Mount Vernon Marriage License Records

Mount Vernon marriage license applications are handled by the City Clerk's office in Room 104 of City Hall. Mount Vernon sits in Westchester County just north of the Bronx and is one of the most densely populated cities in New York State. Couples looking to get a marriage license in Mount Vernon need to schedule an appointment with the clerk's office. Unlike many other New York clerks, Mount Vernon does not accept walk-ins for marriage license applications. You and your partner must both appear at the scheduled appointment to complete the process.

Mount Vernon Marriage License Filing

Marriage licenses in Mount Vernon are filed through Westchester County. The Mount Vernon City Clerk is the local office that handles these applications. You don't need to live in Mount Vernon or Westchester County to apply. Under DRL Section 13, any couple can get a marriage license from any town or city clerk in the state. The license works for a ceremony held anywhere in New York.

Westchester County has several city and town clerks that issue marriage licenses. Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, and Greenburgh all have their own clerk offices. The Westchester County Clerk handles land records, court filings, and document authentication but does not issue marriage licenses directly. For apostille services on a marriage certificate, you would need to go through the Westchester County Clerk at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains. The fee for authentication is $3.00 per document.

Getting a Mount Vernon Marriage License

Couples must apply in person at the Office of the City Clerk, Room 104, Monday through Friday by appointment only. Only the couple needs to attend unless a translator is required. The fee is $40, payable by cash, card, or money order.

Both parties must bring valid government-issued photo identification. Accepted forms of ID include a current U.S. driver's license, a state-issued non-driver ID, a valid passport, original naturalization papers, or a U.S. Military ID. You also need a certified long-form birth certificate with a raised seal that shows your parents' names. If the birth certificate is in a foreign language, a certified English translation must come with the original document. If it is a digital certified copy, all pages must be printed out before you come to the appointment. A Social Security Card is no longer a required document in Mount Vernon.

If this is not your first marriage, bring certified copies of all divorce decrees, annulments, or death certificates for every prior marriage. Documents must be original and unaltered. They cannot be laminated, torn, damaged, or hard to read. Once the clerk processes your application, you get the license that day. A 24-hour waiting period then applies per DRL Section 13-b. The Mount Vernon marriage license stays valid for 60 days and works for any ceremony in the state.

The screenshot below shows the Mount Vernon City Clerk's marriage license page with detailed requirements and fee information.

This page lists the accepted forms of ID, documents you need, and the current fee structure for a Mount Vernon marriage license.

After the Mount Vernon Ceremony

After the wedding, the officiant must return the signed license to the Mount Vernon City Clerk within five days. The officiant, both spouses, and at least one witness sign the license at the ceremony. Per DRL Section 14, the clerk fills out the form and gives it to the couple, who hand it to the officiant before the big day.

Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, many people can officiate your wedding in New York. Judges at various court levels, mayors, city clerks, ordained clergy, and one-day marriage officers all qualify. Mount Vernon offers one-day marriage officiant licenses through the City Clerk's office. As of March 2023, any person who is at least 18 years old can apply for this license. The one-day officiant does not have to be a resident of New York State. Once the signed license comes back to the clerk, it gets filed with the state. You should receive a Certificate of Marriage Registration in the mail within about 20 days.

The image below shows the Mount Vernon City Clerk website with general city services information.

The city website provides links to the clerk's office and other municipal departments.

Note: Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in New York State, despite what you may have heard.

Mount Vernon Marriage License Copies

You can get a certified copy of your Mount Vernon marriage license from the city clerk who issued it. The fee is $10 per copy. Bring a photo ID and pay in person, or mail a request. Include the full names of both spouses and the date of the marriage in your letter.

The New York State Department of Health also provides certified copies for $30 each, but processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. For rush orders, VitalChek charges a premium but gets results faster. If you need a marriage certificate for use outside the United States, you may need an apostille. First, get the document authenticated by the Westchester County Clerk (fee is $3.00), then submit it to the New York Department of State with a $10 fee for the apostille.

Note: Access to recent marriage records is restricted to the spouses named on the license and their immediate family members.

Mount Vernon City Clerk

The Mount Vernon City Clerk handles vital records, marriage licenses, and other city services. Since the office requires appointments for marriage license applications, make sure to call ahead and schedule your visit. Both partners must attend. The clerk's office can also help with requests for certified copies of past marriage records, birth certificates, and death certificates.

Mount Vernon's location close to the Bronx border makes it a convenient option for couples in the southern Westchester area. If the Mount Vernon office does not have available appointments, you can try any other town or city clerk in New York State. Nearby options include the clerks in Yonkers, New Rochelle, and White Plains.

Nearby Cities

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