El Cajon Marriage License Records
Marriage license applications for El Cajon residents go through the San Diego County Assessor Recorder County Clerk office. El Cajon is a city of about 103,000 people in eastern San Diego County. All marriage licenses for El Cajon are handled by the county clerk system. San Diego County has four office locations where you can apply for a marriage license. If you got married in El Cajon or anywhere in San Diego County, your marriage record is maintained by the county clerk and you can request certified copies through their office or through the online application portal at any time you need them for official purposes.
El Cajon Quick Facts
San Diego County Issues Marriage Licenses
El Cajon is part of San Diego County. The county clerk handles all marriage license applications for El Cajon residents. Cities cannot issue marriage licenses in California. Only county clerks have this authority under California Family Code.
The main San Diego County Clerk office is at 1600 Pacific Highway in San Diego. You must have an appointment to apply for a marriage license. Both people must come together in person. Walk-in service is not available at San Diego County clerk offices.
| Office | San Diego County Assessor Recorder County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260 San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Phone | (619) 237-0502 |
| Website | www.sdarcc.gov |
San Diego County has three other branch offices. You can apply at any location. The online appointment system at arccml.sandiegocounty.gov uses TimeTrade for scheduling. You can book your time slot and start your application online. Call 619-237-0502 if you need help with the process or have questions about marriage licenses in San Diego County.
Requirements for a Marriage License
El Cajon couples must meet California state requirements. You must be at least 18 years old. No blood test is required. You do not need to be a California resident. People from any state or country can get a marriage license in San Diego County.
Bring valid photo ID to your appointment. A driver license, passport, or state ID card works. You need your social security number. If you were married before, tell the clerk when and where that marriage ended. The clerk fills out the application during your appointment.
What you need:
- Government-issued photo ID for both people
- Social security numbers
- Information about previous marriages if applicable
- Payment for the license fee
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time. After the ceremony, the person who performed your wedding must sign the license and return it to the county clerk within 10 days. Once the clerk files the signed license, your marriage is official in San Diego County.
Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses
A public marriage license costs $129 in San Diego County. This is the standard type. The license becomes a public record after your ceremony. Anyone can request a copy of your marriage certificate. You need at least one witness at your wedding. The witness must be 18 or older and must sign the license.
A confidential marriage license costs $144 in San Diego County. To qualify, both people must already be living together as a married couple when you apply. No witness is required for a confidential ceremony. The license does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can get copies. California Family Code Sections 500 through 511 set the rules for confidential marriages in El Cajon and across California.
If you want privacy, choose a confidential license. If you do not mind public access, a public license is fine. Both types are legally valid. You cannot change from one type to the other after the clerk issues your license in San Diego County.
Note: Confidential marriage records stay with the San Diego County Clerk and are not sent to the California Department of Public Health.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies
The San Diego County Clerk performs civil marriage ceremonies. The ceremony fee is $107. This is separate from the license fee. Ceremonies are held at clerk office locations. The ceremony lasts about 10 minutes. You can bring a small group of guests. The clerk reads a standard script and you exchange vows.
You can also hire your own officiant. Any judge, religious leader, or person authorized under California law can perform your wedding. The officiant must return the signed license to the county clerk within 10 days. You can have your wedding anywhere in California once you have your license from San Diego County.
Many El Cajon couples schedule their ceremony for the same day they pick up their license. This works well for a simple civil ceremony. If you want a larger wedding, get your license first and plan your ceremony for later. Just make sure your ceremony happens within 90 days of the license date.
How to Get Marriage Certificate Copies
You can get copies of your El Cajon marriage certificate from San Diego County or from the California Department of Public Health. The county clerk is faster for recent records. The state vital records office can provide older records for public marriages but takes longer.
To order from San Diego County, visit any clerk office location. You can also order online through the county system. The website at www.sdarcc.gov has information about ordering copies. Most orders are processed within one to two weeks in San Diego County.
The California Department of Public Health charges $19 per certified copy of public marriage certificates. You can order by mail or through VitalChek, the authorized online service. VitalChek adds service fees. The state cannot provide records for years 2000 through 2007. For those years, contact San Diego County. The state does not keep confidential marriage records.
Note: Allow 2 to 3 weeks for mail orders from the state vital records office.
California Marriage License Laws
California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 set the requirements for marriage licenses. These statutes cover age requirements, ID requirements, and license validity. The 90-day validity rule comes from this part of California law. San Diego County clerks follow these statutes when they issue licenses to El Cajon residents.
California Health and Safety Code Section 103526 controls who can get certified copies of marriage certificates. This law creates two groups. Authorized persons include the married couple, their legal representatives, and certain family members. They can get certified copies for legal use. Other people can only get informational copies.
Confidential marriage laws appear in California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. Section 509 limits access to confidential records. Section 511 sets penalties for unauthorized disclosure. These laws protect couples who choose confidential licenses in San Diego County.
Other San Diego County Cities
Nearby qualifying cities include San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, and Carlsbad. All of these cities are in San Diego County. Residents use the same county clerk system for marriage licenses.