SERVICE

Record your public marriage license

Marriage licenses issued by the City and County of San Francisco are recorded at our office.

What to know

Cost

Free

Make an appointment

As part of a new appointment service launched in 2024, you can also schedule an appointment to record your marriage license with our office. You may also be able to take advantage of our new same-day service for newly weds; more information is below.

PLEASE NOTE: if you are taking part in the County Clerk's Valentine's Day Event, same day marriage certificate service is not available at this time.

What to do

Before you submit your completed marriage license

When filling out your license, do not alter, strikeover, write over, type over, erase, use correction fluid, or correction tape on the license. Any misprinting or illegible writing will likely lead to a rejection and an affidavit and a fee will be required for another marriage license through the Office of the County Clerk.

After your wedding ceremony, send us your completed license signed by all parties and return it to our main office in person, by our drop box, or by mail within ten (10) days after the ceremony. 

Our office only records marriage licenses issued by the City and County of San Francisco. 

Contact our office if your completed license is past the 10-day filing period.

If the license cannot be recorded, an affidavit and a fee are required for a duplicate marriage license through the Office of the County Clerk.

Submit in-person or by mail to:

Submit your marriage license in-person or by mail to our office in San Francisco City Hall, Room 190. 

Unless you are taking advantage of our same day service for newly-weds, you will be able to order copies of your marriage certificate 10 days after the marriage license has been recorded with our office.

Supporting information

Special cases

After hours drop box

The Assessor-Recorder drop box is located outside of San Francisco City Hall. Specifically, the box is in the window at the Grove Street entrance. The drop box is checked daily and documents are taken directly back to our staff to process. 

Documents submitted via drop box will be examined and recorded (if acceptable) within 24 hours of receipt. 

Newlyweds: same-day recording and copies of marriage certificates

PLEASE NOTE: if you are taking part in the County Clerk's Valentine's Day Event, same day marriage certificate service is not available at this time.


If you are looking to register and get a same day copy of their marriage certificate, you must do the following:

  1. Get a valid San Francisco public marriage license. It must be issued by the County Clerk at least 1 business day before your same-day marriage copy appointment.
  2. Make an appointment for the date of your wedding, or a following day when you will record your Marriage License with the Assessor-Recorder's office.

Get married. After the ceremony, have the marriage license signed by all the interested parties.

IMPORTANT: When filling out the license, please do not alter, strikeover, write over, erase, use correction fluid, or tape; nor write or type over pre-printed lettering or dashes on the license. If the license cannot  be recorded, you must pay an affidavit and a fee for a duplicate marriage license through the Office of the County Clerk.

  1. Complete a marriage certificate request form. Bring your completed marriage license, marriage certificate request, and a valid photo ID to City Hall Room 190. The fee is $17 per marriage certificate copy. You can pay by cash, credit/debit (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover), personal check, or money order payable to SF Assessor-Recorder.

Get help

Address

Office of the Assessor-RecorderCity Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett, Room 190
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get directions

Our regular office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM. Our in-person document recording hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

Email

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

assessor@sfgov.org

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