Hamilton County Marriage License Lookup
Hamilton County marriage license records are managed by the individual town clerks in this rural Adirondack county. Lake Pleasant serves as the county seat, and Hamilton County is the least populated county in New York State. The Hamilton County Clerk's Office does not issue marriage licenses. Instead, you go to one of the town clerks in places like Indian Lake, Long Lake, Inlet, Speculator, or Wells. This page covers the process for getting a marriage license in Hamilton County, where to find copies of older records, and the fees and rules that apply.
Hamilton County Overview
Hamilton County Clerk and Marriage License
The Hamilton County Clerk's Office is at 102 County View Drive, P.O. Box 204, Lake Pleasant, NY 12108. Phone: (518) 548-7111. Fax: (518) 548-9740. Email: countyclerk@hamiltoncountyny.gov. RaChelle M. Martz serves as County Clerk, with Eileen Higgins as Deputy County Clerk. The Records Room is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., with no recordings accepted after 4:15 p.m. The building closes at 4:30 p.m.
The Hamilton County Clerk does NOT issue marriage licenses. This is a key point. For birth, marriage, or death records and dog licenses, you must contact your town clerk. Marriage licenses in New York State are issued by city, town, and village clerks under DRL Section 13. The county clerk handles deeds, mortgages, court records, and motor vehicle services. Marriage records at the county clerk's office are not complete, so always start with the town clerk where the license was purchased.
| Office | Hamilton County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
102 County View Drive, P.O. Box 204 Lake Pleasant, NY 12108 |
| Phone | (518) 548-7111 |
| countyclerk@hamiltoncountyny.gov | |
| County Clerk | RaChelle M. Martz |
Note: The Hamilton County Clerk's marriage records are not complete. Always contact the town clerk who issued the license for the most accurate information.
Town Clerks in Hamilton County
Hamilton County has ten towns, and each one has a clerk who can issue marriage licenses. The towns are Arietta, Benson, Hope, Indian Lake, Inlet, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake, Morehouse, Speculator, and Wells. Because Hamilton County is so spread out and rural, it helps to call ahead and make sure the clerk will be in the office when you plan to visit. Some of these towns have very small populations and limited office hours.
Both partners must appear in person together at the clerk's office. Bring a photo ID and a birth certificate. If either person was married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate. The fee is $40, the same across all of New York State. After the clerk issues the license, you wait 24 hours per DRL Section 13-b. Then the license is valid for 60 days. You can get married anywhere in New York State. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, judges, mayors, clergy, and appointed marriage officers can perform the ceremony. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the issuing clerk.
Search Hamilton County Marriage License Records
Hamilton County has some records available online through SearchIQS. Subscriptions cost $15 for one day or $25 for 30 days. Copies run $0.65 per page to print. This database covers land records and other county filings, though marriage licenses are primarily held at the town level.
The Hamilton County Clerk's website has details about what is and is not available at the county office. Visit the Hamilton County Clerk website for current hours and contact info.
This page shows the Hamilton County Clerk's online presence and the services they provide.
For copies of marriage records, the New York State Department of Health charges $30 per copy with 10 to 12 week processing. The local town clerk charges only $10. The state genealogy section offers uncertified copies of records at least 50 years old when both spouses are dead, starting at $22. Going to the town clerk first is always faster, especially in a small county like Hamilton where the clerk may know exactly where the file is.
The Hamilton County records website has additional resources for researchers. Visit the Hamilton County records page for more details.
This page provides links to county services and contact information for Hamilton County offices.
Hamilton County Marriage Records History
The State Department of Health has copies of birth, marriage, and death records starting in 1880. Individual town clerks also keep their own copies. The New York State Archives holds marriage indexes from 1881 on microfiche for the entire state outside New York City. The New York State Library has more genealogy resources.
Hamilton County's small size means the town clerks often have deep knowledge of their local records. If you know which town issued the license, go there first. Processing a genealogy request through the state can take eight months or longer. DRL Section 14 requires the issuing clerk to complete the license form, so the original filing is always with the town clerk.
Cities in Hamilton County
Hamilton County has no incorporated cities. It is the least populated county in New York State. All marriage licenses are issued by the town clerks and are valid statewide.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hamilton County. Contact the right clerk for where your license was filed.