Getting a Marriage License in San Luis Obispo County
The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder issues marriage licenses. The office sits at 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120, San Luis Obispo. Phone (805) 781-5080. Elaina Cano is the current Clerk-Recorder. Office hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, and Wednesday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Transactions stop 30 minutes before close, so plan to arrive early.
A California license is valid for 90 days from the day of issuance. The wedding must take place in California. State law sets no waiting period. Both parties must show a current government photo ID. The license also has space for one or two witnesses on a public license. A confidential license needs no witness. The signed license must be returned to the Clerk-Recorder within 10 days after the ceremony under Family Code section 359(e).
The lead-in to the marriage license page on the county site shows the steps and rules. See the marriage license page for the live form list and current notes.
The page lists public and confidential license rules, ID needs, and the link to the online Self-Service Portal kiosk used at the office.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Most couples in San Luis Obispo County now start online and finish at the office. Bring photo ID. Know basic facts about each parent. Know the end date of any prior marriage. Plan about 30 minutes for the visit.
- Prepare a current valid government photo ID for each party.
- Know the end date of any past marriage, and what ended it.
- Bring certified dissolution papers if a prior marriage ended within 90 days.
- Know each parent's birth name and place of birth.
- Start the form on the Self-Service Portal or at the office kiosk.
- Both parties must appear in person within 30 days of the online start.
- Staff reviews each ID and the entries on the application.
- Pay the license fee at the counter; allow about 30 minutes for issuance.
- Hold the ceremony anywhere in California, with the officiant and any witness.
- Return the signed license to the Clerk-Recorder within 10 days; order a certified copy for name change use.
The county's Self-Service Portal is hosted at sanluisobispocountyca-web.tylerhost.net. The portal saves data for in-office pickup within 30 days.
Marriage License Application Fields
The San Luis Obispo County marriage license form asks for personal data on both parties. Some fields are needed by state vital records law. Some only show up on the public license. The table below tracks the main entries each party will fill in at the counter or the Self-Service kiosk.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | Match the photo ID; no nicknames. |
| Date of Birth | Yes | Both parties 18+ for confidential; minors need parent consent and judge order. |
| Current Address | Yes | City, state, country of residence at time of license. |
| Place of Birth | Yes | State or country of birth for each party. |
| Parent Birth Names | Yes | Mother and father birth names of both parties. |
| Parent Place of Birth | Yes | State or country where each parent was born. |
| Prior Marriages | Yes | End date and how it ended (divorce, death, nullity). |
| Dissolution Papers | If applies | Required if any prior marriage ended within 90 days. |
| License Type | Yes | Public or confidential; confidential needs cohabitation. |
| New Last Name | Optional | One or both parties may choose a new married name. |
| Witness Names | Public only | One witness required; up to two may sign. |
| Officiant Info | Yes | Filled in after the ceremony before return. |
Public License vs Confidential License
The state offers two San Luis Obispo County marriage license types. The public license is the standard form. The confidential license has tighter copy rules under Family Code section 511(c). Pick the one that fits your facts.
| Rule | Public License | Confidential License |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18, or minor with parent consent and judge order | 18 for both parties; no minors |
| Living Together | Not required | Must be living together as spouses |
| Witness | One required; up to two may sign | No witness; no witness signs |
| Public Record | Yes, but certified copies limited to authorized persons | Only the couple may buy copies without court order |
| Where Issued | Any California county | Any California county |
| Where Filed | County where license was bought | County where license was bought |
| Validity | 90 days from issuance | 90 days from issuance |
| Statute | Family Code; public record default | Family Code section 511(c) |
San Luis Obispo County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees cover the license, certified copies, and Superior Court divorce filings. The schedule below uses current county and court figures. Check the live page before you pay.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Confidential marriage license | $105.00 (FY 2024-25; verify current) |
| Public marriage license | See official fee schedule |
| Certified marriage certificate | $19.00 (effective 1/1/26) |
| Certified birth certificate | $34.00 (effective 1/1/26) |
| Certified death certificate | $26.00 (effective 1/1/26) |
| Recording first page | $14.00 |
| Recording each added page | $3.00 |
| Court file copy | $0.50 per page |
| Court research fee | $15.00 if search runs over 10 minutes |
| Court certified copy | $40.00 certification plus $0.50 per page |
| Credit card processing | $1.49 fee per card use |
The Clerk-Recorder takes Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Mail recording uses checks payable to SLO County Clerk Recorder.
How to Look Up San Luis Obispo County Marriage Records
Public San Luis Obispo County marriage records are not searchable on the internet. You must visit the Clerk-Recorder office, sign in with staff, and search the public indices on site. Staff will pull the record for you to view.
To find a record, bring the full names of both parties at the time of marriage, the date or year of the ceremony, and a photo ID. The office only holds records for licenses bought in San Luis Obispo County. If the couple bought the license in another California county, that county's Clerk-Recorder holds the file. The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office holds a statewide index but does not issue confidential copies.
Request paths include the online portal with in-office pickup within 30 days, the in-person kiosk, VitalChek, mail, and fax or email with a credit card authorization form. See the marriage certificate page for the latest options.
The county page lists eligibility, notarization rules for mail and fax requests, and the 24 to 48 hour USPS turn time for credit card orders.
How to Find San Luis Obispo County Divorce Records
Divorce is a Superior Court case. The Clerk-Recorder does not hold divorce files. The Civil & Family Law Branch sits at 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Call (805) 706-3600. The branch handles start a case, respond to a case, and finish case pathways for divorce, legal separation, and nullity.
For online lookup, use re:SearchCA at researchca.tylerhost.net. The system shows public case data for family matters with remote limits under California Rule of Court 2.503. Courthouse kiosks give wider access than home use. The court self-help page covers each step at slo.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law/divorce.
The self-help page lists start, respond, and finish steps with form lists for each stage of a San Luis Obispo County divorce.
A divorce file may include the petition, response, financial disclosures, custody orders, child support orders, and the final judgment. Custody papers, minor names, and financial declarations may be limited or sealed under court rules. Family Court Services mediation is required by state law when parents disagree on custody. Reach the mediation unit at (805) 706-3608 or email slo-fcssec@slo.courts.ca.gov. Mediation is confidential unless an agreement is filed with the court. For broader case search options, see court records and the Clerk of the Superior Court page.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified marriage copies come from the Clerk-Recorder. Certified divorce copies come from the Superior Court. Each office uses a different process. Both ask for the case or record details up front.
For a marriage certified copy, file the request online, at the kiosk, by mail, by fax, or by email. Mail-in and fax requests need a notarized sworn statement that proves the requester is an authorized person. Email and fax orders that use a credit card are mailed in 24 to 48 hours via USPS. Mail goes to County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder, 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Fax (805) 781-1111. Email vitals@co.slo.ca.us.
For a court file or certified divorce decree copy, mail or visit the Superior Court at 1035 Palm Street, Room 385, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Copy cost is $0.50 per page. A $15 research fee applies if the clerk search runs over 10 minutes. Certification adds $40 plus $0.50 per page. Bring or list the case number to keep the search short.
California Vital Records Office
The California Department of Public Health Vital Records office holds a state index of marriage records. The state office does not issue confidential marriage copies and does not hold court divorce files. Use the state office only when the county of marriage is unknown or when a couple lived in multiple counties.