BAY AREA CEREMONIES
Personalized … Exceptional … Innovative
Dr. Richard A. Kaplowitz, Officiant

Dr. Richard A. Kaplowitz brings a personal warmth, a sense Rick willl understand the range of your particular family needs, Ordained as a lay chaplain, Rick is recognized to officiate He works with you to personalize and build your own humor After earning his doctorate, Rick served as dean and vice present in Rick has been on the boards of community agencies that focus on
of humor, and an appreciation of the varations among us all
to his work as an offiant.
This personal depth and maturity are enriched by his experience
as a counselor, consultant, writer and manager.
Rick's has widely explored California’s broad spiritual diversity,
and he's delved into a multitude of cultures during his time in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.
He also completed a focused study/ internship with Canda’s premiere marriage officiants, helping him to be even more able
to develop a unique ceremony with and for you.
and he'll then work collaboratively with you to design an appropriate and welcoming context.
at ceremonies of all kinds, and, in particular, to solemnize
weddings in California [and in most of the rest of the world].
into each ceremony in a warm, friendly, upbeat manner that ensures a truly memorable occasion for you, your families, and your guests. He also integrates his ceremonies well with your other wedding professionals.
His extensive experience and relaxed style provides a reassuring presence and confidence throughout
the ceremony that puts everyone at ease.
~~ ~~ ~~
Like many others, Rick’s path to this spiritual calling has been personal
and evolutionary, in parallel with his professional development.
colleges and universities on both the east and west coasts, including
as V.P. at a graduate School of Psychology and as Dean at a school of
funeral service and grief counseling. He has also served as a director
and a vice president in high tech.
mental health, mental retardation, and adolescent counseling. He is
also a trained neighborhood disaster response team member.
Rick and his wife, author Geri Spieler, live in Palo Alto, California,
midway between San Francisco and San Jose.
Rick can be contacted using the form just below,
or by phone, at 650. 852 – 9700.
_______________________________________________________________________________
THE CONTACT RICK FORM, PLUS LINKS TO LICENSE INFORMATION,
AND TO SELECTED WEDDING SERVICE PROVIDERS, FOLLOW BELOW
LICENSE INFORMATION
Links to county-specific marriage license
information follow after the general California information.
These excerpts and summaries of
California state law on getting your
marriage license are presented solely
as informational, not as legal advice.
You will both need to go, together, to apply for the license. [If one person is in service overseas in a war zone, you can use a power of attorney process.]
Each applicant for a marriage license is required to present authentic photo-identification acceptable to the county clerk as to name and date of birth.
Further, to receive the license, you will be required to provide (and show verification if asked) the personal data of each party being married, including the date of birth,
full given name at birth or by court order,
birthplace,
mailing address,
names and birthplaces of each party's parents,
last names at birth of each party's parents, the number of previous marriages,
marital status,
the name used prior to the intended marriage by each party at the time of the marriage license application,
if the name is different from the name given at birth or by court order,
and the new name, if any, selected by each party for intended use upon solemnization of the marriage.
Information and validation about previous divorces may be required [divorce judgment]
A mailing address used by an applicant can be a residential address, a business address, or a United States Postal Service post office box.
The marriage license shall include an affidavit, which the applicants shall sign, affirming that they have received a brochure from the county clerk that covers the topics of genetic diseases and tests, AIDS, domestic violence, and name-change information.
For Domestic Partnerships – requirements are common residence; not married or domestically partnered with anyone else;and either same gender or at least one is over the age of 62.
A marriage license expires 90 days after its issuance.
A regular license for a marriage anywhere in California can be secured from any County Clerk's office in California.
Confidential license: When the confidentiality of a marriage date is important, a confidential license may be requested. Certified copies of the license can only be requested by either of the named parties, with proper identification [or released by court order]. Marriages under a confidential license must be performed in the same county in which the license issued.
LINKS to specific Bay Area county clerks' offices:
Click on the county name to go to the page
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
SAN MATEO COUNTY
SAN FRANCISCO
Note: Marriage licenses in San Francisco are issued by prepaid appointment only.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
MONTEREY COUNTY
ALAMEDA COUNTY
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
MARIN COUNTY
