forms and fee schedules. Check it before your visit to make sure you have all the info you need.

Age Rules for La Paz Marriages

The legal age to marry in Arizona is 18. If you are 18 or older, you can apply for a marriage license on your own. Bring ID and your Social Security number. The clerk will issue the license that day if all is in order.

Applicants aged 16 or 17 face extra steps. You need a notarized consent form from a parent or guardian. A certified emancipation order also works. Bring a copy of your birth certificate and a government photo ID. There is also a partner age rule. The person you want to marry cannot be more than three years older than you. This protects teens.

No one under 16 can marry in Arizona. This rule took effect August 3, 2018. A.R.S. 25-129 makes it a crime to issue a license to someone under 16. La Paz County follows this law with no exceptions.

Who Can Perform La Paz Weddings

Arizona law lists who can officiate a wedding. A.R.S. 25-124 sets the rules. Licensed or ordained clergy can perform marriages. Judges from the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Court can do it. So can justices of the peace and municipal court judges. Notaries public who are commissioned and live in Arizona can also perform weddings. This last option is unique to Arizona and gives couples more choices.

Federal judges are allowed too. Bankruptcy court judges and U.S. magistrate judges can officiate. With all these options, finding someone to marry you in La Paz County should not be hard. The officiant must sign the license after the ceremony and return it to the clerk within 30 days. If they fail to do this, the marriage may not be on file with the county.

La Paz Marriage License Locations

La Paz County has three places where you can get a marriage license. The main office is the Clerk of Superior Court in Parker. This is at 1316 Kofa Avenue, Suite 607. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Staff here handle all types of marriage record requests.

The Salome Justice Court also issues marriage licenses. This is handy for folks who live in the eastern part of the county. The Quartzsite Magistrate Court is another option. Quartzsite sits in the western part of La Paz County near the California border. Both satellite locations issue licenses on behalf of the Superior Court Clerk. Call ahead to check hours and make sure someone is there to help you.

• Clerk of Superior Court: 1316 Kofa Ave., Suite 607, Parker, AZ 85344
• Salome Justice Court: serves eastern La Paz County
• Quartzsite Magistrate Court: serves western La Paz County

Note: All three locations charge the same $83 fee for a marriage license.

La Paz Marriage License in Arizona Context

La Paz County is one of 15 counties in Arizona. Each county runs its own marriage license services through the Clerk of Superior Court. The state health department does not handle marriage records. Only the county clerks do. This means you must contact La Paz County directly if your marriage happened here or if you want to get married here.

A license from La Paz County is valid statewide. You can marry anywhere in Arizona with it. Some couples get their license in a smaller county with lower fees and then have their ceremony in a larger city. La Paz charges $83, while bigger counties like Maricopa and Pima charge $98. If saving money matters and you can make the trip to Parker, Salome, or Quartzsite, you might want to get your license here.

Historical marriage records for La Paz County and other Arizona counties are held at the Arizona State Archives. Archives holdings go back as far as 1864 for some counties, though coverage varies. If you need a very old marriage record, the archives may have it. For more recent records, the La Paz County Clerk is your source. The Arizona Courts Locator can help you find court contact info for any county in the state.

Counties Near La Paz

La Paz County sits in western Arizona along the Colorado River. It borders several other counties. If you live near a county line, another clerk office might be closer. Keep in mind that any Arizona marriage license works statewide. You can get your license in one county and marry in another.

Mohave County is to the north. It includes Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and Bullhead City. Mohave charges $98 for a marriage license. Yuma County is to the south, with the city of Yuma as the county seat. Yuma also charges $98. Maricopa County lies to the east and is home to Phoenix. Maricopa charges $98 as well. Yavapai County, which includes Prescott, sits to the northeast. Yavapai also has a $98 fee. La Paz County's $83 fee is among the lower rates in the state.

La Paz County Clerk Contact

Here are the contact details for the La Paz County Clerk of Superior Court. Reach out with any questions about marriage licenses or records.

La Paz County Clerk of Superior Court
Clerk: Hollie Lucas
1316 Kofa Ave., Suite 607
Parker, AZ 85344
Phone: (928) 669-6131
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The clerk office can help with new license applications, certified copies of past marriages, and questions about fees. For online info, visit the La Paz County Superior Court Clerk website. The site has forms and details on all clerk services. If you plan to visit in person, call first to make sure the office is open on the day you want to come.