R72 - Marriage License Application - County Of Los Angeles (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NAME EQUALITY ACT OF 2007

One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the middle and/or last names by which that party

wishes to be known after solemnization of the marriage. Each party applying for a marriage license may

choose to include on their marriage license the new name in the spaces provided on the marriage license

application without intent to defraud. Changing one’s name through this process can only be done at the time

the marriage license is issued by the County Clerk or authorized Notary Public, as applicable.

Each party to the marriage may adopt any of the following last names:

The current last name of the other spouse.

The last name of either spouse given at birth.

A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last

name of either spouse given at birth.

A hyphenated combination of last names.

Each party to the marriage may adopt any of the following middle names:

The current last name of either spouse.

The last name of either spouse given at birth.

A hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the current last name of the person or

spouse.

A hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the birth last name of the person or

spouse.

NOTE: You may not change your first name using this process. IMPORTANT: You may not amend the

marriage license after it has been issued to add or change the name you wish to be known as after

you are married. The name you indicate on the marriage license application will be your name on the

marriage license/certificate and cannot be changed by the County Clerk.

You are not required to change your name, nor are parties required to have the same name.

If one or both parties do not wish to identify a new name on the marriage license, fields 30A thru 31C,

as applicable, on the marriage license will be completed with two single dashes. You may not change

the information on the marriage license after it has been issued by the County Clerk.

The marriage certificate is used by multiple local, state, federal and private agencies, each of which have

different rules and/or regulations regarding what documents are acceptable to change your name on their

records following marriage. It is recommended that you contact these agencies to verify their requirements

prior to applying for your marriage license.

It is unlawful for our employees to answer questions of a legal nature. County Clerk staff cannot advise you

how to complete the marriage license application as it relates to your entry of a new name or retention of your

former name on the marriage license application. For your protection, if you have any questions regarding

whether you should or should not list your new name on the marriage license application, and/or how the

Name Equality Act of 2007 may affect you, please consult an attorney prior to applying for your marriage

license.

See Reverse for Marriage License Application

R72 Rev. 5/10

R72 - Marriage License Application - County Of Los Angeles Page 2