Contra Costa County Clerk in Martinez, CA

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Telephone:	+1 925-335-7900
Website:	www.ccclerkrec.us
Address:	555 Escobar St, Martinez, CA, 94553
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	720 ftMartinez
Categories:	Public Services & Government

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Today

Today	8:00 am – 4:00 pm Open now
Local time (Martinez)	09:37 Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Business hours

Monday	8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday	8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday	8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday	8:00 am – 7:30 pm
Friday	8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday	–
Sunday	–

Description

Specialties

County Clerk duties

The County Clerk-Recorder serves as the County Commissioner of Civil Marriages. The County Clerk-Recorder issues marriage licenses, performs civil marriage ceremonies, processes fictitious business name filings, provides for the qualification and registration of notaries, process servers and miscellaneous statutory oaths and other filings. All functions of the office are conducted under provisions of the State Constitution and State Codes. The office issues approximately 4300 marriage licenses and processes 8000 fictitious business name filings annually.

Recorder duties

The County Clerk-Recorder is responsible for providing a public record and to give constructive notice of transactions relating to real property in Contra Costa County. In addition, the County Clerk-Recorder is responsible for the official recording, filing and preserving of all vital documents in the County. The division also maintains Uniform Commercial Code filings: subdivision maps and vital statistics, including birth, death and marriages within the county. This Division creates digital images of real property and vital records and provides and maintains an efficient retrieval system to provide secure archives for the county’s real property records.

History

Established in 1850.

Originally named Mt. Diablo County, Contra Costa County was one of the first 18 counties established on January 4, 1850 by the California constitutional committee. The County Clerk was created as one of the original constitutional officers created by the California Constitution of 1849. The County Clerk was also the ex-officio Clerk of the District Court of Sessions and Probate Court, as well as Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

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16 reviews of Contra Costa County Clerk

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Craig G.

Place rating: 5
East Bay, CA

I call on public sector for a living. Most of my experience has been with the State of Ca and various counties in so cal.
I have seen first hand the inefficiencies of our «local government at work». I had dreaded this day for so long! I even took PTO to brace for the long day!
I was pleasantly amazed at how easy and efficient the vital records dept. provided help and support.
I was in and out in 20 minutes to get original docs copied on county paper.
I’ve dealt professionally with counties where this process can take hours if not days!
Efficient is only 25% of my review. The staff was friendly, helpful. Patient, and frankly, g et the idea of serving the public that pays their Salaries. I’m willing to say, they were happy and excited to meet and greet me!
The office is modern clean. Process is streamlined and efficient as well as acceptable to all types aka non English speaking disabled elderly. I was able to use my phone to scan docs to folks in my family who needed them sitting in their general public waiting area. All they staff spoke said hello and a couple asked if they could be of assistance… That’s after I was done.
I suppose the two rows of PCs in the comments n area were for folks to access the intent because there was no wifi my only issue. But hey I can leave find a 4 bucks sip a refreshment and get wifi cause now, I have plenty of time!
I don’t like to pay taxes, but I am a happy citizen who sees the value of a well run county. CC is working it!

Michelle E.

Place rating: 5
Pittsburg, CA

Finally made It to get a copy of our marriage certificate. It was an extra 4 $ because we got married under confidential records. Total about $ 25.00 not bad.

Reba Jane S.

Place rating: 4
San Pablo, CA

I’ve been here a couple of times now, but this last was fun business. My Carl and I applied for our marriage license.
The clerks are friendly, the system is efficient and you’ll be in and out before you know it. Prices are what they are. Fill out any applications on line to save yourself some time.
Free parking for those who need Clerk services.

Shannon H.

Place rating: 5
Clayton, CA

If only all the county offices provided such cool, fun employees as this one!
The time has come! Our wedding is just less than 2 weeks away! Which means… its gettin official! I am about to be stamped as a married woman! Well, thankfully Contra Costa County Clerk office, made this experience easy and enjoyable.
Simple, simple, simple it was. Being most people work during the week, the County Clerk office graciously, provides hours up till 8:00 p. m on Thursday nights for us folks that work the 9 – 5 schedule. My honey and I headed over here after work, anticipating that there would be this tumultuous line, with a bunch of robotic, lifeless employees directing us what line to stand in and what to do… boy, were we wrong! As soon as I entered, I was easily welcomed by a clerk of what to do and how to get started. I arrived early and was still waiting for my honey to arrive, so I was able to get the process started before hand. And, low and behold, there was NO line! Zero, zip, nada! Just a few other soon to be hitched folks such as ourselves :) Oh, and not to mention the place is quite immaculately clean :)
My honey than arrived. We got our ticket and waited in the two person line and were quickly assisted. I can’t recall the lady’s name who swore us in and completed all our paper work to just about officialize us, be she was such a doll!!! Cheerful, sweet, and just so charming! And just like that, it was done! Now wedding time!
Thank you, County Clerk Office, for making this potentially dreadful task, into one enjoyable, memorable experience!

Liz W.

Place rating: 5
Citrus Heights, CA

Got married here in February, the chapels are both lovely and quaint. The park across the street is great for post nuptial photos, too. I’ve been to this office three times in the past two years (twice to pick up my kids’ birth certificates) and every time I was greeted with a smile. The staff have all been very friendly and helpful. Best government office I’ve ever visited!

Henry S.

