San Mateo County
Online Marriage License Application

New Law Effective January 1, 2010

 

Couples may choose to change their middle or last names only at the time they are issued a marriage license; however, no one is required to change their names.

Each person may adopt any of the following middle names:
  1. The current last name of either spouse
  2. The last name of either spouse given at birth
  3. Hyphenated combination of the current middle name and current last name of the person or spouse
  4. Hyphenated combination of the current middle name and the last name given at birth of the person or spouse

Each person may adopt any of the following last names:

  1. The current last name of the other spouse
  2. The last name of either spouse given at birth
  3. A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth
  4. A hyphenated combination of last names

Special note:  Couples cannot add or amend this information after the marriage license has been issued.

For more detailed information regarding this new law please click here.

Please indicate whose name(s) will change by clicking the button that applies:
Neither name will change
First person’s name will change
Second person’s name will change
Both names will change

Please click here to continue to the online marriage application.