Search Rockland County Marriage License

Rockland County marriage license records are issued by the town and city clerks throughout the county. The Rockland County Clerk at 1 South Main Street in New City does not issue marriage licenses. Instead, you go to the clerk in your town or any town in New York State. Major towns in Rockland County that handle marriage license applications include Ramapo, Clarkstown, Orangetown, Haverstraw, and Stony Point. The process follows the same rules set by the New York Domestic Relations Law. Both people must appear in person, bring proper ID, and pay the $40 fee. Your license is good anywhere in the state for 60 days.

Ramapo Town Clerk Marriage License

The Town of Ramapo is the largest municipality in Rockland County. Marriage license applications at the Ramapo Town Clerk are by appointment only. The office is at 237 Route 59 in Suffern. Call (845) 357-5100 ext. 263 to set up a time. Both parties must come in together. You need to bring original birth certificates with a raised seal and a valid photo ID like a driver's license or passport.

The fee is $40. Credit and debit cards are accepted, but there is a convenience fee for card payments. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of your divorce judgment. Foreign documents must be translated to English. Per DRL Section 13, both applicants must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license without parental consent.

Note: The Ramapo Town Clerk does not accept walk-ins for marriage license applications.

Rockland County Marriage License Process

You can get a marriage license from any town clerk in Rockland County or anywhere else in New York State. The license is not tied to where you live or where you plan to wed. Pick the office that works best for your schedule. Under DRL Section 13-b, a 24-hour waiting period starts the moment the clerk issues the license. Your ceremony cannot happen until that time passes. The license is then valid for 60 days. If one person is on active military duty, that extends to 180 days with proof.

Here is what each person needs to bring:

• Original birth certificate with raised seal
• Photo ID such as a driver's license or passport
• Social security number
• If divorced, certified copy of the divorce judgment
• If widowed, death certificate of the former spouse

The application takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The clerk fills out the form, checks your documents, and hands you the license. No blood test is needed. Once you have the license, you can get married at any location in New York State. The officiant signs the license after the ceremony and returns it to the issuing clerk within five days.

Copies of Rockland County Marriage License

A certified copy of your marriage license costs $10 from the town clerk who issued it. That is the fastest and cheapest route. You can also get copies from the New York State Department of Health, but the fee is $30 and processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling adds $15. Rush orders through VitalChek cost more but ship in about five business days.

To request a copy from a Rockland County town clerk, visit in person with your photo ID or mail a notarized request. Include the names of both spouses, the date of marriage, and a check for $10. Only the bride or groom can request a certified copy unless the record is more than 50 years old and both spouses have passed away. The NYS Department of Health genealogy section handles older records for research purposes.

Rockland County Clerk Office

The Rockland County Clerk sits at 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, in New City. The phone number is (845) 638-5070. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This office handles land records, court records, passports, and other county business. It does not issue marriage licenses. That is the job of the individual town clerks.

The County Clerk's office maintains land records from 1798, naturalization records from 1843, and census records from 1855 through 1925. These records can be useful for genealogy research. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, a range of people can officiate weddings in New York, from judges and clergy to one-day officiants appointed by town clerks. If you need a marriage officiant certificate, contact the town clerk where the couple got their license.

Note: The Rockland County Clerk maintains historical records but does not process marriage license applications.

Rockland County Marriage License Records

The New York State Department of Health website provides information on ordering vital records by mail, including marriage certificates. Visit the DOH vital records page for details on fees and processing times.

This page covers how to request marriage record copies from the state when you cannot reach the local clerk who issued the license.

For older Rockland County marriage records, the New York State Archives has indexes going back to 1881. The New York State Library also holds genealogy resources. Marriage records from 1908 through 1935 may be on file with the County Clerk's office as well, since the state required clerks to keep copies during that period.

Cities in Rockland County

Rockland County has several large towns where you can apply for a marriage license. These towns have their own clerk offices that handle applications.

Other communities in Rockland County include Haverstraw, Stony Point, and the Village of Spring Valley. All marriage license applications go through local town clerks.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Rockland County. Each has its own town clerks who can issue marriage licenses.