Marriage Records in Daly City

Daly City marriage records are handled by San Mateo County. Residents who want to get married or find marriage certificates go to the county clerk-recorder office in San Mateo. The county keeps all original documents for marriages in Daly City. Both public and confidential marriage licenses can be obtained from the same office. You can apply for a license in person or order certified copies by mail or online. San Mateo County charges $79 for a public license and $80 for a confidential license as of 2026. The office is at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo about 15 miles north of Daly City.

Where Daly City Residents Get Marriage Licenses

San Mateo County handles all marriage licenses and certificates for Daly City. The Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office is the only place you can get a new license or request certified copies of existing records for Daly City marriages. The office sits in downtown San Mateo on Tower Road. This is the main office for the whole county. There are no satellite locations for marriage services in Daly City itself.

Both parties must go to the office together to apply for a marriage license. You cannot do this step by mail. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver license or passport. The ID must show your photo, birth date, and issue date. If you were married before, be ready to tell them when and how that marriage ended. Some staff may ask for a copy of your divorce decree if your past marriage ended recently.

The San Mateo County ACRE office is at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo CA 94402. Call them at (650) 363-4712 to check hours or ask questions before you visit. Their website at smcacre.gov has forms and fee information. Plan to spend about 30 minutes at the office when you apply for your license in Daly City.

Public or Confidential Marriage in Daly City

You can choose a public or confidential marriage license in California. Most Daly City couples pick public licenses. These cost $79 in San Mateo County. A public license becomes part of the public record after the wedding. Anyone can request a copy. You need at least one witness to sign the license. You can have a second witness if you want. The county recorder keeps the final certificate.

Confidential licenses cost $80 in San Mateo County. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. You must be living together as spouses when you apply. No witnesses sign the license. The record stays private forever. Only you and your spouse can get copies later unless a court orders the county to release it. The county clerk maintains confidential certificates as permanent records under California Family Code sections 500 through 511.

Your license is good for 90 days from the date the county issues it. There is no wait period in California. You can marry the same day you get your license. The officiant must return the signed license to San Mateo County within 10 days of the ceremony. After the county records it, you can order certified copies for $19 each as of January 2026.

Ordering Marriage Certificates for Daly City

If you need a certified copy of a Daly City marriage certificate, you have three ways to get it. You can visit the county office in person, send a request by mail, or order online through the county website. Each method works for both public and confidential marriage records as long as you are an authorized person under California law.

In-person requests at the San Mateo County clerk office give you the fastest service. Bring a valid photo ID. You may need to show proof that you are authorized to get the record. Staff can usually give you the certificate the same day if the record is in the system. Certified copies cost $19 each. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card at the office.

For mail requests, download the application form from smcacre.gov. Fill it out and include a check or money order for $19 per copy. Make it payable to San Mateo County ACRE. Mail everything to 40 Tower Road, San Mateo CA 94402. Processing takes a few weeks. Do not send cash by mail.

Online ordering may be available through VitalChek or the county website. Check the San Mateo County site for current options. Online orders often have extra service fees. This method works well if you need the certificate mailed to you quickly. You pay by credit or debit card online.

Note: Only authorized persons can get certified copies of public marriage records under California Health and Safety Code section 103526.

Daly City Marriage Record Fees

San Mateo County sets the fees for all marriage services in Daly City. These fees are consistent across the county. A public marriage license costs $79. A confidential license costs $80. Both amounts include the state mandated fees and county charges. These rates were current as of early 2026.

The county also offers civil ceremony services. A standard ceremony at the county office costs $65. This is optional. You can choose any authorized officiant in California to perform your ceremony. If you use the county service, the fee is due when you schedule the appointment.

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $19 each as of January 2026. This fee went up by $2 under Assembly Bill 64 which took effect in January 2026. The fee applies whether you order in person, by mail, or online. Online orders may have extra service charges from third-party vendors. Duplicate or replacement licenses cost $5 if you lose the original before the ceremony.

You can see the full fee schedule at smcacre.gov/county-clerk-recorder/marriage-fees. Fees can change so call the office at (650) 363-4712 to confirm current rates before you visit.

Who Can Access Daly City Marriage Records

California limits who can get certified copies of marriage certificates. For public marriage records in Daly City, authorized persons include the two people who got married, their parents, legal guardians, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouse, or domestic partner. Attorneys representing these people can also request records. Law enforcement and government agencies conducting official business are authorized. Anyone else gets an informational copy marked as not valid for identity purposes.

Confidential marriage records have stricter rules. Only the two parties to the marriage can get copies. No one else can access these records unless they have a court order. This privacy protection is permanent under California Family Code section 509. Even family members cannot get confidential marriage certificates without permission from both spouses or a judge.

If you are an authorized person requesting a certified copy of a public marriage record from Daly City, you may need to provide a notarized sworn statement. This requirement helps prevent identity theft. Informational copies do not require notarization but they cannot be used to establish identity or change your name on official documents.

Marriage Records in Nearby Cities

Other large cities near Daly City also fall under San Mateo County. San Mateo is the county seat and home to the clerk-recorder office. South San Francisco is north of Daly City along the bay. All these cities use the same county office for marriage records.

San Francisco sits just north of Daly City but uses its own county clerk office because it is a separate county. San Francisco handles marriage licenses and certificates at City Hall. Oakland across the bay is in Alameda County and uses that county system.