To get married in San Diego, you apply online through the County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, appear together in person with valid photo ID to pick up the license, hold your ceremony anywhere in California within 90 days, and make sure your officiant returns the signed license to the Recorder within 10 days. California has no waiting period and no blood test, so the license and ceremony can happen the same day. The certificate itself comes later, as a separate paid request.
Who Qualifies
Under California Family Code Section 301, both people must be at least 18, unmarried, and capable of consenting.1California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 301 Neither of you needs to be a California resident or a U.S. citizen. Foreign nationals can apply with a valid passport, and any identification in another language needs a notarized English translation. Expired documents are not accepted.
If either of you was married before, that marriage must be fully dissolved before you apply. You’ll need to know the exact date your divorce or annulment became final, and if it happened within the last two years the clerk may ask to see the decree itself. San Diego divorce decrees are available through the San Diego Superior Court.
Minors can marry in California only after a separate family court order and written parental consent, a rare path in practice.2California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 302
Pick a License Type Before You Apply
California issues two kinds of marriage licenses, and you choose between them at application. Both are equally valid for immigration, insurance, and tax purposes.
A public license creates a record anyone can search and request a copy of. At least one witness must attend the ceremony and sign the license. This is the standard choice for weddings with guests.
A confidential license restricts the record to the two of you. Only the spouses can request certified copies; anyone else needs a court order.3California Department of Public Health. Types of Marriage Licenses To qualify, both of you must swear under penalty of perjury that you are currently living together as spouses.4California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 500 No documentary proof is required, just the sworn statement. No witness signs a confidential license, which makes it a common pick for elopements and courthouse ceremonies.
Apply Online, Then Appear Together
Start by filling out the marriage license application on San Diego County’s online portal.5San Diego County. San Diego County Marriage License Application Submitting online doesn’t replace the in-person visit; it just cuts down your counter time. Both of you must appear together at the appointment. One partner cannot handle the paperwork alone.
Book the appointment through the county’s online scheduler. As of 2026, marriage services run at four locations:
- County Administration Center, on Pacific Highway downtown next to Waterfront Park
- Chula Vista Office
- San Marcos Office
- Santee Office
The Kearny Mesa office does not offer marriage services.6County of San Diego Assessor Recorder County Clerk. Office Locations
Bring a current government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.7San Diego County Assessor | Recorder | County Clerk. Marriage License and Civil Ceremony You’ll also be asked for the full legal names of both sets of parents, including maiden names, and their birthplaces. That information goes onto the permanent record, so check spellings before you arrive.
2026 Fees
- Public marriage license: $129
- Confidential marriage license: $144
- Civil ceremony by county staff: $107
- Certified copy of the marriage certificate: $19 per copy
The office accepts cash, check, or credit and debit cards. Card payments carry a small surcharge. Once the clerk verifies IDs and eligibility, they issue the license on the spot. It’s valid for 90 days with no extensions, and the ceremony has to take place within California. If the window closes before you marry, you start over.7San Diego County Assessor | Recorder | County Clerk. Marriage License and Civil Ceremony
Choose an Officiant
California authorizes a wide range of people to solemnize marriages: ordained ministers, priests, or rabbis of any denomination who are at least 18, active or retired judges, court commissioners, and the county’s commissioner of civil marriages.8California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 400 State legislators, members of Congress representing California districts, and elected city or county officials may also officiate, though they cannot accept payment for it while in office.
Want a friend or family member to marry you? San Diego County offers a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day designation. Your chosen person applies at least a month before the wedding, pays $115, and takes an oath of office. Applications can be filed in person at any office or by mail with a notarized form, and the designee receives sample vows, ceremony instructions, and a commission certificate.9San Diego County Assessor | Recorder | County Clerk. Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day
The Ceremony and the 10-Day Return
If you book a civil ceremony through the county, staff can perform it in English or Spanish at any of the four marriage-services offices. The County Administration Center has indoor space and can also do outdoor ceremonies in Waterfront Park when weather and park events allow.7San Diego County Assessor | Recorder | County Clerk. Marriage License and Civil Ceremony
During the ceremony, the officiant, both spouses, and any required witness sign the license using blue or black ballpoint ink only. No gel pens, markers, or pencils. The document is scanned into permanent records and anything else can smear or fade. A public license needs at least one witness signature; a confidential license has none.
The single most important step comes after the ceremony. The officiant is legally responsible for returning the signed license to the San Diego County Recorder within 10 days, either by hand delivery or by mail postmarked within that window.10California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 359 If you’re using a private officiant or a deputy for a day, confirm they know the deadline. A late or lost return creates real trouble later when you need to prove you’re married.
Requesting Your Marriage Certificate
Once the Recorder processes the returned license, your marriage becomes an official state record. You do not automatically get a certificate, and this catches many newlyweds off guard. Certified copies must be requested separately at $19 each.11San Diego County Assessor | Recorder | County Clerk. Marriage Certificate Request Order at least two or three. You’ll need them for name changes, insurance enrollment, and any paperwork requiring proof of marriage. Wait until you’re sure the license has been returned before ordering, since the fee is nonrefundable.
Name Changes and Insurance After the Wedding
Marriage does not automatically change your name. If either spouse is taking a new surname, work through the agencies in order.
Social Security
Start here, because most other agencies want SSA records to match your new name. Submit Form SS-5 with your certified marriage certificate and a current photo ID, either through your my Social Security account online or at a local SSA office.12Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card There is no fee.
Passport
If your passport was issued within the past year, you can update the name at no charge using Form DS-5504 with your marriage certificate and current passport. Expedited service costs $60 extra.13U.S. Department of State. Name Change for U.S. Passport or Correct a Printing or Data Error Older passports go through standard renewal at the regular fee. Processing runs two to six weeks either way.
Health Insurance
Marriage triggers a Special Enrollment Period. You have 60 days from the wedding date to enroll in a new plan, add a spouse, or change coverage outside the normal open enrollment window.14HealthCare.gov. Special Enrollment Period Employer-sponsored plans give at least 30 days. Miss the deadline and you’ll likely wait until the next open enrollment, which can mean months of uncovered gap for a new spouse.