New York Marriage License Records
New York marriage license records are kept by town and city clerks in all 62 counties. You can search for these records at the local clerk who first issued the license or through the New York State Department of Health. The DOH holds marriage records going back to 1881 for most of the state. In New York City, the City Clerk handles all five boroughs. Whether you need a certified copy for legal use or want to look up an old record for family research, there are a few ways to get what you need.
New York Marriage License Overview
How to Get a New York Marriage License
Both people must show up in person at a town or city clerk's office to apply. You can go to any clerk in the state. It does not have to be the town where you live or plan to get married. A Power of Attorney will not work here. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 13, all couples must get a marriage license before the ceremony can take place. The clerk hands you the license the same day you apply, but you can't use it right away.
There is a 24-hour wait after the license is issued. DRL Section 13-b sets this rule. A Supreme Court justice or county judge can waive the wait if you ask. Once the 24 hours pass, the license stays good for 60 days. Military couples on active duty get 180 days. If you miss that window, the license expires and you have to start over.
You will need to bring valid photo ID and proof of age. A birth certificate, passport, or driver's license works. If you were married before, bring your divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. The clerk needs to see these papers before they can issue the license. No blood test is needed in New York.
Note: The marriage license fee is $40 at any town or city clerk outside New York City, and the fee in NYC is $35 paid to the City Clerk.
New York Marriage License Records at the State Level
The New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section is the main state agency for marriage records. They hold records from 1881 to the present for the whole state outside New York City. Anyone can get copies of marriage records that have been on file for at least 50 years, as long as both spouses are dead. For more recent records, only the bride, groom, or someone with a court order can request a certified copy.
The NYS DOH Vital Records portal is where you start for state-level requests. Here is the main page for the Vital Records Section.
From this page you can find forms, fee details, and instructions for mail requests. The DOH charges $30 per certified copy of a marriage record. Regular handling takes 10 to 12 weeks.
DRL Section 14 gives town and city clerks the power to issue marriage licenses. The local clerk keeps the original record. After the ceremony, the officiant must send the signed license back to the clerk who issued it. The clerk then files a copy with the state. This dual system means you can get copies from two places: the local clerk or the state DOH. Local copies cost just $10. State copies are $30 but cover the whole state from one office.
Ordering New York Marriage Records by Mail
You can order certified copies of a marriage certificate by mail from the NYS Department of Health. Send your request to the Vital Records Certification Unit at P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Include a check or money order for $30 made out to the New York State Department of Health. Do not send cash. The DOH mail request page has the full instructions and forms you need.
The mail process takes 10 to 12 weeks for regular handling. Priority service costs an extra $15 and takes about two weeks.
You must include a copy of your photo ID with the request. The DOH accepts a driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID. If you don't have photo ID, you can send two documents that show your name and address, like a utility bill or a government letter from the last six months. Payment from a foreign country must come from a U.S. bank or be an international money order.
Marriage Ceremony Rules in New York
Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law spells out who can perform a marriage in New York. The list is long. Judges at all levels can do it. So can the governor, mayors, city clerks in cities over one million people, and members of the state legislature. Ordained clergy and ministers are also on the list, along with leaders chosen by spiritual groups to handle their affairs.
The ceremony itself is simple. Both people say in front of an authorized official and at least one witness that they take each other as spouse. That is the only required part. There is no set script or form you have to follow. The witness does not need to be a certain age, but pick someone who could speak about what they saw if it ever came up in court.
In New York City, the person performing the ceremony must be registered with the city. Outside the city, there is no registration rule. The officiant does not need to live in New York. Ship captains, though, are not allowed to perform marriages in New York despite what people think. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the issuing clerk within five business days.
New York Marriage License Genealogy Research
Older marriage records are a big deal for family research. The DOH offers uncertified genealogy copies of marriage certificates that have been on file for at least 50 years, but only if both spouses are dead. Direct-line descendants can skip the 50-year rule if they can prove the relationship and that both spouses have passed. The DOH genealogy page explains the requirements and fee schedule.
The base fee for a genealogy copy is $22 for a one to three year search. Wider searches cost more. A 41 to 50 year search runs $122.
Processing a genealogy request can take eight months or longer. If you know which town or city issued the license, going straight to the local clerk will save you a lot of time. The local clerk charges $10 for a certified copy and can often pull the record much faster than the state office.
The New York State Archives keeps microfiche indexes to vital records held by the DOH. These indexes cover the whole state outside NYC starting in 1881. They list the name, date, place, and certificate number for each record. You can view these indexes at 11 locations across the state, including libraries in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and New York City.
