How to Obtain a Certified Copy of a
San Francisco County Marriage Certificate
Need a certified copy of a marriage certificate from San Francisco County? Whether you are in the Bay Area, elsewhere in the United States, or living abroad, SF Notary + Apostille can help you obtain the correct certificate, secure a California apostille when required, and ship the completed document anywhere in the world.
You can order a San Francisco public marriage certificate online, obtain it in person at City Hall, request it by mail, or authorize us to retrieve it for you. The best option depends on your eligibility, location, and deadline.
If you have questions or need expedited assistance, email info@sfnotary.com or call +1 (415) 655-9455.
Before You Order: Make Sure You Request the Correct Marriage Certificate
The marriage license must have been issued by San Francisco County
The county that issued the marriage license maintains the marriage record. This is true even if the wedding ceremony took place in another county.
These instructions apply only when the marriage license was issued by the City and County of San Francisco. If another California county issued the license, you must order the certificate from that county.
Public and confidential marriage certificates follow different rules
This page applies to non-confidential, public marriage certificates.
If the couple obtained a confidential marriage license, the certificate is not a public record and ordinarily may be requested only by either spouse named on the certificate.
Order a certified copy—not an informational copy
For an apostille or most official uses, request a certified copy. A certified informational copy bears the statement:
INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY
An informational copy may not be accepted for an apostille, immigration, citizenship, marriage registration, or other official purpose.
Best Option for Most Clients: Order Online and Send the Certificate Directly to Us
For most clients who need an apostille, the simplest option is to order a certified copy through the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s online marriage certificate system.
The online process allows an eligible applicant to complete identity verification and pay by credit or debit card. A separate notarized application is generally not required when the online identity-verification process is successfully completed.
When asked whether the certificate should be mailed to a different recipient or address, enter:
John Cavalli
459 Fulton Street #303
San Francisco, CA 94102
The San Francisco Assessor-Recorder currently charges $19 per certified copy. Confirm the current fee and processing estimate on the official ordering site before submitting payment.
After placing the order, email your order confirmation to info@sfnotary.com and tell us the country in which the apostilled certificate will be used. We will watch for the certificate, obtain the California apostille, and ship the completed document to you or your recipient.
Fastest Option: Have Us Retrieve the Certificate at San Francisco City Hall
If the matter is urgent, SF Notary + Apostille may be able to retrieve the certified marriage certificate for you from the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s Office.
You will need to sign a limited power of attorney authorizing our agent to obtain the certificate. Depending on your location and circumstances, the power of attorney may be notarized in person or through remote online notarization. We can provide the appropriate document and complete instructions.
Once we receive the properly notarized power of attorney and confirm that the marriage record is available, our agent will visit the Assessor-Recorder’s Office at San Francisco City Hall to obtain the certified copy. Our office is approximately two blocks from City Hall, allowing us to move the certificate directly into the apostille process.
To request marriage certificate retrieval, email info@sfnotary.com or call +1 (415) 655-9455.
Obtain the Certificate Yourself in Person
If you are in San Francisco, you can request the certified marriage certificate directly from the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder:
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s Office
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 190
San Francisco, CA 94102
You may walk in or make an appointment, subject to the office’s current procedures. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
If the application includes a sworn statement, do not sign that section beforehand. You can sign it in front of Assessor-Recorder staff, which generally eliminates the need for notarization.
Review the official San Francisco marriage certificate instructions before visiting to confirm current hours, fees, identification requirements, and appointment availability.
If you plan to bring the certificate to our nearby office for an apostille, contact us in advance to make sure someone will be available to receive it.
Order a San Francisco Marriage Certificate by Mail
You may also order a certified copy by mail from the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder.
Download the current Application for a Certified Copy of a Non-Confidential Marriage Certificate, complete all required fields, and request a certified copy.
If you are mailing the application, the eligible applicant must sign the sworn statement in front of a notary. Include the required payment and return envelope specified in the application instructions.
The Assessor-Recorder’s mailing address is:
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s Office
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 190
San Francisco, CA 94102
To have the certificate sent directly to us for apostille service, enter the following in the fields for the person receiving the copies and the mailing address for the copies:
SF Notary + Apostille
459 Fulton Street #303
San Francisco, CA 94102
Mail orders generally take longer than online or in-person requests. Follow the payment instructions carefully: San Francisco’s current application restricts the types of checks it will accept and permits a U.S. money order or U.S. cashier’s check.
Can You Order Through VitalChek?
