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San Diego Marriage License

In order to be legally married in San Diego, couples must obtain their marriage license from ANY California County Clerk-Recorder before their wedding day — there is no blood test and no waiting period!

 

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR A SAN DIEGO MARRIAGE LICENSE!
https://www.sdarcc.gov/content/arcc/home/divisions/recorder-clerk/marriage-license-civil-ceremony.html

Couples must obtain their marriage license from ANY California County Clerk-Recorder before their wedding day.

 

  • The license does not have to be from San Diego… it can come from any county in California. We cannot sign off on a license from another state.

 

  • Just count back 90 days from your wedding date and you can obtain your California marriage license ANYTIME within that 90-day time period.

 

  • There is NO waiting period.

 

  • Your marriage license is effective immediately and valid for 90 days anywhere within the state of California. You are not legally married until your officiant signs and files your license with the County Clerk-Recorder.

 

  • A blood test is NOT required.

 

  • Applying for your marriage license CANNOT be done online. The couple must appear together and present one form of valid photo identification with proof of age. (US driver’s license, passport, etc.)

 

  • If either party has been granted a divorce within 90 days of applying for a new marriage license, a copy of the final divorce decree must be presented at the time of issue. If it has been more than 90 days, the marriage license application only asks for the date of dissolution.

 

  • Once you have your California marriage license, your wedding ceremony can be performed at the location of your choice by your wedding officiant, minister or reverend.

 

You DO NOT have to be legally married at the County Clerk’s office. We are happy to perform your ceremony at any location including Coronado beach, San Diego hotels, a Temecula winery, La Jolla, in your home or your backyard!

 

San Diego Regular Public Marriage License — $129

 

San Diego Confidential Marriage License — $144

 

To save time at the Clerk’s office, download and fill out your marriage license application BEFORE you go there.

 

 

A Regular Public LIcense requires (1) one witness to sign after the actual ceremony, and is public record.

 

The Confidential Marriage License does not require any witnesses and is private and not public record.

 

In order to obtain a Confidential Marriage License:

  1. Both parties must swear in writing that they have already been living together.

  2. The marriage record will be maintained as Confidential and ONLY the Bride or Groom may obtain copies of the marriage certificate, EXCEPT by order of a Superior Court.

 

The Confidential marriage license is effective right away and valid for 90 days anywhere within the state of California.

 

After the ceremony, we will send the license to the County Clerk of Record where you purchased the license via USPS trackable delivery so it has to be signed for and we have a formal record that it got to the Clerk safely.

 

NOTE: It is the legal responsibility of your officiant to file the license with the County Clerk.

 

OBTAINING OFFICIAL COPIES OF YOUR LICENSE

Official certified copies of your license (which becomes your Marriage Certificate) may be purchased approximately 14 days after the license is signed by ONE witness and your officiant, and returned to the county recorder’s office.

 

MAIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY CLERK OFFICE

1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260

San Diego, CA  92101

Call (619) 237-0502

(Mon – Fri By Appointment Only 8 am – 4:30 pm)

 

CHULA VISTA BRANCH OFFICE

590 Third Street

Chula Vista, CA  91910

Call (619) 237-0502

(Mon – Fri By Appointment Only 8 am – 4:30 pm)

 

KEARNY MESA BRANCH OFFICE

9225 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

San Diego, CA  92123

Call (619) 237-0502

(Mon – Fri By Appointment Only 8 am – 4:30 pm)

SANTEE BRANCH OFFICE

10144 Mission Gorge Road

Santee, CA  92071

Call (619) 237-0502

(Mon – Fri By Appointment Only 8 am – 4:30 pm)

 

SAN MARCOS BRANCH OFFICE

141 East Carmel Street

San Marcos, CA  92078

Call (619) 237-0502

(Mon – Fri By Appointment Only 8 am – 4:30 pm)

 


BELOW ARE SOME IMPORTANT FORMS YOU MAY NEED…

 

 

YOUR WITNESS... If you have obtained a Regular Public Marriage License, California requires only (1) one witness be present at the actual ceremony. You do not need to bring a witness when you are applying for the marriage license. A Confidential Marriage License does not require a witness.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CLERK-RECORDERS

 

HOW TO GET COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE LICENSE AFTER YOUR WEDDING

 

PLEASE REMEMBER! The State of California DOES NOT automatically send you a copy of your official marriage certificate after your wedding!

 

You must formally request and pay for a certified copy of your marriage license from the County Clerk-Recorder where your license was purchased.

 

To request an official certified copy of your Marriage Certificate from the County Clerk-Recorder’s office, you can do one of the following:

 

  • Request an Official Certified Copy of a Marriage Certificate by Mail. Fill out the “Request for a Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate” form that was included in the envelope with your marriage license or download this Official Marriage License Request Form By Mail

    Just fill out the required info on the form, have the form notarized, follow the mailing instructions and include a check for each copy requested.

 

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Your California Marriage License can be obtained at any County Clerk Recorder office in California and can be used for your San Diego ocean view wedding, last minute pop-up wedding, Coronado Beach elopement, beachside marriage, renewal of wedding vows, resort wedding, backyard wedding, toes in the sand wedding, barefoot beach ceremony, Presidio Park wedding, Old Town chapel wedding, marriage in Mission Bay, oceanview wedding ceremony, La Jolla vows for second wedding, Crystal Pier wedding or Hard Rock Hotel wedding.

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