Jordan Z. Marks

ASSESSOR | RECORDER | COUNTY CLERK

County of San Diego

Marriage Certificate Request

A marriage certificate (proof of marriage) may be available for request after the marriage license (license to wed) is registered with the County Recorder. Our office can only process marriage certificate requests if the marriage license was issued in San Diego County.

A Certified Copy of a marriage certificate is required to change your name on a driver’s license, passport, social security card, claim insurance benefits, or for other services related to an individual’s identity.

If you are not yet married, learn about getting a marriage license. 

Please allow 10 business days from the time the marriage license was returned to our office for registration to request a copy of the marriage 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.

Ordering Non-Confidential (Public) Marriage Certificates

Those who are authorized by law to receive a Certified Copy of a non-confidential marriage certificate are:

  • A registrant (one of the two persons listed on the marriage certificate)

  • A parent or legal guardian of a registrant

  • A party entitled to the record as a result of a court order (a certified copy of the court order must be included with the application)

  • A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business

  • A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of a registrant

  • An attorney representing a registrant or a registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute, or appointed by a court to act on behalf of a registrant or a registrant's estate (if you are requesting a Certified Copy under a power of attorney, please include a copy of the power of attorney with the application)

Those who are not authorized by law to request a certified copy will receive a certified Informational Copy. A certified Informational Copy is marked "INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY".

Ordering Confidential Marriage Certificates 

Those who are authorized by law to receive a Certified Copy of a confidential marriage certificate are:

  • A registrant (one of the two persons listed on the marriage certificate)

  • A party entitled to the record as a result of a court order (a certified copy of the court order must be included with the application)

Those who are not authorized by law to receive a certified copy may receive a "Letter Confirming the Existence of a Marriage".

Please allow 10 business days from the time the marriage license was returned to our office for registration to request a copy of the marriage 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.

How to order:

Visit one of our available office locations and complete the marriage certificate application, which must be signed in the presence of a County Clerk. You will be asked to present valid government-issued photo ID when you arrive. 

Fees:

  • $17 for each marriage certificate

The fee is not refundable even if the record is not found.

The fee is payable by cash, check or money order, or credit/debit card.
An additional $2.50 surcharge is applicable for card payments.

Check or money order payable to: San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.

Locations:

This service is not available at our Kearny Mesa Office. Instead, you may request  marriage certificates at any of our office locations including; downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, Santee, and San Marcos. An appointment is not required.

Please allow 10 business days from the time the marriage license was returned to our office for registration to request a copy of the marriage 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.

How to order:

Visit VitalChek.com and complete the ordering process.

For a Certified Copy, select “Authorized Copy” on VitalChek’s website.

Select “San Diego County Recorder” as the government agency. 

Fees:

  • $17 for each marriage certificate
  • $12.95 VitalChek handling fee
  • $19 VitalChek expedited delivery fee (optional)

The fee is not refundable even if the record is not found.

Please allow 10 business days from the time the marriage license was returned to our office for registration to request a copy of the marriage 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.

How to order:

Complete the marriage certificate application.

If requesting a Certified Copy:
You must be an authorized individual. Complete the Sworn Statement on the application and have it notarized. The Certificate of Acknowledgement must be completed by a Notary Public. If outside of California, the Notary may cross out California and enter the correct state.

If requesting a certified Informational Copy:
You do not have to be an authorized individual. The Sworn Statement, Certificate of Acknowledgment, and notarization are not required. 

Mail to: 

Send completed application with check or money order to:

San Diego Recorder/County Clerk
ATTN: Vital Records
P.O. Box 121750
San Diego, CA 92112-1750 

Fees: 

  • $17 for each marriage certificate

The fee is not refundable even if the record is not found.

The fee is payable by check or money order only, when requesting by mail.
Payable to: San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.

Do not send cash by mail.

Appointments are not necessary. See our available office locations for hours of operation.

IMPORTANT: This is only true for obtaining marriage certificates, which is the proof of marriage. Appointments are required to get your marriage license, which is the license to wed. 

It may take up to 10 business days from the time we receive the marriage license for it to be registered and a marriage certificate to be available. 

If it has been more than 10 business days, check on the status of your marriage license registration by calling or emailing us and providing your License Number (found on your receipt or customer copy).

Note: A marriage certificate is not automatically sent to the couple when the marriage license is registered. You must request and purchase a copy. 

Our office only holds marriage records for persons who obtained their marriage license (license to wed) within the County of San Diego.

If you obtained your marriage license in another county, contact that County Recorder’s office. 

Our office does not hold copies of divorce records. Copies of divorce decrees/judgments are kept with the San Diego Superior Court (if filed in San Diego). See more information on their website.

We are not permitted to provide any information regarding vital records without verifying your identity.

If you are ordering online, please contact Vitalchek for further instructions on their website.

If you are ordering in person or by mail, please complete the marriage certificate application to the best of your ability with a short date range as the "Marriage Date". Follow any further instructions to complete the request before submitting. Upon examination of your application, if it is determined that we have enough information to make a match, we should be able to process your transaction.