Confidential Marriage – A California Benefit

The act of marriage, as depicted across many different mediums, is a large gathering of friends and family coming together to celebrate the special union of two people. It’s a very public broadcast of the undying love a couple has for one another. But what if you wanted to keep this union private?

Eloping would remove the public spectacle of it all, but you would still need to sign and file a public marriage license with the county clerk’s office. Anyone could still find out about the marriage. The only true way to hide your marriage from prying eyes is to secure a confidential marriage in California.

The History Behind the Confidential Marriage

Always the trendsetter, California is the only state in the union that offers confidential marriage licenses. Confidential marriage was originally setup in 1878 for couples who lived in remote, rural areas with no access to a church or courthouse. Anyone living together out of wedlock could now be respected in community while protecting their privacy and adding legal protections for inheritance and property rights.

The Advantages of a Confidential Marriage

The number one advantage of a confidential marriage is privacy. Unlike a public marriage license, a confidential marriage license can only be accessed by the couple unless the person requesting it has a court order. This protects sensitive information, such as full names and places of birth, and keeps it hidden from telemarketers, spammers, and identity thieves.

The confidential marriage itself can also remain private. You do not need any witnesses and the ceremony can be done immediately without having to wade through enormous amounts of bureaucratic red tape. No one has to know you got married unless you want them to know.

Finally, you do not need an ordained minister or licensed county clerk to administer the license. All you need is a notary public with special authorization to issue, sign, and file confidential marriage licenses. They can even perform the ceremony in your living room.

How Do I Qualify for a Confidential Marriage License?

The only thing you must do to qualify for a confidential marriage license is to swear that you and your potential spouse are living together. You do not need to offer proof of your claim, nor is there a set minimum amount of time.

Possible Abuse

Though it’s a perfect solution for celebrities and public figures, confidential marriage licenses can be easily abused. In fact, California almost rescinded confidential marriages in the 1980s, due in part to rampant abuse by polygamists, minors, and those claiming false social security benefits.

Major abuse can also happen in the elder community. Predators seek out vulnerable, wealthy seniors and convince them to get a confidential marriage. Because they’re now legally married, the predator can lay claim to the estate without anyone else in the family knowing about it.

Regardless, in a political climate where identity theft is as easy as a few keystrokes, the pros of a confidential marriage license far outweigh the cons.

Tags: California, confidential, confidential marriage, license, Marriage, private, public
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