Find Niagara County Marriage License

Niagara County marriage license records are kept by the town and city clerks who issue them across the county. The Niagara Falls City Clerk handles a large share of applications, with the office at 745 Main Street in Room 114. Other clerks in Lockport, North Tonawanda, Lewiston, and surrounding towns also issue marriage licenses. If you need a copy of a marriage license filed in Niagara County, you can reach the issuing clerk or request one from the New York State Department of Health. The County Clerk in Lockport holds marriage records from 1908 onward but does not issue new licenses.

Niagara County Marriage License Offices

Marriage licenses in Niagara County are issued by town and city clerks, not the County Clerk. The Niagara County Clerk's office at 175 Hawley Street in Lockport handles land records, court filings, and vital record copies. But for a new marriage license, you go to the local clerk. The Niagara Falls City Clerk at 745 Main Street, Room 114, is the busiest office in the county. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is (716) 286-4393. Under DRL Section 13, all couples must get a marriage license from a town or city clerk before the ceremony takes place.

The fee for a Niagara County marriage license is $40 at any town or city clerk. Cash is the safest way to pay. Call the clerk ahead of time to ask about other payment methods. Both partners must show up in person with valid ID. Bring your original birth certificate with a raised seal and a current photo ID. If you had a past marriage, bring your final divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. No blood test is needed. The 24-hour waiting period kicks in after the clerk issues your license, per DRL Section 13-b. The license stays valid for 60 days.

You can also get a marriage license from clerks in Lewiston, Wheatfield, Pendleton, Cambria, and other Niagara County towns. Each office charges the same $40 fee set by state law. Pick whichever location is most handy for you.

Getting a Marriage License in Niagara County

Walk into any town or city clerk in Niagara County with your partner and your documents. You do not have to apply in the town where you live or plan to get married. The clerk checks your IDs, fills out the form, takes the $40 fee, and hands you the license. The whole visit takes about 20 to 30 minutes. After that, a 24-hour wait starts. A judge can waive the waiting period if you have a good reason, but most people just plan ahead.

Your Niagara County marriage license works anywhere in New York State. You can have your ceremony in any county, any city, any venue. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, judges, mayors, clergy, and appointed marriage officers can perform the wedding. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the clerk who issued it. That clerk files it with the state and mails you a Certificate of Marriage Registration. This usually takes two to four weeks. If one partner is active military, the license extends from 60 days to 180 days with proof of service.

The screenshot below shows the Niagara County official website where you can find clerk contact info and county services. Visit the Niagara County website for the latest details.

This page links to county departments and can help you find the town or city clerk nearest to you in Niagara County.

Note: The Niagara Falls City Clerk closes on court holidays, so call ahead if you plan to visit on a day that might not be a regular business day.

Niagara County Marriage License Copies

A certified copy of a marriage certificate from the Niagara County Clerk costs $30. The County Clerk holds marriage records from 1908 onward. For records before 1908, you must contact the town clerk where the marriage took place. The County Clerk's search department can be reached at (716) 439-7031. Standard photocopies cost $0.25 per page if you just need an uncertified copy for your own files. Certified copies from the town clerk who issued the license run about $10.

You can also order certified copies through the New York State Department of Health. The state charges $30 per copy and takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling adds $15. Rush orders through VitalChek cost more but arrive faster. To request a copy by mail from the county, send a letter with both spouse names, the date of marriage, and a check or money order for $30 to the Niagara County Clerk at P.O. Box 461, Lockport, NY 14095-0461.

Niagara County Marriage License History

Niagara County was split from Genesee County in 1808. The County Clerk's office holds birth certificates from 1880, death certificates from 1880, and marriage records from 1908. Land records go back to 1800, and court records start in 1831. The Niagara County Historian's Office at 139 Niagara Street in Lockport can help with older records and genealogy questions. The historian's phone number is (716) 439-7324, and you can email historian@niagaracounty.com.

The New York State Archives holds statewide marriage indexes from 1881 on microfiche. The NYS Department of Health genealogy section offers uncertified copies of marriage records on file for 50 or more years when both spouses are known to be deceased. The base fee is $22 for a search of one to three years. For Niagara County land records, you can search online through the IQS land records portal.

Note: Marriage indexes become available after 50 years, and birth indexes after 75 years per state policy.

Cities in Niagara County

Niagara County includes the cities of Niagara Falls, Lockport, and North Tonawanda along with several smaller towns. Marriage licenses issued by any clerk in the county work across New York State.

Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda are the largest cities in Niagara County. Each has its own city clerk who issues marriage licenses. Contact the clerk where you plan to apply for the most up-to-date information on hours and payment methods.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Niagara County. Make sure you contact the right clerk for where your license was filed.