LOVING AND BEING LOVED IS THE GREATEST OF HUMAN JOYS; THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE. WE CAN EXIST WITHOUT LOVE, BUT WE ARE NOT LIVING FULLY AS HUMAN BEINGS WITHOUT IT.
Edward Ford
Edward Ford
We understand that there are many different reasons for a couple to get married while one is incarcerated and we do not judge (insurance reasons, to legitimatize the children, money reasons, family visits, true love, wishing to keep the prisoner incarcerated locally, etc.). We do them legally; don't be fooled by others. Check them out. If they have no website, use caution. Many charge much more then we do (I have an associate who works with me in case I am pre- booked on the day you require; that is why I say "WE", ) so we have you covered all the time. The rules listed here below are only basic....every institution has its own rules about weddings so a phone call is necessary to solidify pertinent information.
We will officiate your wedding in California jail or prison for a fee determined by distance traveled. Confidential License fee in each county has different pricing so call the clerks office of where the ceremony will be held to find out their fees for the Confidential license and for the recording. YOU MUST PURCHASE A CONFIDENTIAL LICENSE!
The "jailhouse wedding" experience can easily take 4 or more hours of our time from the trip with you to the clerks office to help you apply, waiting through the visiting check point lines at the jail/prison, going thru the scanning and performing the ceremony and the travel time back.
Here's what you need to do in California in general to wed an inmate= jail weddings are different than prison weddings because of regulations as they can be county, state or federal, etc. so please call us or email us to get more info.
Phone = 209-722-6708 or email me at [email protected]
You, the bride, first must be able to be put on his visiting list so you can enter into the prison or jail. If you are not able to register positively to see him as a visitor, as you have a record yourself or an arrest, fine, or other police report that keeps you from being on his visitor list, then you will not be able to get married inside the facility he is housed in but may have to wait until his hearing date, court date for another case, or if he is housed in a different city or site. This can be done and has been done right directly inside the court room itself during his time and date assigned but a phone call to me is necessary to explain it all A to Z as it involves too much stuff to mention here.
DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GET MARRIED OVER THE PHONE OR WITHOUT FACE TO FACE LIVE TALK.......DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OFFICIANT TO JUST SIMPLY SIGN THE MARRIAGE LICENSE WITHOUT VOWS BEING SAID ONE TO ANOTHER FACE TO FACE WITHOUT YOUR FIANCE PRESENT IN FRONT OF YOU. IT IS ILLEGAL AND NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON! AND WILL MAKE YOUR LICENSE VOID, YOUR WEDDING BOGUS, MINISTER WILL BE ARRESTED AND YOU COULD BE IN A MESS WITH IRS, CHURCH, SCHOOLS, LOANS, STATE DOCUMENTS, ETC. AND PERHAPS EVEN YOU BEING IN HOT WATER FOR HOLDING A LICENSED DOCUMENT THAT IS COMPLETELY VOID/INVALID.....SO PLEASE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY! YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS TO SEE IT IS A FACT!
By the way, important information- the jail has nothing to do with ceremonies such as this as far as laws or how to do them so if you contact the jail they will have no knowledge. The wedding you and the groom will be involved in is between you two as a couple and the minister ONLY as the jail is not involved in any aspect. Any questions on a ceremony for the incarcerated MUST be directed to us alone! If you contact the jail, your wedding may be cancelled as they are not in the KNOW of how this is done legally as they are not officiates. Please let us do out job! All will be explained to you in what to do and when at our appt!
The "Inability to Appear" form must be signed ( I have included a copy of one on this website) by the inmate in front of a notary. A notary with legal documents to sign may visit the inmate at the times each facility has designated so find that out by calling the facility on their time schedules. Some do it only once a week, others do it twice a week, etc. As I said they are all different. Some have none there on site so you may have to search for your own notary who is able to enter in.
Applicant (Bride or Groom) must appear at the County Clerk-Recorder Department in the county they plan to marry to obtain the Confidential marriage license, unless a different one is furnished for you via the prison. The person solemnizing the ceremony MUST ACCOMPANY YOU as they give the signed license to me for safe keeping until the wedding is performed.. Current original photo I.D. for you is required (no exceptions), along with proof that the person is incarcerated. (this is part of the Inability to Appear form )
ALSO.. When you go to pick up your marriage license, follow these instructions: I require paid in full in cash for myself (fee is determined by distance so ask) PLUS you will need the clerks fee to apply for license....their office may accept a credit card but add a fee to use it; some may not and accept only cash...so ask the clerks office this as well. When it comes to this you want to be prepared as many have traveled a long ways and cannot just go back home and get the necessary information that is forgotten. The fees you pay to each entity is separate and one is not to do with the other. My fees go to me for the officiation. Notary fee goes to notary for his/her service. Clerks fee is for their service, etc so each is paid individually. Receipts will be given.
