Marriage records in San Diego County, California, are available through several channels. SanDiegoCourt.us allows quick access to public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained directly from the County Clerk's office, which is part of the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County, either in person or by mail. Online ordering of certified copies is also available through the California state portal.
San Diego Marriage Records Search
In California, the responsibility for issuing marriage licenses and registering marriage certificates is assigned to the County Clerk. In San Diego County, these functions are performed by the County Clerk's department within the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk office. The marriage records collection includes issued marriage licenses, registered marriage certificates, and confidential marriage licenses. Historical records are preserved from the county's inception. Besides the local office, copies of marriage records after 1905 are also maintained by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Main office of the County Clerk:
Some marriage license issuance services are also available at county branches — please verify the availability of specific services in advance by phone.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in San Diego
The fees for copies of marriage records are set according to the California Health and Safety Code and the County Recorder's fee schedule. The main rates are listed below:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified Copy — through County Clerk | $15 |
| Each additional copy (in the same order) | $15 |
| Certified Copy through CDPH (state) | $18 |
| Informational (non-certified) Copy through CDPH | $18 |
An Informational Copy contains a notation that it is not an official document and cannot be used for identity verification. A certified copy is usually available only to one of the parties to the marriage, their legal representative, or a person with a legal right to the document. Processing times for in-person requests are usually the same day. Mail requests through CDPH are processed within several weeks.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in San Diego
There are several ways to order a copy of a marriage certificate.
Online
You can order a certified or informational copy through the online portal of the California Department of Public Health. On the CDPH website, you need to complete an application, providing the full names of the spouses, the date and place of marriage registration, and pay the fee. Additional information about available records, including marriage records, can be found on the Records Available Online page of the city of San Diego.
In Person
Visit the County Clerk's office at:
You need to have with you:
- A valid photo ID (driver's license, passport)
- Marriage information: full names of the spouses, approximate registration date
- Payment of the fee (cash, check, or card — verify acceptable payment methods)
A copy is usually issued on the day of the request.
By Mail
To order by mail through the county office, send:
- A completed application for a marriage certificate copy (the form can be downloaded from the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk website)
- A copy of the applicant's ID
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount, payable to San Diego County Clerk
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Send the documents to:
Mail requests are processed within two to four weeks. If the marriage was registered after 1905, the request can also be sent directly to CDPH — in this case, the processing time may be longer. You can check the current contact information and additional county resources on SanDiegoCourt.us before submitting a request.