Delaware County Marriage License Search
Delaware County marriage license records are kept by the town clerks who issue them across the county. The county sits in the western Catskills and has a mix of small towns and villages where you can apply for a license. If you want to get a marriage license in Delaware County, you can visit any town clerk in the area. Both people must show up in person. The county seat is in Delhi, but clerks in Walton, Sidney, Stamford, and other towns also handle license applications. This page covers what you need to know about the process, the fees, the documents, and where to go for records in Delaware County.
Delaware County Overview
Delaware County Marriage License Offices
In Delaware County, marriage licenses come from town and village clerks. The county clerk does not issue them. This is how it works across New York State under Domestic Relations Law Section 13, which says that all couples must get a license from a town or city clerk before any ceremony can take place. You can go to any clerk in the state, but most people choose one close to home or near their wedding spot.
The Delhi Town Clerk handles many license applications in Delaware County. Their office is at 5 Elm Street, Delhi, New York 13753. To get a certified copy of a marriage record from Delhi, the fee is $10.00 per copy. You send the form and check to the Delhi Town Clerk along with a copy of your driver's license. The form asks for names of the bride and groom, dates of birth, the date the marriage took place, and where the license was issued.
The Town of Walton is another busy clerk office in Delaware County. It sits at 5279 County Highway 23, Walton, NY 13856. The Walton clerk keeps track of all marriage licenses issued and sends fees to the state. In a typical month, the office may collect $160 or more in license fees. They also help with birth and death certificates and genealogy requests.
| Delhi Town Clerk | 5 Elm Street, Delhi, NY 13753 |
|---|---|
| Walton Town Clerk | 5279 County Highway 23, Walton, NY 13856 |
| County Clerk | co.delaware.ny.us |
| License Fee | $40.00 |
How to Get a Marriage License in Delaware County
Getting a marriage license in Delaware County follows the same rules as the rest of New York State. Both people must show up at the clerk's office at the same time. You cannot send someone else, even with a power of attorney. The clerk needs to see both of you sign the application. No blood test is needed.
You will need proof of age and proof of who you are. For age, bring a birth certificate, baptismal record, or passport. For identity, a driver's license or state ID works fine. If your documents are not in English, you need a certified translation. The fee is $40 in cash, check, or money order. Some clerks in Delaware County also take credit cards, but call first to be sure. Under DRL Section 14, the town clerk issues the license right away, but you must wait 24 hours before the ceremony can happen. The license stays good for 60 days after that.
If you were married before, bring proof of how it ended. That means a certified copy of your divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. You need this for every past marriage, not just the most recent one.
Note: The 24-hour waiting period can be waived by a Supreme Court justice or county judge if either party lives in New York State, as allowed under DRL Section 13-b.
Delaware County Records and Resources
The Delaware County government website has general info about county services and departments. You can look up offices and phone numbers for the various town clerks across the county. For marriage license questions, the county points people to their local town clerk first.
The Delaware County Clerk's website provides a portal for looking into county records and services. While the county clerk does not issue marriage licenses directly, their office handles court records, land records, and other legal documents that may be relevant to your search.
This screenshot shows the Delaware County Clerk's main page, which links to various county departments and services for residents.
The Delaware County government portal is another resource for finding contact info for town clerks and other county offices. It lists all the departments and provides phone numbers for each one.
The county government site above gives a broader view of county services and can help you find the right clerk office for your needs.
Marriage License Copies in Delaware County
After a wedding in Delaware County, the officiant fills out the marriage license and sends it back to the issuing clerk. Within about 15 days, the clerk mails a Certificate of Marriage Registration to the couple. This certificate is proof that your marriage is on file with the state. If you do not get it within four weeks, call the clerk who gave you the license.
Certified copies of a Delaware County marriage record cost $10 from the town clerk who issued the license. You can also get copies from the New York State Department of Health for $30 each. The state route takes longer, sometimes 10 to 12 weeks for regular processing. If you need a copy fast, the state offers priority handling for an extra $15, which cuts the wait to about two weeks.
For genealogy research, the state charges $22 for a search that covers up to three years. Longer search windows cost more. Processing can take eight months or longer through the state. Going to the local town clerk is usually much faster if you know where the license was filed.
Note: Marriage records over 50 years old are available to the public if both spouses are deceased, per New York State Department of Health rules.
Marriage Ceremony Rules in Delaware County
New York law spells out who can perform a wedding ceremony. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, the list includes judges from most state and federal courts, town and village justices, mayors, and members of the clergy who have been ordained by a church body. A person chosen by a spiritual group to lead their affairs can also officiate. Ship captains cannot perform marriages in New York.
The officiant does not have to live in New York State. However, if the ceremony takes place in New York City, the officiant must be registered with the city. In Delaware County, this city registration rule does not apply. The ceremony itself has no set form. The couple just needs to say, in front of the officiant and at least one witness, that they take each other as spouses. There is no minimum age for a witness, but pick someone who could testify in court if needed.
State Resources for Delaware County Marriage Records
The New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section keeps marriage records from 1881 to the present for all of New York outside the five boroughs. If the Delaware County town clerk who issued your license no longer has a copy, the state likely does. Write to them at PO Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602, or call (855) 322-1022.
The New York State Archives has indexes to vital records that go back to 1881 for marriages. These indexes are on microfiche and are available at several locations across the state. The closest location for Delaware County residents would be the Utica Public Library at 303 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501, or the Binghamton location at Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street.
You can also check the NY.gov marriage guide for a full overview of state rules. The New York State Library has additional genealogy resources and can point you to the right place for older records.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Delaware County. If you are unsure which county to file in, check the address where you plan to apply. You can get a marriage license from any town clerk in New York State.