San Mateo Marriage Records

San Mateo marriage records are maintained by San Mateo County offices. Cities in California do not issue marriage licenses independently. All marriage licensing and vital records services for San Mateo residents are handled at the county level. San Mateo County operates the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE) office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo where couples apply for marriage licenses and obtain certified copies of marriage certificates. San Mateo residents use this county office along with other residents throughout San Mateo County for all marriage-related services and document requests.

San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder

The San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections (ACRE) handles all marriage services for San Mateo residents. The office is at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo. Phone is (650) 363-4712. Visit smcacre.gov for current hours and services.

Both parties must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license under California Family Code section 359. Bring valid photo identification when you visit. Acceptable forms of ID include a California driver license, state ID card, passport, or military ID. Your ID must show your photo and date of birth.

San Mateo County charges $79 for a public marriage license. A confidential license costs $80. Your license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You can use it anywhere in California. No residency requirement exists. You do not need to live in San Mateo County or California. No waiting period applies. You can marry the same day you get your license. San Mateo County also offers standard marriage ceremonies for $65.

Marriage License Types

California offers two types of marriage licenses. Public marriage licenses become part of the public record. Anyone can request copies after your marriage is registered. Public licenses require at least one witness to sign at the ceremony.

Confidential marriage licenses stay private under California Family Code sections 500 through 511. Only the married parties can obtain copies unless a court orders otherwise. No witnesses are required for confidential marriages. Both types have the same legal effect. The choice affects privacy only.

San Mateo County provides detailed information about the difference between confidential and public marriage licenses on their website. Many couples select confidential for privacy reasons. Your marriage record will not appear in public searches. Only you and your spouse have access. This protection lasts forever under California law.

Obtaining Marriage Certificates

After your wedding, the officiant returns the completed license to San Mateo County within 10 days. This is required under California law. The county registers your marriage and creates the certificate. You must request certified copies separately. They are not provided automatically.

Certified copies cost approximately $19 each as of January 2026. This fee increased by $2 under Assembly Bill 64. Contact San Mateo County to order copies by mail or in person. For public marriage records, anyone can request copies. For confidential marriage records, only the married parties can request copies.

State Records

The California Department of Public Health keeps marriage records for select years. The state has public marriage records from 1905 to 2001 and from 2010 to the present. CDPH does not maintain confidential marriage records at all. State processing takes 5 to 7 weeks. San Mateo County provides much faster service.

San Mateo residents typically use the county office for quicker results. The county processes requests within days or weeks instead of months. Use the state office only if you cannot visit the county or need records from years when county records are not easily accessible.

Nearby Cities

San Mateo is in northern San Mateo County. Redwood City is south. Daly City sits to the north. All cities in San Mateo County use the same Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections office for marriage services.