Clerk-recorder offices

Donna Johnston, Sutter County clerk-recorder, said that while the Sutter County clerkrecorder’s office is closed to the public for the time being, they have issued a couple of marriage licenses, but only in urgent situations.

Johnston said there was someone who needed benefits and a couple was afraid of what would happen if one of them gets sick.

“We issued the license and performed the ceremony while practicing social distancing,” Johnston said. “We’re trying to be as flexible as the state would allow.”

While they’re not issuing licenses – except in the urgent cases – licenses that have already been issued can be placed in the drop box in front of the office, along with other documents that the clerk-recorder’s office processes.

Johnston said they ask that people put documents in an envelope so there aren’t a bunch of loose documents in the drop box – staff picks up stuff from the drop box periodically throughout the day.

“I think the biggest challenge is not being able to adequately serve our customers,” Johnston said.

Terry Hansen, Yuba County clerk-recorder, said the office is closed to the public as well so they’re not doing weddings or issuing marriage licenses.

“If an individual has a marriage license and had an appointment, we tried our best to accommodate those individuals but we’re not taking new appointments,” Hansen said.

She said there are two people in the office for half the day to do recordings that they get by mail or electronically.

“We’re trying very hard to keep (our staff) healthy so we can meet the needs of the public,” Hansen said.

If someone already has a marriage license issued to them, the officiant can send it to the office and they will process it and send certified copies when requested when the staff is available to do so – which is usually once a week, Hansen said.

Hansen said couples can still have a religious ceremony or a ceremony by individuals who can perform them.

Marriage licenses that have been issued expire after 90 days – Hansen and Johnston said the state has not issued an extension at this time.

Hansen said if anything changes – such as if there’s an opportunity for an extension – it will be posted to their website.

For more information, visit www.yuba.org/ departments/county_clerk_recorder/index. php or www.suttercounty.org/doc/government/ depts/cr/crhome