Find Marriage License Records in San Luis Obispo County

Marriage license applications in San Luis Obispo County go through the County Clerk-Recorder office located at 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120, in downtown San Luis Obispo. The office handles all marriage licenses for cities across the county including Paso Robles, Atascadero, Morro Bay, and Pismo Beach, and both applicants must appear together in person with valid photo identification. Call 805-781-5080 for current information about fees and appointment availability. San Luis Obispo County processes hundreds of marriage licenses each year for couples planning to wed anywhere in California.

San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder Office

The Clerk-Recorder office is in the County Government Center at 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120, San Luis Obispo. This is the sole location for marriage license applications in the county. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays. Many people call ahead at 805-781-5080 to ask about current wait times or to confirm office hours before visiting.

Staff process marriage license applications for all of San Luis Obispo County. The county covers a large geographic area from the northern border with Monterey County down to Santa Barbara County. Cities like Paso Robles, Atascadero, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Grover Beach all fall under this office's jurisdiction. The county seat is in San Luis Obispo.

You must visit the office in person to apply. Both people need to come at the same time. Mail applications and online applications are not available for marriage licenses in San Luis Obispo County. The process takes about 30 minutes once you arrive. Bringing all required documents speeds things up.

Marriage License Application Steps

Both people must appear together at the clerk-recorder office. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. Bring valid photo ID for each person. A driver license, passport, or state-issued ID card works. The clerk verifies your identity and age during the application process.

The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder marriage licenses page provides details about what to bring and what to expect. You fill out forms at the office. Staff will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you state when and where that prior marriage ended.

California does not require blood tests or waiting periods for marriage licenses. You get your license the same day you apply in most cases. The license is valid for 90 days from the issue date. Your wedding ceremony must take place within that 90-day window. After 90 days, the license expires and you must reapply with a new fee in San Luis Obispo County.

Who Can Apply

Both people must be at least 18 years old to marry without a court order. Minors under 18 need a court order to get a marriage license in California. No blood test is needed. No residency requirement exists. You do not have to live in San Luis Obispo County or even in California to apply here.

Valid government-issued photo ID is required for each person. The clerk will not process an application without proper identification. Social security numbers are needed but you do not have to bring the physical cards. If you were married before, you must know the date and place where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required at the time of application in San Luis Obispo County.

Public and Confidential Marriage Licenses

San Luis Obispo County issues both types of licenses. Most couples choose a public marriage license. These licenses become part of the public record after the ceremony. Anyone can request a copy from the county clerk or from the state vital records office later. Public licenses require one witness at the wedding ceremony in California.

Confidential marriage licenses do not become public records. Only the two people who married can get copies later. To qualify, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply. No witness is needed at the ceremony for a confidential marriage under California Family Code Section 500. The officiant signs and files the license, but the record stays sealed from public view in San Luis Obispo County.

Some couples pick confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more standard and may be easier to use when ordering copies from the state. Both types have full legal validity in California. You cannot change from one type to another after the license is issued.

After Your Wedding Ceremony

Your officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. The officiant then returns the signed license to the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder office within 10 days. This filing makes your marriage official and creates the permanent record. Without proper filing, the marriage is not legally recorded in California.

Most officiants know to file the license promptly. Some couples follow up with their officiant a few days after the wedding to make sure it got filed. Once the clerk-recorder office receives and processes the signed license, the marriage becomes part of the county's vital records system in San Luis Obispo County.

How to Get Certified Copies

After your marriage is filed, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder office. Certified copies are needed for legal purposes like name changes, insurance benefits, and tax filings. You can apply in person at the office or by mail.

For older marriage records, you can also order copies from the California Department of Public Health. State copies cost $19 each. You can apply through CDPH Vital Records or use VitalChek online. County copies may process faster if you need them soon. State copies are available for marriages that are more than a year old in most cases.

Note: Confidential marriage records can only be obtained by the two people who married or by court order in San Luis Obispo County.

Marriage License Fees in San Luis Obispo County

The county clerk-recorder sets fees for marriage licenses and related services. Fees can change from year to year. Contact the office at 805-781-5080 for current fee information. California law allows counties to set their own fee schedules within certain limits.

Payment methods include cash, checks, and credit cards at most county offices. Ask the San Luis Obispo County office which payment types they accept. Some counties have restrictions on credit card use or may charge extra processing fees for card payments.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

Check with the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder office to see if they perform civil ceremonies. Some county clerk offices offer this service while others do not. If available, civil ceremonies are short and formal. A deputy clerk officiates and reads a standard script. The ceremony lasts about 10 to 15 minutes in most counties.

If the clerk office does not perform ceremonies, you need to hire a private officiant. Many officiants operate in San Luis Obispo County. You can find them through online searches or referrals. Make sure your officiant is registered with the state and knows how to file the marriage license properly after the ceremony in California.

California Marriage License Laws

Marriage license requirements are set by California state law. The California Family Code governs how licenses are issued, how long they remain valid, and who can marry. County clerks follow these state laws when processing applications in San Luis Obispo County.

California Family Code Sections 350 through 360 cover marriage license issuance requirements. These sections explain ID requirements, how long a license stays valid, and how it must be returned after the ceremony. California Health and Safety Code Section 103525 addresses certified copy issuance for vital records including marriage certificates.

Confidential marriages are authorized under California Family Code Sections 500 through 511. These provisions allow couples who live together to marry without witnesses and without creating a public record. Access to confidential marriage records is restricted by California Family Code Section 511 in San Luis Obispo County and statewide.

Nearby California Counties

San Luis Obispo County is located on the Central Coast between other California counties. Each county clerk sets its own fees and may have different procedures for marriage licenses.

Monterey County, Santa Barbara County, Kern County, Kings County