Bring fee to pay for your marriage license
Bring the notarized Inability to Appear form. ( a wedding cannot be done if this is missing)
Any papers from the court showing your fiancé is in jail, or a receipt from putting money into your fiancés account at the jail/prison will suffice.
Bring your drivers license./current photo ID
Before you go to pick up your marriage license, fill out the on-line application form for a CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE on the County Clerk's web-site . You can also go in the office and fill in the license application too if you have no access to a personal computer .
To get a confidential license, you must state that the two of you have been living together at the same address hence you will enter YOUR CURRENT your address on the form when it asks HIS place of residence; do not use the jail/prison address as that changes if he gets transferred. If you have a witness/guest (s) you must be sure they have already applied for a visitor form and are qualified to see the inamte, otherwise they will nto be allowed in. You must do this beforehand.
Meet your Officiant on an agreed place beforehand; usually it will be inside the clerks office or in the parking lot.
If you haven't filled out the on-line application, stop at a computer kiosk inside the clerks office and fill out the information. You will need to know information about his birthdate, lace of birth and your fiancés parents (names, places of birth, etc.) and the dates of past divorces so have those ready.
After you receive your license, they will give it to the minister (me) for safe keeping so you will not be receiving it until wedding is officially completed. (all offices are different in this)
I will have your fiancé sign the license before the wedding begins and will conduct a legal wedding ceremony, after which your Officiant (me) will take the completed marriage certificate to the county recorders office, and leave you to spend the rest of your visit time with your new spouse. You then will apply at the recorders office for a certified copy within 7 to 1o days after your wedding. THIS ONE WILL BE YOUR LEGALLY BINDING COPY. THE CERTIFICATE I GIVE YOU IS ONLY FOR LOOKS,SUCH AS YOUR WEDDING BOOK OR HANG ON THE WALL.....IT IS NOT YOUR LEGAL ONE!
If you are not local, the form you use to request a copy of your license sent to your home will need to be notarized too once you get back to your home town......all that info is on the "request to be mailed" form, so grab one as you leave the clerks office! Sometimes it is included in your packet they give you.
Once you call or email, we can discuss if it is jail or a prison and go from there. It is all possible to marry the incarcerated man; just a bit more involved! :]
We will officiate your wedding in California jail or prison for a fee determined by distance traveled. Confidential License fee in each county has different pricing so call the clerks office of where the ceremony will be held to find out their fees for the Confidential license and for the recording. YOU MUST PURCHASE A CONFIDENTIAL LICENSE!
The "jailhouse wedding" experience can easily take 4 or more hours of our time from the trip with you to the clerks office to help you apply, waiting through the visiting check point lines at the jail/prison, going thru the scanning and performing the ceremony and the travel time back.
Here's what you need to do in California in general to wed an inmate= jail weddings are different than prison weddings because of regulations as they can be county, state or federal, etc. so please call us or email us to get more info.
Phone = 209-722-6708 or email me at [email protected]
You, the bride, first must be able to be put on his visiting list so you can enter into the prison or jail. If you are not able to register positively to see him as a visitor, as you have a record yourself or an arrest, fine, or other police report that keeps you from being on his visitor list, then you will not be able to get married inside the facility he is housed in but may have to wait until his hearing date, court date for another case, or if he is housed in a different city or site. This can be done and has been done right directly inside the court room itself during his time and date assigned but a phone call to me is necessary to explain it all A to Z as it involves too much stuff to mention here.
DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GET MARRIED OVER THE PHONE OR WITHOUT FACE TO FACE LIVE TALK.......DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OFFICIANT TO JUST SIMPLY SIGN THE MARRIAGE LICENSE WITHOUT VOWS BEING SAID ONE TO ANOTHER FACE TO FACE WITHOUT YOUR FIANCE PRESENT IN FRONT OF YOU. IT IS ILLEGAL AND NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON! AND WILL MAKE YOUR LICENSE VOID, YOUR WEDDING BOGUS, MINISTER WILL BE ARRESTED AND YOU COULD BE IN A MESS WITH IRS, CHURCH, SCHOOLS, LOANS, STATE DOCUMENTS, ETC. AND PERHAPS EVEN YOU BEING IN HOT WATER FOR HOLDING A LICENSED DOCUMENT THAT IS COMPLETELY VOID/INVALID.....SO PLEASE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY! YOU CAN GOOGLE THIS TO SEE IT IS A FACT!
