Person is not required to be a California resident. Marriage ceremony must be performed in California. A photocopy of the marriage license must be presented at time of deputization.
In San Francisco County, Deputization will be granted on a San Francisco County issued marriage license only. …Hold onto your hats, it's a little long!ĬA Family Code Section 401(b) allows the Commissioner of Civil Marriages in the County to appoint deputy marriage commissioners to solemnize marriages in California. (I can't vouch for other states I have a sneaking suspicion that there might be some additional requirements in other jurisdictions.)Īt any rate, I thought someone out there might be interested in how this works, so here is a summary of how to have a friend legally officiate your California wedding. I went online and did a little research into the two options, just to make sure I was reading this correctly because it still baffles me, but yes, in fact, this is the way it works in California. Hell, he could start a whole wedding business if he wanted.