Marriage License Requirements

Marriage licenses must be obtained in person at the San Mateo County Clerk Division. The County Clerk is located at:

555 County Center, First Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665
650.363.4500

Office hours for marriage licenses are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by contacting 650.599.1713 or you may also click here to book an appointment. The process for a marriage license may take 30 minutes depending on several factors, such as whether you have completed the online form prior to coming into the office or if you do this process in our office.  Also, there may be other people in line.  Please allow yourself enough time.

  • The couple must both be present to obtain the license. Both individuals must physically present a valid government-issued photo ID. Please note that blood tests are no longer required in the state of California.
  • A certified copy of dissolution is required if dissolution date is within 90 days. If dissolution document is in foreign language, it must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
  • Click here for marriage license fee information. The fee must be paid by CASH or credit/debit card (Visa or Mastercard only). 
  • The fee for a certified copy of the marriage is not included in the fee for the marriage license.
  • You must be married within 90 days of the date the license was issued and you may be married anywhere in the state of California. 
  • You may be married by a priest, rabbi, minister or other authorized person of your choice, or by a Deputy Marriage Commissioner in a civil ceremony in the County Clerk’s Chapel.  
  • After the ceremony, the completed marriage license must be returned to the County Clerk’s Office for recording within 10 days. A certified copy of the marriage certificate cannot be created if the marriage license is not returned. 
Domestic Partners 

If the applicant is in a State Registered Domestic Partnership (SRDP), he/she may not enter into a marriage with someone other than their registered domestic partner unless the most recent domestic partnership has been terminated or a final judgment of dissolution or nullity has been entered, or the domestic partnership terminated due to death of one of the domestic partners.

Marriage Laws regarding name change

The Name Equality Act of 2007 changes California’s marriage laws on January 1, 2019. Couples will have to give some thought to what their married legal name will be – and it will be important do so before applying for a license.

Fact sheet about The Name Equality Act of 2007 issued by the California Association of Clerks and Chief Elections Officers

 Instructions on Completing Your Marriage License Fill out the Online Marriage License Application prior to coming into County Clerk Office Book an Appointment Applicant Cannot Physically Appear in Person Civil Wedding Ceremonies Marriage License Fee Information