Rochester Marriage License

Rochester marriage license applications go through the Rochester City Clerk's Office at City Hall. The office handles new license requests, civil ceremonies, and copies of marriage records going back to 1910. Rochester is the largest city in Monroe County and one of the biggest in upstate New York, so it sees a high volume of marriage license applications each year. Couples from across the Finger Lakes region come here to apply. You can walk in during office hours with your partner, fill out the forms, and get your license the same day. No appointment is needed for the marriage license itself, though civil ceremonies do require scheduling ahead of time.

Rochester Marriage License in Monroe County

Rochester sits in Monroe County, which covers the greater Rochester metro area. The Rochester City Clerk is the main office for marriage licenses in the county, though other town clerks in Monroe County also issue them. You do not need to be a Monroe County resident. Under DRL Section 13, any couple can apply at any clerk office in New York State regardless of where they live or plan to get married.

The Monroe County Clerk's office handles court records, deeds, and other county-level filings. It does not issue marriage licenses. That task belongs to the city and town clerks within the county. The Rochester City Clerk has been issuing licenses and keeping marriage records since 1910.

How to Get a Rochester Marriage License

Go to the Rochester City Clerk's Office between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on any weekday. Both partners must come in together. Bring a certified birth certificate with a raised seal and a current government-issued photo ID. If your birth certificate is in a language other than English or Spanish, you need a certified translation. Blood tests are no longer needed anywhere in New York State.

If either partner has been divorced, bring a copy of the most recent divorce decree. If you have been divorced more than once, you need the dates of all earlier divorces too. Divorce decrees in languages other than English or Spanish also need certified translations. If a prior marriage ended due to death, bring the certified death certificate. The clerk checks all documents, processes the application, and issues the license on the spot.

The fee for a Rochester marriage license is $40. Once issued, there is a 24-hour waiting period per DRL Section 13-b. The license stays valid for 60 days and works anywhere in New York State. Active military members get 180 days. Marriages of anyone under 18 are not allowed.

The screenshot below shows the Rochester City Clerk's marriage license page with full details.

This page covers all the requirements, fees, and hours for getting a marriage license in Rochester.

Civil Marriage Ceremony in Rochester

The Rochester City Clerk performs civil marriage ceremonies. The fee is $75. To schedule one, call (585) 428-7421 on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You need your marriage license in hand before you can book a ceremony date. Witnesses must be at least 18 years of age.

Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, a wide range of people can officiate your wedding. Judges, mayors, clergy, and appointed marriage officers all qualify. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license along with both spouses and the witnesses. The officiant then returns the signed license to the clerk who issued it within five days. The clerk files it with the state and mails you a Certificate of Marriage Registration, usually within a few weeks.

Note: A duplicate copy of a marriage license originally issued by Rochester costs $10 for authorized persons.

Getting Copies of Rochester Marriage Records

The Rochester City Clerk has marriage records on file since 1910. A duplicate copy costs $10 if the original was issued by Rochester. If you do not know the exact marriage date, the clerk can do a search for an extra fee. That search takes one to five business days to finish.

You can also get certified copies from the New York State Department of Health for $30 each. Regular processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling costs $15 extra per certificate. Rush orders through VitalChek cost more but arrive in about five business days. The state genealogy section provides uncertified copies of records 50 or more years old when both spouses are deceased. The base fee is $22 for a search of one to three years, and processing can take eight months or longer.

For historical research, the New York State Archives holds indexes to marriage records statewide from 1881 onward. These are on microfiche. The New York State Library also has genealogy resources that may help with older Rochester marriage records.

Nearby Cities

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