San Mateo County Marriage License Records
Marriage license services in San Mateo County are provided by the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office, located on the first floor of the County Center at 555 County Center in Redwood City, serving over 760,000 residents in this affluent Bay Area county. You can apply for a marriage license at the Redwood City office, with public licenses costing $79 and confidential licenses costing $80, and civil ceremonies are available for $65. San Mateo County uses Qmatic for appointment scheduling and VitalChek for online ordering of certified marriage certificate copies, providing modern digital services alongside traditional in-person options.
San Mateo County Marriage License Facts
San Mateo County Clerk Office
The Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office operates from the first floor of the County Center at 555 County Center in Redwood City. This is the only location where you can apply for a marriage license in San Mateo County. The office handles all marriage license applications and performs civil ceremonies for residents and visitors to the county.
Office hours are typically Monday through Friday. The county uses Qmatic for appointment scheduling. You may need an appointment for some services, so check the website or call ahead. Call 650-363-4500 to ask questions about marriage services. The county website at smcacre.gov/county-clerk-recorder has information about marriage licenses and other services in San Mateo County.
Redwood City is centrally located in San Mateo County. The office serves communities throughout the county, from San Francisco Bay cities like Daly City and South San Francisco to coastal towns like Pacifica and Half Moon Bay to peninsula cities like Burlingame and San Mateo. Most residents find Redwood City accessible from anywhere in San Mateo County.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Both people must appear in person together at the San Mateo County office in Redwood City to apply for a marriage license. The county uses Qmatic for appointment scheduling. You can schedule an appointment through the county website. Some services may accept walk-ins, but appointments are recommended to avoid wait times in San Mateo County.
Bring valid photo identification for each person. Driver licenses, state ID cards, and passports all work. The staff will ask for your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must provide details about when and where that marriage ended in San Mateo County.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The staff reviews your information and answers any questions you have. Once everything is complete, you pay the license fee and receive your marriage license the same day in San Mateo County.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Both people must appear together at the San Mateo County office to apply for a marriage license. The staff reviews your identification and asks questions to complete the application. This process takes about 15 minutes in San Mateo County.
You pay the license fee after the application is complete. A public marriage license costs $79 in San Mateo County. A confidential license costs $80. These are some of the lowest fees in the Bay Area. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. After you pay, the staff prints your marriage license. You get the physical document right away. It is valid for 90 days from that date under California Family Code Section 359.
Your wedding ceremony must happen within those 90 days. The license has multiple copies. One stays with you. Another goes to your officiant, who must file it with the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder within 10 days after the ceremony. Make sure your officiant knows to file the license on time. If it is not filed, your marriage will not become an official record in San Mateo County.
Marriage License Fees
San Mateo County charges $79 for a public marriage license and $80 for a confidential license. These are among the lowest fees in the Bay Area. The fee covers the full application and processing in San Mateo County.
Civil ceremony fees are $65 in San Mateo County. This is also lower than many other Bay Area counties. You can pay for the license and ceremony at the same time, or get your license first and schedule the ceremony later. Some couples choose to have a private ceremony instead of using the county service in San Mateo County.
After your wedding, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the County Clerk-Recorder office. The first certified copy usually costs around $25. Each additional copy in the same order costs less. You can order copies in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online. VitalChek is an authorized online vendor for San Mateo County vital records.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies
The San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder performs civil ceremonies at the Redwood City office. The ceremony fee is $65. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You can book your ceremony when you pick up your license or by calling the office in San Mateo County.
A typical civil ceremony takes 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy clerk reads a standard ceremony script. Both people say their vows. You can exchange rings if you want. A small number of guests can usually attend. Check with the office about guest limits and any other rules for civil ceremonies in San Mateo County.
Many couples choose civil ceremonies because they are simple and affordable. The ceremony is legally valid just like any other wedding in California. After the ceremony, the deputy signs your marriage license and files it with the county. Your marriage becomes official at that moment in San Mateo County.
Public and Confidential Licenses
San Mateo County issues both public and confidential marriage licenses. A public license costs $79 and becomes part of the public record after filing. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county or from California state vital records.
A confidential marriage license costs $80 in San Mateo County. It does not become a public record. Only the two people who got married can request copies later. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply under California Family Code Section 500. No witness is required at the ceremony for a confidential marriage.
Some couples choose confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more common. Both types are equally legal in California. You cannot switch from one type to the other after the license is issued in San Mateo County.
Who Can Get a Marriage License
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in San Mateo County. If someone is under 18, a court order is required. No blood test is needed. California eliminated the blood test requirement in 1995. You do not need to be a resident of San Mateo County or California. Anyone from any state or country can get a marriage license in San Mateo County.
Both people must apply in person together. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. Each person needs valid photo ID. The staff asks for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must state when and where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required, but the staff may ask for proof in some cases in San Mateo County.
Marriage licenses expire 90 days from the date of issue under California law. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time, or you will need to apply for a new license in San Mateo County.
Certified Marriage Certificate Copies
After your wedding ceremony, your officiant files the marriage license with the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder office. This usually happens within 10 days of the ceremony. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official California vital record. You can then order certified copies from the Clerk-Recorder office in San Mateo County.
Certified copies are available in person at the Redwood City office or by mail. You can also order online through VitalChek, which adds extra service fees. In-person requests are usually processed the same day or within a few business days. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders in San Mateo County.
For older marriages, the Clerk-Recorder office has records going back many decades. Some very old records are stored in archives and take longer to retrieve. If you need a copy of a marriage certificate from many years ago, allow extra time in San Mateo County.
Major Cities in San Mateo County
San Mateo County includes several large cities. All marriage licenses for these cities are issued by the San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder in Redwood City. Cities do not issue marriage licenses in California.
Cities in San Mateo County with populations over 100,000: San Mateo, Daly City
Nearby California Counties
San Mateo County borders several other Bay Area counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.