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City and County of San Francisco exact answer

How is a completed marriage license returned 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, the person who performed the ceremony is responsible for returning the signed license. A public license goes to the Office of the Assessor-Recorder at City Hall Room 190, in person, by its drop box or by mail, within ten days after the ceremony. A confidential license goes back to the Office of the County Clerk. If the couple was married by someone from the Office of the County Clerk, that office files the documents for them. Do not alter, strike over, write over, erase or use correction fluid or tape on the license — a damaged or illegible license is rejected and a duplicate license must be bought with an affidavit and a fee. The Assessor-Recorder records only licenses issued by the City and County of San Francisco, and asks couples to contact the office if a completed license is past the 10-day filing period.

Published rule and conditions

Return and recording rule
The person who performed the ceremony is responsible for returning the signed license. A public license goes to the Office of the Assessor-Recorder at City Hall Room 190, in person, by its drop box or by mail, within ten days after the ceremony. A confidential license goes back to the Office of the County Clerk. If the couple was married by someone from the Office of the County Clerk, that office files the documents for them. Do not alter, strike over, write over, erase or use correction fluid or tape on the license — a damaged or illegible license is rejected and a duplicate license must be bought with an affidavit and a fee.

The Assessor-Recorder records only licenses issued by the City and County of San Francisco, and asks couples to contact the office if a completed license is past the 10-day filing period.

Official requirement

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.

Issuing office

San Francisco Office of the County Clerk

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Get married in San FranciscoSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Only 2 unmarried persons who are at least 18 years of age with valid legal identification may apply for a marriage license in California. California residency and US citizenship are not requirements for marriage in California. Before you get married in California, you must have a California marriage license issued within 90 days of the date of your ceremony. You can download and complete the application and bring it to your appointment in person at City Hall. If your marriage license was issued in California, you may get married in any California county. Your marriage license must be recorded in the County where it was issued. If you had a confidential marriage license, return the signed license to the Office of the County Clerk. If you were married by someone from the Office of the County Clerk, we will file the documents for you.

  • Record your public marriage licenseSan Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder - checked July 26, 2026

    Marriage licenses issued by the City and County of San Francisco are recorded at our office. When filling out your license, DO NOT alter, strikeover, write over, type over, erase, use correction fluid, or correction tape on the license. 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. 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. The fee is $17 per marriage certificate copy.

Answer boundary

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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