Juvenile Marriage and Domestic Partnership

California law requires a person under 18 years of age to obtain consent from at least one parent or guardian and permission in the form of a court order. Granting permission for a minor to marry or establish a domestic partnership is entirely within the discretion of the court.

The Request of Minor to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership (JC Form #FL-910) must be signed in the presence of the clerk of the court and must be submitted at the following address:

2851 Meadow Lark Drive

San Diego, CA 92123

Commonly used forms:

• Request of Minor to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership (JC Form #FL-910)
• Consent for Minor to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership (JC Form #FL-912)
• Order and Notices to Minor on Request to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership (JC Form #FL-915)
• Family Court Services (FCS) Questionnaire Regarding Application for Permission for Minor(s) to Marry or Establish Domestic Partnership (SDSC Form FCS-067), if applicable (refer to the requirements below)

1. Parental consent: Mother, father, or legal guardian may file a Consent for Minor to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership (JC Form #FL-912) or similar pleading at the Juvenile Court (2851 Meadow Lark Drive).

2. Unless the minor is 17 years of age and has a high school diploma or a high school equivalency (GED) certificate, each party must participate in a Family Court Services interview and interview with the judicial officer.

• Family Court Services Interview:
  • At the time the parties file the Application for Permission to Marry or Establish a Domestic Partnership with the juvenile court, each party must separately complete and submit a Family Court Services (FCS) Questionnaire Regarding Application For Permission For Minor(s) To Marry Or Establish Domestic Partnership (SDSC Form FCS-067) and must provide copies of the minor’s birth certificate (and high school diploma or GED certificate, if applicable). When the Questionnaires are submitted, an appointment for an interview with Family Court Services will be scheduled for the parties and for the consenting parent(s) or guardian(s) of minor(s) at the address indicated below. It is mandatory for the parties to meet separately with a Family Court Services Counselor. After the interviews, Family Court Services will provide a report to the juvenile court pursuant to Family Code sections 297.1 and 304. Central Courthouse
    Family Court Services Room 430
    1100 Union Street
    San Diego, CA 92101
  • The court will separately interview the parties before making a decision on whether to grant the application.
  • In some cases, the court may require the parties to participate in premarital counseling or counseling concerning social, economic, and personal responsibilities incident to the marriage or domestic partnership and provide a certificate of completion. Proof of compliance must be in the form of a letter. The letter must be on letterhead stationery and include the following:
    • The counselor's license number, if from a marriage counselor
    • The counselor's professional recommendation
    • A statement that both parties have been counseled together for at least three (3) hours
    • A statement listing the topics covered and any areas of growth emphasized.

    3. If either party has been in a previous marriage or domestic partnership, that party must provide proof of divorce, annulment, termination of the domestic partnership, entry of a judgment of dissolution or nullity of the domestic partnership, or death of the former spouse or domestic partner.

    The date of the final decree of divorce, annulment, termination, or dissolution or nullity of the domestic partnership must be prior to the date of the application for permission to marry or establish a domestic partnership.

    Application Fee

    There is no fee for filing the Application for Permission to Marry or Establish Domestic Partnership. The County Recorder's Office collects a fee for issuing a marriage license or for registering the parties' declaration of domestic partnership after the court grants permission to marry or establish a domestic partnership.

    Waiting Period

    In some cases, California law imposes a 30-day waiting period between the date the court order is signed and the date the parties can request a marriage license or file a declaration of domestic partnership. The court order will state whether the waiting period applies.