Title: San Diego County Recorder Marriage records

Dates: 1856-2022, bulk 1873-1956

Collection Number: RCC/VRS03

Creator/Collector: San Diego County (Calif.). Office of County Recorder

Extent: 35.8 cubic feet (5 manuscript boxes, 9 record cartons, and 30 oversize boxes)

Repository: San Diego County Archives

Abstract: Marriage records consists of early marriage records filed with the San Diego County Recorder from 1856 to 1956 and Confidential Marriage Applications and Licenses from 2013. Note that Confidential Marriage Applications and Licenses are closed to the public.

Language of Material: English

Please contact the San Diego County Archives staff at archives@sdcounty.ca.gov for access information.

[Identification of item]. San Diego County Recorder Marriage records. Collection Number: RCC/VRS03. San Diego County Archives

Marriage records contain 44 bound and disbound volumes and consists of historic marriage records, related indexes, and ancillary records related to marriages recorded in San Diego County dating from shortly after its establishment in 1850. It also contains confidential marriage licenses and certificates dating from 2013. Marriage records in San Diego County vary in their contents and completeness, and the collection is not inclusive. Indexes of marriages are relatively complete from 1856-1969, but the Archives holds only a minimal number of certificates from select years. Starting in July 1905, a California state agency was designated the primary record holder of all marriage records other than confidential marriage licenses and certificates and any copies maintained locally by the County Recorder or Health and Human Services which were designated secondary copies. Currently the designated state agency is the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records Division. Please note that the original geographic boundaries of San Diego County include territory encompassed by present day Imperial, Riverside and San Bernadino Counties. Materials have been divided into four series, Indexes to Marriage Certificates (1856-1992), Marriage Certificates (1856-1957, bulk 1856-1872, 1924-1957), Confidential Marriage Licenses and Certificates (2013 – 9999), and Ancillary Marriage Records (1927-2003). Series 1, Indexes to Marriage Certificates, consists of bound and disbound indexes to marriages recorded in San Diego County dating from shortly after its establishment in 1850. Early indexes include the name of the officiant while later volumes include a local registration number. Index volumes are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within the volume by last name. For 1856–1957, indexes for men and women are in separate volumes. Beginning in 1958, indexes for men and women are in the same volume. Series 2, Marriage Certificates, consists of narrative documents and individual certificates that codify the details of marriages recorded in San Diego County. Certificates include the spouses’ names, residence, age, number of previous marriages, occupations, parents’ names and birthplaces, witnesses, the officiant and the date and location of the ceremony. Certificates in this series are not all-inclusive as the Office of the Recorder is the secondary holder for these records. Materials are arranged chronologically. Series 3, Confidential Marriage Licenses and Certificates, consists of Confidential Marriage Licenses and Certificates filed in San Diego County with the Office of the County Clerk. Confidential Marriage Licenses may be issued by the Clerk’s Office or by an Authorized Notary Public. Established in California 1878, Confidential Marriage Licenses were not frequently requested until after 1972 when the state legislature broadened the law to allow laypeople to perform confidential marriages. Confidential Marriage Licenses and Certificates can be issued to couples who are living together as spouses at the time that they apply for the marriage license, and they must sign under penalty of perjury attesting to the fact. No witnesses are required to be present at the ceremony and no witnesses sign the license. Both registrants must be at least 18 years old at the time of licenses issuance. Confidential Marriage Licenses and Certificates are not public records and certified copies can only be released to the registrants or those entitled to receive the record as the result of a court order. Materials are arranged numerically by Registration Number. Series 4, Ancillary Marriage Records, consists of two disbound volumes of Notices of Intent to Marry forms from 1927. The Notice of Intent to Marry forms do not appear to be related to the marriages of minors, nor of foreign nationals.