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City and County of San Francisco exact answer

Are witnesses required for a marriage 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, public license: at least one witness must be present at the ceremony, and the license requires the signature of at least one witness together with the person solemnizing the marriage. Confidential license: no witness is required at the ceremony and no witness signs the license. At a County Clerk civil ceremony at City Hall you must bring one witness if you are presenting a public license, and none if you are presenting a confidential license. Statewide rules add that the license has room for two witnesses and that no more than two may sign it. The confidential license is available only to parties who are living together as spouses at the time they apply, and its record is available only to the couple.

Published rule and conditions

Marriage ceremony witness rule
Public license: at least one witness must be present at the ceremony, and the license requires the signature of at least one witness together with the person solemnizing the marriage. Confidential license: no witness is required at the ceremony and no witness signs the license. At a County Clerk civil ceremony at City Hall you must bring one witness if you are presenting a public license, and none if you are presenting a confidential license. Statewide rules add that the license has room for two witnesses and that no more than two may sign it.

The confidential license is available only to parties who are living together as spouses at the time they apply, and its record is available only to the couple.

Official requirement

1 witness if you are presenting a public marriage license. No witness is required if presenting a confidential marriage license.

Issuing office

San Francisco Office of the County Clerk

Open the issuing office

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.

  • Have a civil marriage or domestic partnership ceremony at City HallSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Make a reservation for an in-person ceremony with 6 or fewer guests. Walk-ins are not allowed. A civil marriage ceremony may only be performed for 2 unmarried persons who present a valid original California marriage license prior to the ceremony. Bring your original government-issued marriage license on the day of your ceremony. They will not be available for purchase on the same day as your ceremony. Be prepared for your civil ceremony appointment with the following: Valid, authentic, legal government-issued photo identification for each person. A valid, unexpired, marriage license issued by a California County. Photocopies are not acceptable. 1 witness if you are presenting a public marriage license. No witness is required if presenting a confidential marriage license.

  • San Francisco County Clerk Public Marriage License ApplicationSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Form revision printed on the document is 09/2018. Check the license for witness and solemnization requirements. Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance for a marriage anywhere in California. You must be married on or after the issuance date, and on or before the expiration date of the license. Licenses not used within this timeframe are void. The appropriate fee may be paid by cash, debit, or pre-printed check with account holder's name payable to the SF County Clerk. No refunds are given for marriage licenses issued. PUBLIC: License and Certificate of Marriage (VS 117) - This is the standard marriage license. This type of marriage license requires the signature of at least one witness and one person solemnizing the marriage. A PUBLIC MARRIAGE LICENSE CANNOT BE CHANGED TO A CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE.

  • San Francisco County Clerk Confidential Marriage License ApplicationSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Form revision printed on the document is 09/2018. By signing this application, you are stating under penalty of perjury the information provided is true and correct, you are currently an unmarried couple, living together and there is no legal objection to the marriage. No witnesses are required. Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance for a marriage anywhere in California. You must be married on or after the issuance date, and on or before the expiration date of the license. Licenses not used within this timeframe are void. Confidential License and Certificate of Marriage (VS 123) - Confidential marriage licenses may only be issued to unmarried parties who are at least 18 years old and have been living together as spouses. Certified copies of the marriage license and certificate may only be issued to the couple.

  • Types of Marriage LicensesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Records - checked July 26, 2026

    Page last updated 27 April 2017. Public Marriage License: You must be at least 18 years old. You must have at least one witness present at your ceremony. The license contains a place for two witnesses if you prefer. You may NOT have more than two witnesses sign the official marriage license. There is no age requirement in California for witnesses, however, they must be old enough to know that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony, AND be able to sign their name on the official marriage license. Confidential Marriage License: The participating parties must be at least 18 years old to apply for a confidential marriage license. Minors may NOT purchase a confidential marriage license. The participating parties must be living together as spouses at the time they apply for the marriage license. No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, AND no witnesses sign on the marriage license.

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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