Hempstead Marriage License

Hempstead marriage license applications are handled by the Town of Hempstead Town Clerk at Town Hall in Hempstead. The Town of Hempstead is one of the largest towns by population in the entire United States, and it covers a big chunk of Nassau County on Long Island. The Town Clerk's office at 1 Washington Street is where couples come to apply for a marriage license, pick up copies of past records, and ask questions about the process. You can download the application from the town's website and call ahead to make an appointment. The office handles a high volume of license requests, so scheduling in advance is a good idea.

Hempstead Marriage License in Nassau County

The Town of Hempstead is part of Nassau County on Long Island. The Town Clerk issues marriage licenses for Hempstead residents and anyone else who wants to apply here. You do not need to live in Hempstead or Nassau County. Under DRL Section 13, any couple can get a marriage license from any town or city clerk in New York State, and it works for a wedding held anywhere in the state.

The Nassau County Clerk handles court filings, property records, and other county-level documents. Marriage licenses are not issued at the county level. They go through the town and city clerks. Hempstead is the most populous town in Nassau County, and many villages within its borders direct residents to the Town Hall for marriage license questions.

How to Get a Hempstead Marriage License

Call the Town of Hempstead Town Clerk at (516) 812-3014 to make an appointment. You can also download the marriage license application from the town's website and fill it out ahead of time. Both partners must appear together at the Town Clerk's office at 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. Bring a valid state-issued ID such as a driver's license or passport, and have $40 ready for the fee. Cash, credit card, check, or money order are all accepted.

Once the clerk processes your application and issues the license, a 24-hour waiting period starts per DRL Section 13-b. You cannot have your wedding ceremony on the same day you get the license. The license stays valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you are active military, the window extends to 180 days. Your Hempstead-issued marriage license works for a ceremony held anywhere in New York State. After the wedding, your officiant helps you fill out the license and returns it to the clerk's office.

The screenshot below shows the Town of Hempstead website where you can find marriage license details and forms.

The town's website has downloadable forms and contact details for scheduling your appointment.

Note: Internet ministers ordained online are legal in New York State outside of New York City limits.

After Your Hempstead Marriage License Wedding

On the day of your ceremony, the officiant helps you complete the marriage license correctly. Both spouses sign it, and at least one witness does too. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, judges, mayors, ordained clergy, and appointed marriage officers can all perform the ceremony. The officiant must return the signed license to the Hempstead Town Clerk within five days.

Once the clerk gets the signed license back, it gets filed with the New York State Department of Health. You should receive a Certificate of Marriage Registration in the mail within a few weeks. That certificate is your official proof that the marriage is on file. If you need your ceremony performed at Town Hall, call the clerk's office to ask about scheduling and fees for a civil ceremony.

Hempstead Marriage License Copies

A certified copy of a marriage record from Hempstead costs $10. You can get one in person, by mail, or by fax from the Town Clerk's office. Provide the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, your return address, a copy of your photo ID, and $10 in cash, check, or money order made payable to Kate Murray, Town Clerk. The office is at 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. Call (516) 489-5000 for general inquiries.

You can also get a certified copy from the New York State Department of Health. The state charges $30 per copy and takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling adds $15. For faster service, VitalChek offers rush delivery at a higher cost. The NYS genealogy office handles requests for records over 50 years old when both spouses are deceased. Those searches start at $22 and can take many months to process.

Note: A Nassau County-issued marriage license is valid for a ceremony held anywhere in New York State.

Nearby Cities

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