Search Albany Marriage License

Albany marriage license applications go through the Albany City Clerk at City Hall on Eagle Street. As the state capital and the county seat of Albany County, the city sees a steady flow of couples applying for marriage licenses year-round. The clerk's office sits in Room 202 at 24 Eagle Street in downtown Albany. You can walk in with your partner on any weekday, fill out the forms, and get your marriage license issued on the spot. The Albany City Clerk also keeps records of marriages filed in the city, so if you need a copy of a past license, this is the place to start your search.

Albany Marriage License in Albany County

The City of Albany sits in Albany County. The Albany City Clerk is the main office for marriage license applications in the county, though other municipal clerks in towns like Colonie, Bethlehem, Guilderland, and Cohoes also issue them. You do not have to be an Albany resident. Per DRL Section 13, any couple can get a marriage license from any clerk in the state.

The Albany County Clerk's office at 16 Lodge Street handles deeds, mortgages, and court records. It does not issue marriage licenses. That job falls strictly to the city and town clerks in the county. If you are looking for a marriage record filed in the City of Albany, contact the Albany City Clerk directly rather than the county clerk.

How to Get an Albany Marriage License

Visit the Albany City Clerk's Office at City Hall, Room 202, 24 Eagle Street. Hours run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both partners must come in person. Bring a birth certificate and a photo ID like a driver's license or passport. No blood test is needed.

If you were married before, bring your divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. The fee is $40. Cash is the safest way to pay, though credit cards may also be accepted. The clerk processes your application and issues the license on the spot. A 24-hour waiting period then starts per DRL Section 13-b. Your license stays valid for 60 days and works anywhere in New York State. If one of you is active military, the window extends to 180 days. You can reach the office by phone at (518) 434-5090 or by email at vital@albanyny.gov.

The screenshot below shows the Albany City Clerk's page with details on marriage license services.

This page has the most current info on what to bring and how to apply at the Albany City Clerk.

Note: Marriage records from the City of Albany filed before January 1, 1914 are not held by the State Department of Health.

Albany Marriage License Ceremony

You can schedule a civil ceremony at the Albany City Clerk's office. The ceremony fee is separate from the license fee. Bring your marriage license, your partner, and two witnesses. Up to 10 guests can fit in the ceremony room. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, judges, mayors, ordained clergy, and appointed marriage officers can all perform weddings in New York State.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license along with both spouses and the witnesses. The officiant must return the signed license to the clerk who issued it within five days. Per DRL Section 14, the clerk fills out the license form and hands it to the couple. Once the signed license comes back, the clerk files it with the state. You should get a Certificate of Marriage Registration by mail within two to four weeks. That certificate proves your marriage is on file.

Albany Marriage License Copies

A certified copy of your Albany marriage license costs $10 from the city clerk. Come in with your photo ID, or mail a request with a notarized letter, the names of both spouses, the marriage date, and a check for $10. Mail it to the Albany City Clerk, 24 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207. Only the bride or groom can request a certified copy unless the record is over 50 years old and both spouses are deceased.

The New York State Department of Health also provides certified copies for $30 each with 10 to 12 weeks of processing. Priority handling costs $15 extra. Rush orders through VitalChek cost more but arrive faster. For genealogy work, the state genealogy section handles requests for records 50 or more years old. The New York State Archives on the Empire State Plaza in Albany holds statewide marriage indexes from 1881 onward on microfiche.

Nearby Cities

These cities and towns near Albany also issue marriage licenses through their local clerks.