Tompkins County Marriage License

Tompkins County marriage license records are kept by the city and town clerks who issue them across this central New York county. The county seat is Ithaca, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College. The City of Ithaca Clerk handles many marriage license applications in the area, along with town clerks in surrounding communities. To search for an existing Tompkins County marriage license or apply for a new one, contact any municipal clerk in the county or reach out to the New York State Department of Health for older records.

Tompkins County Marriage License Offices

The Tompkins County Clerk's office is at 320 North Tioga Street in Ithaca, NY 14850. You can call (607) 274-5431 or email countyclerkmail@tompkins-co.org. This office handles land records, court filings, and other county business. It does not issue marriage licenses. For a marriage license, you go to a city or town clerk. Under DRL Section 13, every couple who plans to marry in New York must get a license from a town or city clerk before the ceremony.

The fee for a marriage license in Tompkins County is $40.00. Both partners must appear in person at the same time. Bring your birth certificate and a photo ID. A driver's license or passport works fine. If you were married before, bring all divorce decrees or a death certificate for a prior spouse. No blood test is needed. The clerk reviews your documents, fills out the license per DRL Section 14, and hands it to you. Then you wait 24 hours per DRL Section 13-b before any ceremony can take place.

The screenshot below shows the Tompkins County Clerk's website where you can find details about local government services and office hours.

This page links to various county departments and provides contact details for local clerks.

How to Get a Marriage License in Tompkins County

Go to any city or town clerk in Tompkins County with your partner. You do not need to live here. You do not need to plan your wedding here either. The license works throughout New York State. Most couples in the area use the Ithaca City Clerk, but town clerks in Dryden, Groton, Lansing, Caroline, Danby, Enfield, Newfield, and Ulysses also issue licenses.

The application process takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The clerk needs full names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers from both of you. You each show your proof of age and photo ID. The clerk fills in the license form and both of you sign it. Your license is ready right away. After the 24-hour wait, the license stays valid for 60 days. Active military members get 180 days.

You can also get a one-day officiant license from the same clerk who issued your marriage license. The fee is $25. Any person 18 or older can get one, and they do not have to live in New York State. This is popular in Tompkins County, where many couples want a friend or family member to lead the ceremony at one of the area's scenic venues. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, judges, clergy, and appointed marriage officers can also perform weddings.

Note: The Ithaca area is a popular wedding destination, so call ahead during summer months to check clerk availability.

Tompkins County Marriage License Copies

Certified copies from the issuing town or city clerk cost $10 each. That is the cheapest way. The New York State Department of Health charges $30 per copy with 10 to 12 weeks processing. Priority handling at the state level adds $15 and takes about two weeks. Rush orders through VitalChek cost more but come faster.

To get a copy from a Tompkins County clerk, bring your photo ID and $10. You can also send a mail request with a notarized letter listing both spouse names and the wedding date, plus a check for $10 made out to the clerk. Only the bride or groom can request a certified copy of a recent record. Records more than 50 years old with both spouses deceased are available to the public for genealogy purposes.

The Tompkins County Surrogate's Court at the County Courthouse on North Tioga Street handles probate matters. The court can be reached at (607) 277-0622. This is a separate office from the clerk and does not deal with marriage licenses.

Tompkins County Marriage Records History

Tompkins County was created in 1817 from Cayuga and Seneca counties. The county is named after Daniel Tompkins, who served as Vice President and as Governor of New York. Vital records in the state started in 1881. The New York State Archives holds microfiche indexes to marriage records from that year onward. The nearest microfiche viewing spot for Tompkins County is the Steele Memorial Library in Elmira or the Syracuse Onondaga County Public Library.

The Tompkins County Clerk holds some state census records from 1825, 1835, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, and 1925. The census records from 1845, 1855, and 1915 are lost. The History Center in Tompkins County at 401 East State/MLK Jr. Street in Ithaca is a good resource for local history research. They can be reached at (607) 272-4557. The New York State Library also has genealogy tools for vital records statewide.

The NYS DOH genealogy section provides uncertified copies of marriage records on file for 50 or more years when both spouses are deceased. The base fee is $22 for a one-to-three year search. Processing takes eight months or longer. Going to the local clerk first saves time when you know which town issued the license.

Note: The Tompkins County Public Library at 101 East Green Street in Ithaca also has local history and genealogy resources.

Cities in Tompkins County

Tompkins County includes the City of Ithaca and several surrounding towns. Marriage licenses issued anywhere in the county work statewide. No cities in Tompkins County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tompkins County. Make sure you contact the right clerk for where your license was filed.