City and County of San Francisco exact answer
What prior-marriage documents are required in City and County of San Francisco?
This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.
Direct answer
In City and County of San Francisco, if either applicant has been married or in a State Registered Domestic Partnership before, you must know the exact date the most recent marriage or partnership ended. If it ended less than 90 days before the appointment, bring a certified copy of the divorce, annulment, termination or death record, bearing an original court seal and the signature of the court clerk. A certified copy in another language must be presented together with a translation by a court-certified or American Translators Association certified translator. The 90-day threshold is specific to San Francisco and differs from other California counties — Los Angeles County uses two years, San Diego County 90 days.
Published rule and conditions
- Prior-marriage documents
- If either applicant has been married or in a State Registered Domestic Partnership before, you must know the exact date the most recent marriage or partnership ended. If it ended less than 90 days before the appointment, bring a certified copy of the divorce, annulment, termination or death record, bearing an original court seal and the signature of the court clerk. A certified copy in another language must be presented together with a translation by a court-certified or American Translators Association certified translator.
The 90-day threshold is specific to San Francisco and differs from other California counties — Los Angeles County uses two years, San Diego County 90 days.
Applies in some casesIf the marriage ended less than 90 days before your appointment, you must bring a certified copy of the divorce, annulment, termination or death record with you.
Issuing office
San Francisco Office of the County Clerk
Official sources for this answer
- Get a marriage licenseSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026
Before you get married in California, you must have a marriage license issued in the past 90 days. You can get married if you: are not currently married are 18 or older have unexpired, government-issued photo ID. For a public license: you need at least one witness at the ceremony is a public record For a confidential license: you must be living together no witnesses are required at the ceremony marriage record is only available to the couple. You need an appointment to get a marriage license. You must submit a marriage license application when you book the appointment. Both people getting married must go to the appointment and bring: unexpired, government-issued photo ID (like a passport, driver's license, resident alien card, or military ID). If your ID doesn't have your full legal name, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate or social security card that shows your full legal name. Once you get a marriage license, you can get married anywhere in California. Your license is valid for 90 days. If the marriage ended less than 90 days before your appointment, you must bring a certified copy of the divorce, annulment, termination or death record with you. You can not reschedule an appointment for a marriage license. You must call to cancel your appointment. There are no refunds.
More exact answers for City and County of San Francisco
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MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.
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