By the way, important information- the jail has nothing to do with ceremonies such as this as far as laws or how to do them so if you contact the jail they will have no knowledge. The wedding you and the groom will be involved in is between you two as a couple and the minister ONLY as the jail is not involved in any aspect. Any questions on a ceremony for the incarcerated MUST be directed to us alone! If you contact the jail, your wedding may be cancelled as they are not in the KNOW of how this is done legally as they are not officiates. Please let us do out job! All will be explained to you in what to do and when at our appt!
The "Inability to Appear" form must be signed ( I have included a copy of one on this website) by the inmate in front of a notary. A notary with legal documents to sign may visit the inmate at the times each facility has designated so find that out by calling the facility on their time schedules. Some do it only once a week, others do it twice a week, etc. As I said they are all different. Some have none there on site so you may have to search for your own notary who is able to enter in.
Applicant (Bride or Groom) must appear at the County Clerk-Recorder Department in the county they plan to marry to obtain the Confidential marriage license, unless a different one is furnished for you via the prison. The person solemnizing the ceremony MUST ACCOMPANY YOU as they give the signed license to me for safe keeping until the wedding is performed.. Current original photo I.D. for you is required (no exceptions), along with proof that the person is incarcerated. (this is part of the Inability to Appear form )
ALSO.. When you go to pick up your marriage license, follow these instructions: I require paid in full in cash for myself (fee is determined by distance so ask) PLUS you will need the clerks fee to apply for license....their office may accept a credit card but add a fee to use it; some may not and accept only cash...so ask the clerks office this as well. When it comes to this you want to be prepared as many have traveled a long ways and cannot just go back home and get the necessary information that is forgotten. The fees you pay to each entity is separate and one is not to do with the other. My fees go to me for the officiation. Notary fee goes to notary for his/her service. Clerks fee is for their service, etc so each is paid individually. Receipts will be given.
Bring fee to pay for your marriage license
Bring the notarized Inability to Appear form. ( a wedding cannot be done if this is missing)
Any papers from the court showing your fiancé is in jail, or a receipt from putting money into your fiancés account at the jail/prison will suffice.
Bring your drivers license./current photo ID
Before you go to pick up your marriage license, fill out the on-line application form for a CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE on the County Clerk's web-site . You can also go in the office and fill in the license application too if you have no access to a personal computer .
To get a confidential license, you must state that the two of you have been living together at the same address hence you will enter YOUR CURRENT your address on the form when it asks HIS place of residence; do not use the jail/prison address as that changes if he gets transferred. If you have a witness/guest (s) you must be sure they have already applied for a visitor form and are qualified to see the inamte, otherwise they will nto be allowed in. You must do this beforehand.
Meet your Officiant on an agreed place beforehand; usually it will be inside the clerks office or in the parking lot.
If you haven't filled out the on-line application, stop at a computer kiosk inside the clerks office and fill out the information. You will need to know information about his birthdate, lace of birth and your fiancés parents (names, places of birth, etc.) and the dates of past divorces so have those ready.
After you receive your license, they will give it to the minister (me) for safe keeping so you will not be receiving it until wedding is officially completed. (all offices are different in this)
I will have your fiancé sign the license before the wedding begins and will conduct a legal wedding ceremony, after which your Officiant (me) will take the completed marriage certificate to the county recorders office, and leave you to spend the rest of your visit time with your new spouse. You then will apply at the recorders office for a certified copy within 7 to 1o days after your wedding. THIS ONE WILL BE YOUR LEGALLY BINDING COPY. THE CERTIFICATE I GIVE YOU IS ONLY FOR LOOKS,SUCH AS YOUR WEDDING BOOK OR HANG ON THE WALL.....IT IS NOT YOUR LEGAL ONE!
If you are not local, the form you use to request a copy of your license sent to your home will need to be notarized too once you get back to your home town......all that info is on the "request to be mailed" form, so grab one as you leave the clerks office! Sometimes it is included in your packet they give you.
Once you call or email, we can discuss if it is jail or a prison and go from there. It is all possible to marry the incarcerated man; just a bit more involved! :]