Livingston County Marriage License

Livingston County marriage license records are kept by the town clerks who serve communities across the county. The county seat is Geneseo, and couples can apply for a marriage license at any town or city clerk office in the area. Whether you live in Avon, Dansville, or Mount Morris, the process follows New York State law and the same rules apply. If you need to look up an old marriage record, the County Clerk in Geneseo holds some historical files dating back to 1908. You can also reach out to the New York State Department of Health for copies of older records that go back to 1881.

Livingston County Clerk Office

The Livingston County Clerk sits at 6 Court Street in Geneseo. This office does not issue marriage licenses. That task falls to the town and city clerks in each local community. However, the County Clerk does hold marriage records from 1908 through 1935, which can be useful for genealogy searches or old record lookups. The office also keeps deeds, mortgages, and probate files going back to 1821.

You can visit the Livingston County government website for general county information and department contacts. The County Clerk staff can help point you to the right town clerk if you are not sure where to go for a marriage license in Livingston County. They also have state census records from 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925 on file for researchers.

Getting a Marriage License in Livingston County

To get a marriage license in Livingston County, both people must show up in person at a town or city clerk office. You can pick any clerk office in the county or anywhere else in New York State. The license costs $40 and is good for 60 days once the 24-hour waiting period passes. Under DRL §13, every couple planning to marry in New York must get a license from a town or city clerk before the ceremony can take place.

Bring your documents with you. You need proof of age, which can be an original birth certificate with a raised seal, a baptismal record, or naturalization papers. You also need a current photo ID like a driver's license or passport. If you were married before, bring your divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. The clerk will not accept photocopies of these documents.

The Town of Mount Morris is one of the issuing offices in Livingston County. The Town Clerk there, Chelsey Woodworth, can be reached at 585-658-2730. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Other towns with clerks who issue marriage licenses include Avon, Caledonia, Conesus, Dansville, Geneseo, Lima, Livonia, and Nunda.

Livingston County Marriage License Resources

The Livingston County government site provides contact details for all county departments and links to local services.

From this site you can find phone numbers and hours for each town clerk office in the county. If you need a certified copy of an older marriage record, the County Clerk can help with files from 1908 to 1935.

Marriage License Rules and Ceremony

DRL §13-b sets a 24-hour waiting period after you buy the license. You cannot get married on the same day you pick up the license unless a judge grants a waiver. After the waiting period ends, the license stays valid for 60 days. If you do not use it in that window, it expires and you must apply again.

The ceremony itself does not need to follow any set script. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, marriages can be performed by judges, justices, mayors, members of the clergy, and other authorized officials. The person performing the ceremony must be registered if the wedding takes place within New York City limits, but that rule does not apply in Livingston County. You need at least one witness present during the ceremony. There is no minimum age for a witness, but pick someone who could testify in court about what they saw.

After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the marriage license and returns it to the clerk who issued it. The clerk then files the record and sends you a Certificate of Marriage Registration. That certificate serves as your proof that the marriage took place. If you need extra certified copies later, the issuing clerk charges $10 each.

Name Change After Marriage

Your last name does not change on its own when you get married. You have to choose to change it. New York law gives you several options. You can take your spouse's last name, go back to a former surname, combine both names into one, or use a hyphenated version. DRL §14 covers the marriage license form, which includes a spot to indicate your chosen name after the wedding.

Once you have the marriage certificate, you can use it to update your name with the Social Security Administration, the DMV, your bank, and other agencies. The process is the same in Livingston County as it is across the rest of New York State.

Livingston County Marriage Records for Genealogy

The County Clerk keeps marriage records from 1908 to 1935 on file. These can be searched for genealogy purposes. The New York State Department of Health genealogy page also offers uncertified copies of marriage records that are at least 50 years old, provided both spouses are known to be deceased. The base fee for a genealogy search is $22 for a one-to-three year search window.

The New York State Archives maintains microfiche indexes to vital records starting in 1881. These indexes cover the entire state outside of New York City. You can visit the Archives in Albany or check copies held at the Rochester Public Library, which is the closest location to Livingston County residents. The indexes show the person's name, date and place of the event, and the state certificate number.

Birth records must be on file for 75 years before they are available for genealogy research. Death records require a 50-year wait. Marriage records also need to be on file for 50 years, and both parties must be known to be deceased before an uncertified copy can be released for genealogy purposes.

Statewide Marriage License Resources

The New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section is the main state agency for marriage records. They keep marriage records from 1881 forward for the entire state outside of New York City. A certified copy costs $30 and takes 10 to 12 weeks to process by mail. You can send your request to the Vital Records Certification Unit at PO Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602.

The NY.gov marriage guide walks you through the full process step by step. It covers who can perform ceremonies, what documents you need, and how to get copies of your marriage certificate after the wedding. This is a good starting point if you are new to the process.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Livingston County. If you are not sure which county covers your address, check with your town clerk. You must apply at a clerk office, but the license works anywhere in the state.