INSTRUCTIONSFORTHECEREMONYANDCOMPLETIONOFTHEMARRIAGELICENSE
ADeputyCommissionerofCivilMarriagesmaysolemnizeonemarriageunderthedirectionoftheCommissioner
ofCivilMarriagesandunderALL
ofthefollowingconditionsandlimitations.Pleasereadtheseinstructionsbefore
performingtheceremony.
ThemarriagemayonlybesolemnizedonthedatesspecifiedonthefaceoftheappointmentandOathof
Officeform.Thepartiestothemarriagemustpresentamarriagelicensetothedeputypriortothe
ceremonyasstatedinFamilyCode421.Solemnizingamarriagewithoutfi
rstbeingpresentedwitha
marriagelicense,willfullymakingafalsereturnofanymarriagelicenseorpretendmarriagelicensetothe
countyclerkisguiltyofamisdemeanorunderPenalCodeSection360.
DONOTusewhiteout,correctionfluid,ormakeANYchangesorcorrectionsifamistakehasbee
nmade.
ThelicenseCANNOTberecordedifalteredinanyway.Ifthereisamistake,pleasenotifytheCounty
Clerkwhenreturningthelicense.Aduplicatelicensemustbeissuedforanadditionalfeeof$34.00.
UsingDARK(blackorblue)ink,thedeputyMUSTfillinthefollowingonthelicense:thedateandpla
ceof
thesolemnization(ceremony),his/hersignatureandprintedname,title,andaddress.
Sincethisisacivilcommissionthereisnoreligiousdenomination,thereforeenteronedashmark–inthe
fieldrequestingreligiousdenomination.Thetitleshouldbeprinte
dinasDeputyMarriageCommissioner.
ThedeputyMUSThaveatleastonewitnesssign,butNOMOREthantwo,ona“Non‐Confidential
MarriageLicense”.Witnessesarenotrequiredfora“ConfidentialMarriageLicense”.
Nospecific vows are required for the ceremony, butthepartiesmustdeclare,inthepresence
ofthedeputy,thattheytakeeachotherasspouses.TheSanDiegoCountyClerkhasprovidedasample
ofthecivilmarriageceremony vows.
Whencompleted,thedeputyMUSTreturnthemarriagelicensewithin10daysoftheceremonyfor
recordingtotheCountyClerk.Failuretoreturnalicensefo
rrecordingisamisdemeanorpursuantto
HealthandSafetyCode103785.
Thedeputyshallnotreceiveanymoneyoranythingofvalueforperformingamarriageceremony.
CaliforniaFamilyCode421
Beforesolemnizingamarriage,thepersonsolemnizingthemarriageshallrequirethepresentationofthemarriage
license.Ifthepersonsolemnizingthemarriagehasreasontodoubtthecorrectnessofthestatementoffactsinthe
marriagelicense,thepersonmustbesatisfiedastothecorrectnessofthestatementoffactsbeforesolemnizing
themarriage.Forthispurp
ose,thepersonmayadministeroathsandexaminethepartiesandwitnessesinthe
samemannerasthecountyclerkdoesbeforeissuingthelicense.
CaliforniaHealthandSafetyCode103785
Everypersonwhoisrequiredtofilloutacertificateofbirth,fetaldeath,ordeath,ormarriagelicenseandregister
itwiththelocalregistrar,ordeliverit,uponrequest,toanypersonchargedwiththedutyofregisteringit,andwho
fails,neglects,orrefusestoperformthatdutyinthemannerrequiredbythispartisguil
tyofamisdemeanor.
CaliforniaPenalCode360
Everypersonauthorizedtosolemnizeanymarriage,whosolemnizesamarriagewithoutfirstbeingpresentedwith
themarriagelicense,asrequiredbySection421oftheFamilyCode;orwhosolemnizesamarriagepursuantto
Part4(commencingwithSection500)ofDivision3oftheFamilyCodewithouttheaut
horizationrequiredbythat
part;orwhowillfullymakesafalsereturnofanymarriageorpretendedmarriagetotherecorderorclerkand
everypersonwhowillfullymakesafalserecordofanymarriagereturn,isguiltyofamisdemeanor.
CC40
2 (Rev. 07/2020)
Page 2
of 4
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr.
San
Diego Recorder/County Clerk
PO Box 121750, San Diego, CA
92112-1750
(619) 237-0502
www.sdarcc.com