Place rating: 5
Dublin, CA

I recently came the CCC Clerk’s office to pick up a copy of my new born baby’s birthday certificate. We came on a Tuesday around 3 PM and I was literally in and out in about 10 minutes.
The lady at the reception desk was super friendly and very helpful. She had me out the proper documents and then sent me over to the payment window. 5 minutes later I had the birth certificate in my hand and was on my merry way!

Rebecca H.

Place rating: 5
Dublin, CA

So I’m going on a trip and taking the le petite monster, and I’m told I need her birth certificate to prove she’s an infant. Can’t you just look at her? No teeth, can’t walk, drinks from bottles… oh wait, that describes adults too. So I go into my trusty file cabinet and I can’t find it. What? Where is it? Ooooh, we were never sent one. So I haul myself and le petite monster to Martinez, expecting a DMV experience. I was so wrong. Free parking, pleasant help, quick service. In and out in 15 minutes. Took me longer to drive there. Expensive at 31 dollars per copy, but same day service saves the day. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased that it was so incredibly painless. Well done, county clerk.

Sara W.

Place rating: 5
Livermore, CA

It’s been a breeze everytime I’ve gone, which is a relief. I preprint the forms I need off the website which saves me time and headache. Parking is ample. Get a number, wait a short wait, and I’ve been in & out in under 20min both times. First time to apply for the marriage license ($ 85 for nothing really IMO) and then the 2^nd time to get 2 copies ($ 17/ea!) but it’s been painless both times.
The one hiccup came when my now husband went into turn in our completed marriage license. He took it in the Monday after our wedding and found out that because the officiant misspelled Geyserville and tried to correct it on the form, it causes a whole slew of issues that are annoying. But they stress it to you when you first apply for the license so i am not surprised. He went in, paid $ 20 to fix and signed an affidavit, now it’s all good and we have a copy of the certificate.
It’s pretty awesome how easy the whole thing has been with big thanks to the CCC Clerks Office, thanks for everything!

Casey P.

Place rating: 3
Concord, CA

Well I had to go to the clerks office today to get commissioned and bonded for my notary. I got there around 12 in the afternoon and I waited for almost an hour before I was helped.
The girl that helped me was very friendly and made my experience much more pleasurable then it was before I got up to the counter. Still the wait was ridicules and hopefully next time I need to go I will try and go at a different time. I’m thinking going at lunch time was a bad idea.

Steve F.

Place rating: 5
Concord, CA

Filled out 1 form = 1 minute + $ 26 dollars & I was out… Very fast

Rachel N.

Place rating: 1
Seattle, WA

I cannot tell you how frustrating it has been trying to get our marriage certificate from the CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE. First, or license was signed wrong. We had to send it back and get it fixed. We did everything they asked in a very timely manner. We were supposed to get our official copy send by mail to my parents house and it never showed. I tried to call the office to see about getting it. Not only did I wait ten minutes on hold but from the moment the conversation started with the lady i was speaking with it seems like she wanted to rush me off the phone. I kept trying to explain to her that we got our license there but never got our official certificate but she kept cutting me off: «blah blah blah fill out a form pay 17 dollars to get a copy of your license.» I hate to be rude but these people really suck and are very unhelpful. I’m really that fed up with it. Any suggestions? Does anyone on here know how I could get it? We need our actual certificate for a lot of forms.

Amy P.

Place rating: 4
Concord, CA

Clerk’s office didn’t have much of a wait when we went in to apply for our marriage license. We went later in the afternoon and used a computer specially separated for filling out the license. It was very easy. Then, after 10 minutes or so we were called to a window where we swore we could legally marry and filled out a couple documents.
The charge was $ 85 — but the clerk charged a $ 2.50 service fee for using a Visa — and since this is against Visa’s merchant bylaws, Visa doesn’t allow transactions there. So I had to unexpectedly pay on a different card. Who doesn’t take Visa?! Annoying. And I’m against service fees (especially ones not approved by the c.c. company) so that’s the missing star.

Victor G.

Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA

contra costa county clerk’s office people here are so fab and cool.
drill:
–directed me to the computers
–all info easily accessible.
–olde days, had to look up the name, get a case number no, and get the file from them
–no mo, it’s all computerized, all integrated
–not counting power outage, was done in 15 minutes.
now if t was available online…

Danielle S.

Place rating: 3
San Ramon, CA

Went here to get copies of some records. I was suprised that it was actually quite efficient. I was out of there in about 10 minutes.

Emily J.

Place rating: 5
Concord, CA

Jac C and I visited the Contra Costa County Clerk on Friday to apply for our marriage license.
There are only a handful of visitor parking spots in their lot but ample street parking on Castro, next to the building. Street parking will run you a very reasonable 25¢ per 30 minutes.
They are open from 8:00 — 4:30 but get there by 4 for a marriage license. You can print out the application and fill it in at home to expedite the process. We were in and out in no more than 15 minutes. The staff were nice and concisely provided all the necessary information.
A marriage license will run you $ 85. I recommend bringing cash because Wells Fargo and Bank of America debit cards are currently not working with their system.
We officially have Contra Costa County’s stamp of approval to get married!

J T.

Place rating: 5
Ben-My-Chree, Canada

Came here with a friend about 8:30 in the morning. Plenty of street parking, still 25 cents for 30 minutes.
We were directed to which window to go to by the front desk clerk. No line at the Recorder’s Window! Even the clerk’s windows had three open windows and three customers so even that line would have been short.

Contra Costa County Clerk

Martinez, United States