Steuben County Marriage License
Steuben County marriage license applications are handled by town and city clerks throughout the county. The County Clerk's office in Bath keeps older marriage records and other land and court documents on file. Whether you are planning a wedding near Corning or looking up a past marriage license from the Steuben County area, this page walks you through what you need. You can apply for a license at any clerk office in the county or anywhere else in the state. The rules come from New York's Domestic Relations Law and apply the same way in every county.
Steuben County Overview
Steuben County Clerk Office
The Steuben County Clerk sits at 3 East Pulteney Square in Bath. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Staff handle land records, court filings, passports, and some vital records. The county clerk does not issue new marriage licenses. That job falls to the town and city clerks. But the county office does keep marriage records from 1908 to 1935 and can help with older record searches.
You can reach the Steuben County Clerk by phone at (607) 664-2260. The fax number is (607) 664-2261. If you need a certified copy of an old marriage record from the 1908 to 1935 range, the clerk can look it up for you. For anything after 1935, you should contact the town clerk where the license was first issued.
| Office | Steuben County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
3 East Pulteney Square Bath, NY 14810 |
| Phone | (607) 664-2260 |
| Fax | (607) 664-2261 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
Steuben County Marriage License Steps
Getting a marriage license in Steuben County follows the same steps used across New York State. Both people must go to the clerk's office together. You can't have just one person show up. Each applicant needs a photo ID and an original birth certificate with a raised seal. If either person was married before, bring your final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse.
The fee is $40. This is the same in every New York county under DRL §13-b. Once you hand in your application, a 24-hour waiting period kicks in. You can't hold the ceremony on the same day you get the license. After the 24 hours pass, the license is good for 60 days. If the wedding does not happen within that window, the license expires and you have to apply all over again.
New York law under DRL §13 says both applicants must be 18 or older. No exceptions. You do not have to live in Steuben County or New York State to apply here. A license from any clerk in New York works for a wedding held anywhere in the state.
Note: Call ahead to confirm hours and accepted payment methods at the specific town clerk office you plan to visit in Steuben County.
Steuben County Marriage License Resources
The Steuben County government website has information about the clerk's office and other county departments.
From this site you can find contact details for the county clerk and links to other county services. For marriage license applications, you will still need to visit a town or city clerk in person.
Marriage License in Corning
Corning is the largest city in Steuben County. The City Clerk's office is at City Hall, 1 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Corning, NY 14830. You can call them at (607) 962-0340 ext. 1134. This office issues marriage licenses just like any other town or city clerk in the state. The same $40 fee and 24-hour waiting period apply.
If you live in the Corning area, this is likely the most convenient place to get your license. The City Clerk can also answer questions about the process and tell you what forms of payment they take. Remember that both parties must be there in person with all required documents.
Who Can Perform a Wedding in Steuben County
Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law lists the people who can legally marry a couple in New York. This includes judges, justices, clergy members, and leaders of certain ethical societies. Town justices across Steuben County can also officiate. Since 2023, anyone 18 or older can get a one-day marriage officiant license for $25 from the clerk who issued the marriage license.
The officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. They have five business days to return it to the clerk who issued it. If the license is not returned, your marriage certificate may be delayed. The couple should follow up with the clerk about two weeks after the wedding to make sure everything was filed. This step is easy to forget but it matters for your records.
Note: A one-day officiant does not need to live in New York State, but they must get the license from the same clerk who issued the couple's marriage license.
Steuben County Marriage Records
Steuben County has land and court records going back to 1796. The marriage records at the county level cover 1908 through 1935. These are the copies that went to the state Board of Health during that era. For records outside that window, you need to reach out to the town clerk where the license was bought or the New York State Department of Health.
The county also holds military discharge records and naturalization papers. These can sometimes help when tracing family history alongside marriage records. The New York State Archives is another source for older vital records. They hold some marriage data that predates the modern filing system. If you are doing genealogy work in Steuben County, checking both the county clerk and the state archives gives you the best shot at finding what you need.
Steuben County Marriage License Costs
The license fee is $40. That is set by state law. After the wedding, certified copies of the marriage certificate cost $10 from the issuing clerk. You can also order copies from the state health department by mail, but it takes longer and the fee may be different. For a faster turnaround, go back to the local clerk who issued your license.
Nearby Counties
Steuben County borders several other counties. You can apply for your marriage license in any of them since New York allows you to file with any clerk in the state.