Inmates who wish to marry while in the Sheriff’s custody may do so pursuant to a Confidential Marriage License. In order to qualify for this type of license, couples must meet the following requirements, as set by the State of California.
  • The prospective parties must be at least 18 years old. Minors may NOT obtain a confidential marriage license.
  • The parties must be living together as a couple at the time they apply for the marriage license, and must sign an affidavit on the license attesting to those facts.
  • The couple MUST be married in the county where the license is issued.
  • No witnesses are required to be at the ceremony, and no witnesses sign on the marriage license.
  • The marriage license is a confidential record and is registered at the County Clerk’s Office in the county where it was issued.
If a couple meets these requirements, they can take the following steps to get married while one of them is in custody.
  • The fiancé or fiancée arranges for an Authorized Notary Public to visit the inmate to sign the documents required for the license. The Notary Public will issue the license and collect the County’s fee of $50 plus a service and mileage charge, which usually amounts to an additional $50 to $60.
  • The fiancé or fiancée arranges for the official who will come to the jail and perform the marriage ceremony. The ceremony may be performed by a member of the clergy or by other civil authorities qualified by law. The Authorized Notaries Public listed below are authorized to solemnize the marriage. In most cases, a fee is charged for this service, usually $100 or more.
  • The inmate submits an inmate request to the facility Watch Commander for a special visit on the desired date and time. If the visit is approved, the inmate notifies the fiancé or fiancée, who then makes the arrangements for the ceremony. The visit for a marriage ceremony is generally held during normal visiting hours, and will not be a contact visit unless facility visits are normally contact visits.

The following are Authorized Notaries Public who are the only Notaries Public that can obtain a Confidential Marriage License. A Confidential Marriage License is required when both applicants cannot appear in person at the County Clerks Office. These Notaries Public can also perform the ceremony or the marriage can be performed by a clergy of your choice.  

San Diego Central Jail
Celia Campos (619) 470-8189
Maria E. Del Rio (619) 238-5514
Martha Gomez (619) 233-6654
H.W. Mitschke (619) 890-5000
Elizabeth Payne (760) 726-2237
Gary Allen Silvett (858) 272-8734
Sherry Smith (619) 479-4000
Judith Walters (619) 670-1225

Las Colinas Detention Facility
R. J. Avila, Jr. (760) 758-5589
Celia Campos (619) 470-8189
Martha Gomez (619) 465-2659
H.W. Mitschke (619) 890-5000
Elizabeth Payne (760) 726-2237
Gary Allen Silvett (858) 272-8734
Sherry Smith (619) 479-4000
Judith Walters (619) 670-1225

South Bay, George Bailey, East Mesa, and Facility 8
Celia Campos (619) 470-8189
Martha Gomez (SBDF Only) (619) 250-7794
H.W. Mitschke (619) 890-5000
Elizabeth Payne (760) 726-2237
Gary Allen Silvett (858) 272-8734
Sherry Smith (619) 479-4000
Judith Walters (619) 670-1225

Vista Detention Facility
R. J. Avila, Jr. (760) 758-5589
Celia Campos (619) 470-8189
Martha Gomez (760) 430-1111
Beatriz Hangis (760) 630-5936
H.W. Mitschke (619) 890-5000
Elizabeth Payne (760) 726-2237
Gary Allen Silvett (858) 272-8734
Sherry Smith (619) 479-4000
Judith Walters (619) 670-1225
Rae Weeks (760) 941-5228

ROUTINE NOTARY SERVICES

Notaries Public will perform routine Notary services in the jail system for you or your family. Some Notaries Public names are available in the yellow pages of your phone directory under the heading Notaries Public.