San Diego County Marriage Records
San Diego County marriage records are managed by the County Clerk-Recorder office, which operates two locations in San Diego. The main office is at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260. The Kearny Mesa office is at 9225 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. You can reach staff at (619) 237-0502 with questions about marriage licenses and certificates. Appointments are required for marriage licenses and can be booked up to 7 weeks ahead. New appointment slots are released daily. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo IDs.
San Diego County Quick Facts
San Diego County Clerk-Recorder Offices
San Diego County has two Clerk-Recorder offices to serve residents. The main office is at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, in downtown San Diego. The Kearny Mesa office is at 9225 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Both offices handle marriage licenses and vital records. Call (619) 237-0502 to reach staff at either location.
Appointments are required for marriage licenses. You can book appointments up to 7 weeks in advance. New appointment slots are released daily, so check back often if you cannot find an available time. The online application is available on the county website. Complete it before your appointment to save time.
The office website at https://www.sdarcc.gov/ has information about all services. You can find details about marriage licenses, vital records, fees, and appointment booking. The website also has links to online applications and third-party ordering services like VitalChek.
| Main Office | 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260 San Diego, CA 92101 |
|---|---|
| Kearny Mesa | 9225 Clairemont Mesa Blvd San Diego, CA 92123 |
| Phone | (619) 237-0502 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 121750 San Diego, CA 92112-1750 |
| Website | www.sdarcc.gov |
Applying for a Marriage License in San Diego County
Appointments are required for marriage licenses in San Diego County. This is a strict policy. You cannot walk in without an appointment. You can book appointments up to 7 weeks ahead. New slots are released daily, so if you do not see an available time, check back the next day.
Complete the online application before your appointment. This saves time when you arrive at the office. Both parties must appear in person at the same time with valid photo IDs. A driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID will work. The ID must show your date of birth and have an issue date and expiration date.
If you were married before, be ready to tell staff when your last marriage ended and how it ended. Death, divorce, dissolution, and nullity are the usual ways a marriage ends. Staff may ask you to provide proof, so bringing a copy of your final divorce decree or your former spouse's death certificate can help.
There is no blood test required in California. There is no waiting period. The license is good for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your marriage ceremony within that 90-day period. After the ceremony, the person who performs the marriage must return the license to San Diego County within 10 days.
Getting Copies of Marriage Certificates
Please allow 10 business days from the time the marriage license was returned to the office for registration before you request a copy of the marriage certificate. This means you cannot get a copy right away. The county needs time to process the license and file it as a certificate.
If no record is found based on the information provided on the application, a Letter of No Record will be issued. The Recorder's Office will retain the non-refundable fee for processing the application. This means you do not get your money back even if the record is not found.
The marriage certificate page on the county website has detailed instructions. You can learn what information you need to provide and what options are available for requesting copies.
For in-person requests, you must sign the application in the presence of a County Clerk. Bring your valid photo ID. This service is not available at the Kearny Mesa office. You must go to the main office at 1600 Pacific Highway for in-person marriage certificate requests.
How to Request Marriage Certificates
San Diego County offers three ways to request marriage certificates. You can visit the office in person, order online through VitalChek, or mail a request. Each method has different requirements and processing times.
For in-person requests, visit the main office at 1600 Pacific Highway. You must sign your application in front of a County Clerk. Bring your valid photo ID. This is the fastest way to get a certificate if you need it quickly. The Kearny Mesa office does not handle in-person marriage certificate requests.
VitalChek is an online ordering service authorized by San Diego County. Go to the VitalChek website and select San Diego County Recorder. Choose Authorized Copy to get a certified copy. VitalChek charges additional service fees on top of the $19 certificate fee. Processing time is usually a few weeks.
For mail requests, send your application to P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750. Include a check or money order payable to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk. Do not send cash. Include a copy of your photo ID with your application. Mail requests take longer than in-person or VitalChek orders.
San Diego County Marriage Fees
The cost of a marriage license varies by county in California. You should call the San Diego County Recorder-County Clerk office at (619) 237-0502 or check the fee schedule on the county website to get the current price for a public or confidential marriage license.
The fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate is $19 per copy. This is the state-mandated fee as of January 1, 2026. The fee went up by $2 per certificate under Assembly Bill 64. If the office searches for a record and cannot find it, they issue a Letter of No Record and keep the search fee.
If you pay by credit or debit card in person, there is an additional $2.50 surcharge. This fee goes to the card processing company. You can avoid this fee by paying with cash, check, or money order. When paying by check or money order, make it payable to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.
California Marriage Requirements
You must be at least 18 years old to marry in California. Both parties must be unmarried at the time they apply for a license. Marriage by proxy is not allowed in California except in very limited military situations described in California Family Code Section 420(b).
California law requires that both parties, the officiant, and any witnesses be physically present together in the same location for the marriage ceremony. This is stated in California Family Code Section 420(a). Remote or online ceremonies are not valid under California law unless they fall under the narrow military exception.
The person who performs the marriage must be authorized to solemnize marriages in California. This includes judges, religious leaders, and certain other individuals listed in California Family Code Section 400. The officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to San Diego County within 10 days of the ceremony.
Amending Marriage Records
If you need to change information on your marriage certificate after it is filed, you can request an amendment. The process depends on how long ago the marriage took place. For amendments within one year of the marriage, there is no fee for the amendment itself, but you still pay $19 for each certified copy of the amended certificate.
For amendments after one year, the fee is $26. This includes one certified copy of the amended certificate. Extra copies cost $19 each. Amendment processing can take time. The California Department of Public Health notes that amendment requests typically take 9 to 11 weeks to process at the state level.
To start an amendment, contact the San Diego County Recorder-County Clerk office or the California Department of Public Health. You will need to provide documentation that supports the change you are requesting.
State-Level Marriage Record Resources
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office in Sacramento keeps copies of all marriage records for the state. If you cannot get a record from San Diego County, you can try the state office. The state office charges the same $19 fee for certified copies.
Processing at the state level takes longer. The average time is 5 to 7 weeks. The state office recommends going to the county where the marriage took place whenever possible because it is faster.
San Diego County Cities
San Diego County includes several cities with populations over 100,000. Residents of these cities get their marriage licenses and certificates from the San Diego County Recorder-County Clerk office.
Nearby Counties
San Diego County is located in Southern California on the border with Mexico. If you need records from nearby areas, these counties are close to San Diego County.
- Orange County - north of San Diego County
- Riverside County - northeast of San Diego County
- Imperial County - east of San Diego County