Alameda County Clerk-Recorder Office - Oakland, California

Sheila S

If you need a copy of your marriage certificate, here are instructions (especially for me in the future in case I forget again, as we did this two years ago, and I forgot the procedure this year):

First go to the patio, which is on 11th St. It is not at all of the verbose signs that tell you to stop and read (this could be simplified with an arrow, pointing where to start), just turn the corner onto 11th St. There will be a little sign that tells you where to start your journey. * The two ladies in front of me were confused of where to start, as was I even though I had done it before, because there was so much to read.

Once on the patio, go to the window at the end with the representative. If there is a line, wait in line. There was no line when I went Monday at 8:40 AM. There was a small line of three groups in front of me when I went Monday at 10:50 AM.

Tell the representative what you want. But tell them clearly because the first time I went today they misunderstood and thought I wanted a new marriage license instead of a copy and had me go to a special link And come back with my partner. After I had already left, I checked out the link and it was for people who are unmarried. So, I wrote an email to the office and they told me there was a miscommunication, there is no partner necessary if you just want a copy. * I was impressed that they answered my email within the hour.

Fill out a paper form with your request and hand it back to the representative. They will check it over and give you a ticket number.

Take the ticket number and your form to the main door on Madison Street. There will be a lot of scary signs telling you to stop and go around the corner if you don’t have a number yet. Ignore those if you have your number. Walk right in past the security guards and wait for your number to be called to a window.

My number was called right when I walked into the main building, there was no wait. The representative in cubicle two was very fast and efficient. He took my form, my ID, my $19 cash and looked up my certificate, gave me a receipt for the cash, and printed out the certificate. All within mere minutes.

Too bad it can’t be so efficient online. If you are requesting this online you are going to need the request notarized and it’ll take several weeks before they will send you the actual certificate.

There is a parking structure or metered parking in the area. The meter is two dollars per hour and you can pay by credit card. Parking is a little easier to find now that a lot of people work from home.

Or a 10 minute walk to 12th St. BART is what I did, and I believe an even shorter walk to Lake Merritt BART, but that line I would have to transfer.

Dom Sr.

I went in on a Thursday morning at 9am, was in and out within 15min with my new birth certificate! If I knew they were THAT fast, I would've never called out of work ‍♂️

Duane McWaine

Friendly, knowledgeable staff, including security staff. Easily accessible from the nearby Bart station. Shout out to Shenell, especially.

Aleksia Lindsay

The staff are extremely helpful and understanding. They made the process to obtain a death certificate quick and easy. It's nice to know should I ever need to obtain a copy of my marriage certificate or my kid's birth certificate, I could do so with no issues. Hope their supervisors can see the great work they are doing and give them a bonus for doing an excellent job.

P H

Place isn't the issue it's the location no parking and they steal over there went for a birth certificate came back to my mirror cover taken off really pissed me off to come out to items missing from my car

Jessica Villagomez

I when today to get my child birth certificate it was fast an friendly. You have to go to the side of the building to get a ticket number and wait there in to you are call.

Valerie Leavy

Beware the lady at counter 14. This is the public real estate records research room. She is the opposite of helpful. She will try to confuse you and scare you away. She will try to distract you and get in your way once you figure out how to use the database. Today was my second visit. I was friendly and said hello because on my first visit I clocked her as someone that wants to ruin your day. That didn’t help when I wanted to print 8 pages at the end of my visit.

She acted like she couldn’t get the documents to print. But I was watching her move the mouse around and do useless things, not actually trying to print them. After 12 minutes of this foolishness, she sent my 8 pages to the printer and they printed just fine. Someone was waiting behind me for most of this time. Terrible and inexcusable since it’s my right to be there and we pay her salary in taxes, and I’m doing my own research and being friendly and she’s going out of her way to ruin my experience. Zero stars.

UPDATE: I complained at their website and someone actually called me. Unfortunately he said he didn’t believe anything I said. I am not sure why he called me. He was the customer service manager and just accused me of making it all up. Incredible. I can’t believe these people

Christina B

I attended my cousins civil service ceremony, and the justice of the peace of conducting the ceremony was terrible! Awful! I can't believe they have this lady conducting marriage ceremonies. She read the propt so fast it was inaudible with her accent. I have been to several ceremonies here, and this was by far the worst. It was extremely disrespectful. She needs to quit.