Find Suffolk County Marriage License
Suffolk County marriage license applications go through the town clerk offices spread across Long Island's eastern half. With ten towns covering over 900 square miles, Suffolk County has plenty of options for where you can apply. The County Clerk's office in Riverhead handles some older marriage records but does not issue new licenses. Each town clerk runs its own marriage license desk under the same state rules. This guide covers the full process, from what to bring to how long the license lasts.
Suffolk County Overview
Suffolk County Clerk
The Suffolk County Clerk has its main office at 310 Center Drive North in Riverhead. The phone number is (631) 852-2000. This office does not issue new marriage licenses. Instead, it holds older marriage records from 1908 to 1935. If you need a record from that era, the county clerk can help. For any marriage license issued after 1935, you contact the town clerk where the license was bought.
The county clerk also handles land records, court filings, and naturalization records. It is a large office that serves the whole county. But for a new marriage license, you need to visit one of the ten town clerks in Suffolk County. Each town has its own clerk office with its own hours. The rules and fees are the same at all of them since they follow state law.
| Office | Suffolk County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
310 Center Drive North Riverhead, NY 11901-3392 |
| Phone | (631) 852-2000 |
| Fax | (631) 852-2020 |
Suffolk County Town Clerks
Suffolk County has ten towns. Each one has a clerk that issues marriage licenses. Pick the town that works best for your schedule or location. You do not have to live in a particular town to apply there. The license is valid for any ceremony in New York State regardless of where you bought it. Here are the main town clerk offices in Suffolk County:
- Brookhaven Town Clerk: One Independence Hill, Farmingville, (631) 451-9101
- Islip Town Clerk: 655 Main Street, Islip, (631) 224-5490
- Huntington Town Clerk: 100 Main Street, Huntington, (631) 351-3206
- Babylon Town Clerk: 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, (631) 957-3000
- Smithtown Town Clerk: 99 W. Main Street, Smithtown, (631) 360-7500
- Southampton Town Clerk: 116 Hampton Road, Southampton, (631) 283-6055
Other town clerk offices include East Hampton, Riverhead, Southold, and Shelter Island. Each one follows the same process. The fee is $40. Both applicants must appear together. Call the office before you go to check on their hours and any appointment needs.
Note: Some Suffolk County town clerk offices require appointments for marriage license applications, so call first to confirm walk-in availability.
How to Get a Suffolk County Marriage License
Both parties go to the clerk's office at the same time. Bring original birth certificates with a raised seal and a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. If either person was married before, bring your final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. You will also need your Social Security number.
Under DRL §13, both applicants must be at least 18. The state does not allow anyone under 18 to get married. Once you fill out the application and pay the $40 fee, a 24-hour waiting period starts. You cannot get married the same day you get the license. After the waiting period, the license stays good for 60 days per DRL §13-b. If 60 days pass without a ceremony, you have to apply again and pay again.
You do not need to be a Suffolk County resident. You do not need to be a New York resident. Any couple can walk into any town clerk in the state and apply. The license works for a wedding held anywhere in New York.
Suffolk County Marriage License Online
The Suffolk County government website has details on the County Clerk and links to each town's website.
Use this site to find the specific town clerk office closest to you. Each town page lists hours, phone numbers, and directions. For copies of older marriage records, the county clerk's page explains what is on file and how to request copies.
Marriage Officiants in Suffolk County
Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law covers who can marry a couple in New York. Judges, clergy, and certain society leaders all qualify. Town justices throughout Suffolk County can also perform weddings. The one-day officiant option lets anyone 18 or older run the ceremony after paying $25 for a temporary license from the issuing clerk.
After the wedding, the officiant signs the marriage license and sends it back to the issuing clerk within five business days. This is a legal requirement. If the license does not get returned, there can be problems getting your marriage certificate. The couple should check with the clerk a couple of weeks after the ceremony to make sure the paperwork went through.
Suffolk County Marriage Records
The Suffolk County Clerk's office holds marriage records from 1908 to 1935. For records after 1935, contact the town clerk where the license was purchased. The Suffolk County Historical Society at 300 West Main Street in Riverhead also has genealogy materials. Their phone number is (631) 727-2881. They can help with older marriage record research and point you to other local sources.
For statewide marriage record searches, the New York State Department of Health maintains records from 1880 onward for areas outside of New York City. The New York State Archives holds some older records as well. If you are tracing family history in Suffolk County, using both local and state sources gives you the broadest coverage.
Note: Suffolk County marriage records from 1908 to 1935 may be restricted if both parties listed on the record are still alive.
Cities in Suffolk County
These towns in Suffolk County have their own pages with local marriage license details.
Nearby Counties
Suffolk County sits on the eastern end of Long Island. Nassau County is the only neighboring county to the west.