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
DEPUTY MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER FOR A DAY
INFORMATION PACKET & APPLICATION BY MAIL
Couples with a valid marriage license can make their special day even more
memorable by choosing a friend or r
elative to be deputized to perform their
wedding ceremony at their chosen venue. The San Diego County Deputy Marriage
Commissioner for a Day program is a unique and beautiful way for a couple to
celebrate their wedding day. Applications for an appointment as a Deputy Marriage
Commissioner for a Day should be submitted at least one month before the
ceremony date.
Requirements for Deputy Marriage Commissioner Appointment:
1. Confirm with your couple that they will/or have already purchased their marriage license and
that their ceremony will take place in California.
2. You must submit the required notarized application by mail at least 1 month in advance to
receive the commission and instructions on time for the ceremony.
3. You must be at least 18 years of age. (California Family Code 400)
4. Cost is $80.00 payable by check or money order.
5. The marriage license must be purchased by the couple before the ceremony can take place.
Procedure for By-Mail application:
1. Please review page 2 and complete application on page 3.
2. You must complete the Oath or Affirmation form on page 4 in the presence of a Notary and
have your signature notarized.
3. Mail pages 3 and 4 back to us with a check or money order made payable to:
San Diego County Clerk
PO BOX 121750
San Diego, CA. 92112-1750
4. The application will be reviewed and a packet will be mailed to you with your commission
certificate, instructions on how to complete the marriage license and a sample of wedding
vows.
5. Please return the completed marriage license to the County Clerk within 10 days after the
ceremony for recording in a timely manner.
6. If you have any further questions, please contact the San Diego County Clerk's Office at
(619) 237-0502 or email ARCCSDMarriageHelp.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov for assistance.
CC402 (Rev.
07/2020)
Page 1 of 4
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,thereforeenteronedashmarkinthe
fieldrequestingreligiousdenomination.Thetitleshouldbeprinte
dinasDeputyMarriageCommissioner.
ThedeputyMUSThaveatleastonewitnesssign,butNOMOREthantwo,ona“NonConfidential
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
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
DEPUTY MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER FOR A DAY
APPLICATION BY MAIL
Please print or type clearly
I hereby request appointment as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for the following wedding:
I am at least 18 years of age.
I have not been convicted of a felony.
I have been convicted of a felony (if marked, please attach explanation).
Title: Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms (circle one)
Applicant:____________________________ _________________________ ______________________
First Name Middle Name Last
Name
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
Street City State
Zip
Daytime phone #:__________________________E-mail address:_______________________________
Date of Marriage: _________________Location:_____________________________County:__________
Name of first person: ____________________________________ Daytime Phone #:_______________
Name of second person: __________________________________ Daytime Phone #:_______________
Please read carefully
I have read and received the above instructions and acknowledge that
my powers as a deputy are
expressly limited. By accepting this appointment I am subject to any applicable laws during the tenure
of this appointment. No employment relationship is created by virtue of this appointment as a deputy
commissioner of civil marriages to solemnize a marriage in California. Any injuries incurred during the
private performance of marriage ceremonies will not be eligible for coverage under the County’s
worker’s compensation program. I also understand that my performance of marriage ceremonies
outside the County Clerk’s Office is not a county activity and I, alone, will be responsible for any injuries
I might cause to third parties and agree to indemnify and defend San Diego County and its County Clerk
against any claims for injuries caused, or alleged to have been caused by my performance of the
marriage ceremony.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true
and correct.
________________________________________________ __________________________________
Applicant’s Signature Date
CC402 (Rev. 07
/2020)
Page 3 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
DEPUTY MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER
OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE
I__________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the
Print or type name
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and
domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the
State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I
will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.
Signature of Applicant_____________________________________________Date__________________________
Note: Your signature MUST be notarized if applying by mail. Notarization is NOT required if applying in person.
JURAT
CC402 (Rev.
07/2020)
Page 4 of 4
A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the
document to which this certificate is attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of th
at document.
State of California
County of _______________
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on this _____ day of ___________ , 20___ ,
by________________________ , proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the
person(s) who appeared before me, _______________________________.
(Name of Person Appearing)
(Signature of Notary Public)
( Notary Seal)