Ontario County Marriage License Search

Ontario County marriage license records are handled by town and city clerks throughout this Finger Lakes region county. The City of Canandaigua clerk is a popular choice for couples in the area, though the Town of Farmington and other local clerks also issue licenses. The Ontario County Clerk at 20 Ontario Street in Canandaigua does not issue marriage licenses but does hold marriage records from 1908 to 1935 for genealogy purposes. If you want to search for a marriage license in Ontario County or plan to apply for one, this page walks you through the offices, fees, and steps involved.

Ontario County Clerk and Marriage Licenses

The Ontario County Clerk's office is at 20 Ontario Street in Canandaigua. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is (585) 396-4200. The office now accepts credit cards for most services. But this office does not issue marriage licenses. Under DRL Section 13, town and city clerks handle that duty across the state.

The Ontario County Records and Archives Center sits at 3051 County Complex Drive in Canandaigua. The phone there is (585) 396-4034. This center holds older county documents, but it does not have birth or death records. Marriage records at the archives cover only the years 1908 to 1935. Everything else sits with the individual town clerks who filed the original documents. The County Clerk handles deeds going back to 1789, mortgages, assessment rolls, naturalization records from 1803, and federal census data from 1790 to 1930.

Note: Ontario County Records and Archives does not hold birth and death records, and has marriage records only for 1908 to 1935.

How to Get a Marriage License in Ontario County

The City of Canandaigua Clerk sees couples by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call (585) 337-2169 to schedule. The fee is $40, payable by cash, check, or credit card with a 3% surcharge. Both partners must be there in person. You need original birth certificates with a raised seal, a photo ID like a driver's license or passport, and your Social Security number. If you were married before, bring the original divorce decree or annulment papers with the judge's signature. If a former spouse died, bring a certified death certificate.

The Town of Farmington Clerk at 1000 County Road 8 also issues Ontario County marriage licenses. Hours there are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The phone is (315) 986-8100, option 1. The fee is the same $40 set by state law. Farmington also offers a one-day officiant license for $25. That lets a friend or family member perform your ceremony legally, as long as the couple already has a marriage license. Under DRL Section 13-b, the 24-hour waiting period begins the moment the clerk issues your license.

Your Ontario County marriage license works anywhere in New York State. It stays valid for 60 days. Active military members get 180 days. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the clerk who issued it. Per Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, judges, mayors, clergy, and other authorized people can perform your wedding. The clerk files the signed license with the state and mails you a Certificate of Marriage Registration within a few weeks.

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

This site links to county departments, the online record search, and the Records and Archives Center page with historical marriage records.

Ontario County Marriage License Copies

Certified copies of a marriage certificate from the town clerk who issued it cost about $10. The Ontario County Clerk charges $0.65 per page for standard copies, with a minimum of $1.30. Certified copies cost $1.25 per page with a minimum of $5. The marriage records from 1908 to 1935 at the Records and Archives Center are available for genealogy purposes but cannot be certified by the County Clerk. Some of these bound volumes may contain certifiable documents like the original marriage certificate.

You can search Ontario County records online through the online record search portal. Log in as a guest to search name indexes. The system shows all records except civil and criminal cases. Use the format "Last First" when searching, like "Smith John S." Images are not available online, so you need to visit the office or mail a request for copies. Phone requests are not accepted.

The New York State Department of Health also issues certified marriage certificate copies for $30 each. Regular processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling costs an extra $15 per certificate.

Ontario County Marriage License History

Ontario County was one of the first counties in western New York, formed on January 27, 1789 from Montgomery County. The original county took in most of western New York before later counties split off. Early records include divisions from the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The County Clerk holds deeds from 1789, surrogate court records from 1789, guardianship records from 1789 to 1929, and New York State census records from 1845 through 1925. The County Historian can help with research projects.

The image below shows the Ontario County records page with links to the archives and online search tools. Visit the Ontario County records site for more details.

This page links to the Records and Archives Center, the online record search, and historical marriage records from 1908 to 1935.

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 50 or more years when both spouses are known to be deceased. The base search fee is $22 for one to three years. Processing these requests can take eight months or longer. Check the local clerk first for faster results.

Note: The Ontario County marriage records from 1908 to 1935 are indexed by both bride and groom names.

Cities in Ontario County

Ontario County includes the City of Canandaigua, the City of Geneva, and several towns. Marriage licenses issued anywhere in the county work statewide.

Canandaigua, Farmington, Victor, and Geneva all have clerks who issue marriage licenses. Contact the local office for current hours and appointment requirements before you visit.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Ontario County. Each has its own set of clerks who handle marriage license applications.