The Archives index data is on microfiche only. It is not available in electronic format for download, except for death indexes from the DOH. Marriage indexes after 50 years are open to the public at these locations.
Note: The New York State Library also has genealogy resources and can point you to the right office for marriage license records.
New York Marriage License Copies and Fees
The cost of getting a marriage license copy depends on where you request it. Local town and city clerks charge $10 for a certified copy of a marriage certificate. The state DOH charges $30 for the same record. In New York City, the City Clerk charges $15 for a short certificate for domestic use and $35 for an extended certificate approved for foreign use. Each extra copy from the City Clerk costs $10 or $30 depending on the type.
The New York State Library has a helpful overview of where to find vital records and what each office charges. Their page covers both certified and genealogy copies.
Rush service is also available through VitalChek. Express service costs $69.95 and takes five business days. Regular delivery through VitalChek is $56.95 and takes about 10 business days. A credit card is required for VitalChek orders.
For records that are not in the state system, contact the local registrar. Some towns have records going back to the 1880s or even earlier. Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers handle their own marriage records for events before January 1, 1914, since those were not sent to the state. The city clerk in each of those places is the one to call for older records.
New York City Marriage License Process
Getting a marriage license in New York City works a bit differently than the rest of the state. The Office of the City Clerk handles all licenses for the five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. The fee is $35, paid by credit card, debit card, or money order. Cash is not accepted. You and your partner must schedule an appointment. Walk-in service is not available.
The NY.GOV marriage guide has a full breakdown of what you need for both NYC and the rest of the state. It covers ID requirements, waiting periods, and name change options.
This page is a good starting point if you are not sure which office to contact for your marriage license.
NYC also runs Project Cupid, which lets couples apply for a marriage license online or through a virtual appointment. You fill out the application on the Project Cupid site, then show up at any borough office to finish the process. The online application expires after 21 days if you don't complete it in person.
Project Cupid is the only way to schedule a marriage license appointment in New York City. All five borough offices use this system.
The Manhattan office at 141 Worth Street is the busiest location. Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island each have their own office. Hours run from 8:30 a.m. to about 3:45 or 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. The same 24-hour waiting period applies in the city, though you can request a judicial waiver from the county clerk in the borough where you got the license. There is no fee for the waiver.
Marriage License Requirements in New York
New York law sets clear rules for who can get a marriage license. Both people must be at least 18 years old. There is no exception or court approval process for anyone under 18. You need to bring documents that prove your age and identity. The clerk will accept a birth certificate, passport, driver's license, state ID, or even a school or employment record that shows your date of birth.
Previous marriages come with extra paperwork. List all prior marriages on the application. Include the full name of the former spouse and whether the marriage ended by divorce or death. Bring the divorce decree or death certificate. All prior divorces must be finalized before you can apply for a new marriage license. The clerk will check these documents before moving forward.
Name changes are optional. Neither spouse has to change their last name after marriage. If you want to, you can pick from a few options listed on the license form:
- Take the other spouse's last name
- Use a former last name of either spouse
- Combine both last names into one
- Hyphenate both last names
The change takes effect at the end of the ceremony. If you skip this step and want to change your name later, you would need to go through a separate legal name change process or remarry.
Note: Certain family members cannot marry each other in New York, including ancestors and descendants, siblings of full or half blood, and uncles or aunts with nieces or nephews.
After the Wedding in New York
Once the ceremony is done, the officiant, both spouses, and the witness all sign the marriage license. The officiant then has five business days to return the signed license to the clerk who issued it. DRL Section 13-d puts this duty on the clerk to process the returned license and file it with the state.
The clerk sends a Certificate of Marriage Registration to the couple within 15 calendar days after getting the completed license back. This certificate is your proof that the marriage is on file. It is not the same thing as a certified copy of the marriage certificate, but it serves as notice that your record exists. If four weeks go by and you still don't have it, call the clerk who issued your license.
For a certified copy of the actual marriage certificate, you can go back to the issuing clerk and pay $10. Or you can request one from the NYS DOH for $30. The certified copy is the document you will need for things like updating your Social Security card, changing your name on a driver's license, or proving marital status for insurance purposes.
Browse New York Marriage License Records by County
Each of New York's 62 counties has town and city clerks who issue marriage licenses. Pick a county below to find local clerk contact info and resources for marriage license records in that area.
Marriage License Records in Major New York Cities
City clerks in the largest New York cities handle marriage license applications and keep local records. Pick a city below to find where to go for marriage license records.