Yes. You may order a San Francisco marriage certificate through VitalChek, a third-party ordering service linked by San Francisco.
VitalChek charges additional processing and shipping fees. Depending on the order and identity-verification process, you may also be required to download, notarize, and upload an application or identity-verification form. For most eligible applicants, we recommend trying the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder’s direct online ordering system first because it is generally simpler and less expensive.
Can You Order from the California Department of Public Health?
The California Department of Public Health–Vital Records maintains records of many public marriages, but its available years and processing times are limited. It does not hold confidential marriage records.
For a public marriage license issued in San Francisco County, ordering directly from the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder is generally the clearer and faster option. If the county cannot locate the record or the marriage is older, the state may be worth considering.
Obtaining an Apostille for a San Francisco Marriage Certificate
A certified copy issued by the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder can generally be submitted to the California Secretary of State for an apostille. The original certified copy—not a photocopy, scan, or informational copy—must be presented.
An apostille may be required when the marriage certificate will be used in another country for:
Dual citizenship or citizenship by descent
A residence permit, visa, or immigration matter
Registration of a marriage abroad
A foreign passport application
A legal name change
Divorce or other court proceedings
Inheritance or estate administration
Spousal employment, insurance, or benefits
The destination country and receiving agency determine what authentication is required. If the country participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, a California apostille is generally the final government authentication. If it does not, the certificate may require additional U.S. Department of State authentication or embassy legalization.
Tell us the destination country before we begin so we can help identify the correct process.
Recently Married? Confirm That the Record Is Available
A certified copy cannot be issued until the officiant returns the marriage license and the Assessor-Recorder records it. If the wedding was recent, contact the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder at (628) 652-8100 to confirm that the record is available before arranging an urgent retrieval.
Information We Need Before You Send or Order the Certificate
Please email info@sfnotary.com with:
Your full name, telephone number, email address, and current location
Both spouses’ names as they appear on the marriage certificate
The date of marriage
Confirmation that San Francisco County issued the marriage license
The country in which the certificate will be presented
The name, address, telephone number, and email address of the final shipping recipient
The location or ordering status of the certificate
Your deadline, if any
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can order a certified copy of a San Francisco public marriage certificate?
Eligible applicants generally include either spouse named on the certificate and certain close family members, including a parent, legal guardian, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. Other eligible applicants may include a person acting under a qualifying power of attorney, an attorney representing a registrant or the registrant’s estate, a person entitled to the record by court order, and certain government or law-enforcement representatives acting in an official capacity.
The issuing agency makes the final eligibility determination and may require supporting documentation.
Can anyone obtain an informational copy of a public marriage certificate?
Someone who is not eligible for a certified copy may generally obtain a certified informational copy of a public marriage record. It will be marked “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY” and should not be ordered for an apostille or official identity-related use.
Can SF Notary + Apostille obtain the certificate for me?
Yes, in many cases. An eligible person signs a limited power of attorney authorizing our agent to retrieve a vital record. Contact us before arranging notarization so we can prepare the correct document and confirm the process.
Can the marriage certificate be mailed directly to SF Notary + Apostille?
Yes. When ordering online or by mail, enter our office as the recipient and delivery address. Email us first so we know to expect the certificate and can match it to your order.
Does the marriage certificate itself need to be notarized?
No. A certified marriage certificate issued by the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder already bears the certification of the issuing public official. The application or power of attorney may require notarization, but the certificate itself should not be altered or separately notarized.
Can I apostille a photocopy or informational marriage certificate?
For this process, you should obtain an original certified copy. A plain photocopy or scan is not acceptable, and an informational copy may be rejected because it is not valid to establish identity.
How long does the complete process take?
Timing depends on how the certificate is ordered, whether the marriage record is already available, the apostille service selected, and the final shipping destination. Contact us with your deadline, and we will recommend the most practical option.
Contact SF Notary + Apostille
We can retrieve or receive your certified San Francisco marriage certificate, obtain the California apostille, and ship the completed document anywhere in the United States or internationally.
SF Notary + Apostille
459 Fulton Street #303
San Francisco, CA 94102
+1 (415) 655-9455
info@sfnotary.com
Disclaimer
Information on this page is provided for general informational purposes and is based on our experience with document retrieval and apostille services. Government forms, fees, eligibility rules, and processing procedures can change. Confirm current requirements with the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder before submitting an application. SF Notary + Apostille is not a law firm, and its agents are not attorneys. Please consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.