To get married in San Francisco, both partners appear together at the County Clerk’s Office at City Hall, show valid photo ID, pay roughly $127 for a public marriage license, and hold a ceremony with an authorized officiant within 90 days. California has no waiting period, so the license is valid the moment it’s issued and you can marry the same day if you have an officiant lined up.
Who Can Legally Marry in California
California treats marriage as a civil contract requiring the consent of both parties, a license, and a solemnization ceremony.1California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 300 Both people must be at least 18. Anyone under 18 needs a court order granting permission and the written consent of at least one parent or guardian, and a certified copy of that order must be presented to the county clerk at the license appointment.2California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 302
If either person was previously married, that marriage must be legally dissolved or annulled before a new license can be issued. Marriages between close relatives are void from the start, including parents and children, ancestors and descendants of any degree, siblings of whole or half blood, and uncles or aunts with nieces or nephews.3Justia Law. California Family Code 2200-2201 – Void Marriage
Choose Between a Public and Confidential License
San Francisco issues two kinds of marriage licenses, and you decide which one at the appointment.
A public marriage license becomes a public record once filed. The ceremony requires at least one witness and no more than two to sign the license.4San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Elections. What Is the Difference Between a Confidential and a Public Marriage License Anyone meeting California’s eligibility rules can apply.
A confidential marriage license is not part of the public record, and no witnesses are required at the ceremony. To qualify, both people must already be living together as spouses.5California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 500 It costs slightly more than a public license. Both types are valid for 90 days and can be used anywhere in California.6San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Elections. Instructions on Completing Your Marriage License
Getting the License at City Hall
Both partners have to appear together in person at the San Francisco County Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Book an appointment online through the city’s website first; walk-in availability is limited.7SF.gov. Get a Marriage License
Bring:
- Valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID for each person, such as a driver’s license or passport
- Documentation of how any prior marriage ended (final divorce decree or death certificate) if applicable
- Basic information about both parties, including dates and places of birth
The public marriage license fee is approximately $127, payable at the appointment. Because California has no mandatory waiting period, the license is effective immediately. You can hold the ceremony the same day if an officiant, and at least one witness for a public license, are ready.
Who Can Officiate the Ceremony
California authorizes a wide range of people to perform marriages. Religious leaders of any denomination who are at least 18, along with current or retired judges, court commissioners, and federal magistrates, can officiate.8California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 400-402 State legislators, members of Congress representing California districts, and elected city or county officials can also solemnize marriages, though they can’t accept payment for it while in office.
Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day
If you want a friend or family member to perform the ceremony, San Francisco lets you appoint almost anyone 18 or older as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day, authorized to legally officiate your wedding for that single occasion. Apply through the County Clerk’s Office in advance.9SF.gov. Become a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for a Day
Civil Ceremony at City Hall
The County Clerk’s Office performs civil ceremonies at City Hall on weekdays for approximately $111, bookable through the city’s website. Up to six guests may attend.10SF.gov. Have a Civil Marriage or Domestic Partnership Ceremony at City Hall The ceremony is brief. In either a civil or religious ceremony, both parties must declare in the physical presence of the officiant, and any required witnesses, that they take each other as spouses.11California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 420
Many couples pair a City Hall civil ceremony with the license appointment on the same day and hold a larger celebration separately. The grand staircase and rotunda are popular ceremony spots, though private events with photography setups may require a separate reservation through the City Hall events office.
Filing the License and Ordering Certificates
Your officiant is legally responsible for completing the signed license and returning it to the county recorder within 10 days of the ceremony, either hand-delivered or postmarked within that window.12California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 359 This is the step that registers the marriage. Until the license is filed, the marriage isn’t on record and you can’t order certified copies. If a friend is officiating under the Deputy for a Day designation, make sure they know the deadline. It’s where things most commonly go wrong.
For a confidential marriage, the completed license goes back to the County Clerk’s Office rather than the county recorder.13California Department of Public Health. California Marriage License, Registration and Ceremony Information
Once the license is recorded, order several certified copies of your marriage certificate. Banks, employers, the Social Security Administration, the passport office, and insurance companies may each ask for one. For a public marriage, copies come from the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s Office. For a confidential marriage, they come from the County Clerk’s Office. The California Department of Public Health also issues certified copies at a statewide fee of $19 each.14California Department of Public Health. Vital Records Fees In-person county requests are sometimes available the same day; mail and online requests can take up to 10 business days.
A Few Things That Follow Automatically, and One That Doesn’t
Getting married in California does not automatically change anyone’s legal name. If either spouse plans to take the other’s surname or hyphenate, the certified marriage certificate is the document that proves the change to the Social Security Administration, the DMV, the passport office, and everyone else. Order those copies before starting.
Federal tax status does change automatically. If you’re married by December 31 of any year, the IRS treats you as married for that entire tax year, and single filing status is no longer available. You’ll file as married filing jointly or married filing separately going forward.