Access Ulster County Marriage License

Ulster County marriage license records are maintained by the town, city, and village clerks who issue them across this Hudson Valley county. The county seat is Kingston, one of New York's original twelve counties formed in 1683. Town and city clerks throughout Ulster County handle all marriage license applications, while the County Clerk's office at 244 Fair Street in Kingston manages land records, court filings, and other county documents. Whether you are applying for a new marriage license or searching for a record that was filed in Ulster County, your first stop is a local municipal clerk.

Ulster County Marriage License Office

The Ulster County Clerk's office is in the Ulster County Office Building at 244 Fair Street in Kingston, NY 12401. Call (845) 340-3288 or email countyclerk@co.ulster.ny.us. This office does not issue marriage licenses. Marriage licenses come from the town, city, or village clerk. Under DRL Section 13, you can apply at any town or city clerk in New York State.

The fee is $40.00 at all Ulster County clerk offices. Both partners must show up in person together. Bring a birth certificate and a valid photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. If this is not your first marriage, bring certified divorce decrees or a death certificate for a prior spouse. No blood test is needed in New York. The clerk checks your documents and issues the license on the spot. Then comes the 24-hour waiting period required by DRL Section 13-b.

The County Clerk accepts cash, personal checks up to $2,500, certified bank checks, money orders, and credit cards. But remember, the County Clerk handles land records and court filings. For your marriage license, go to a local town or city clerk. The County Clerk's office oversees records that date back to 1683, making it one of the oldest record-keeping offices in the state.

The screenshot below shows the Ulster County Clerk's official website with FAQ information about vital records and other services.

This page covers common questions about obtaining birth, death, and marriage records in Ulster County.

How to Get an Ulster County Marriage License

Pick any town or city clerk in Ulster County. Kingston is the county seat, but clerks in New Paltz, Saugerties, Woodstock, Marlborough, and other towns all issue marriage licenses too. You do not have to live in Ulster County. You can apply anywhere in New York State and get married anywhere in the state with that license.

Both of you show up at the clerk's office together. The application needs your full names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. You each provide proof of age and a photo ID. The clerk fills out the license form per DRL Section 14. The whole process takes about 20 to 30 minutes. After the license is issued, you wait 24 hours. A Supreme Court or county judge can waive the wait if needed. The license stays valid for 60 days, or 180 days for active military.

Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, many people can perform your ceremony. Judges, mayors, ordained clergy, and appointed marriage officers are all authorized. You can also get a one-day officiant license for $25 from the same clerk who issued your marriage license. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the issuing clerk within five business days.

Ulster County Marriage License Copies

A certified copy costs $10 from the town or city clerk who issued the license. Through the New York State Department of Health, the fee is $30 with 10 to 12 weeks processing. Priority handling adds $15 and takes about two weeks. Rush orders through VitalChek cost more but ship in about five business days.

To get a copy from a local clerk, bring your photo ID and the fee. Mail requests need a notarized letter with both spouse names, the marriage date, and a check for $10. Only the bride or groom can get a certified copy unless the record is over 50 years old and both spouses have died. The NYS DOH mail request page explains the state-level process in detail.

Note: The Ulster County Clerk holds copies of NYS Board of Health marriage licenses and certificates from 1908 to 1935 as historical records.

Ulster County Marriage Records History

Ulster County is one of the original twelve counties formed on November 1, 1683. The County Clerk oversees records that go back to that year, including deeds, mortgages, judgments, liens, maps, and civil and criminal actions. Marriage records from 1908 to 1935 are on file at the county level. These are copies of NYS Board of Health marriage licenses and certificates. They are confidential except for the groom's name, bride's name, date of license, and place of issue. Full access is available only if both parties to the marriage are deceased.

The New York State Archives has microfiche indexes to marriage records from 1881 onward. The NYS DOH genealogy section provides uncertified copies of older records. The base fee is $22 for a one-to-three year search. Processing takes eight months or longer.

The Ulster County Genealogical Society at 11 Main Street in Hurley, NY 12443 is a local resource for family history research. You can email them at librarian@ucgsny.org. They have knowledge of local records and can help point you to the right sources for marriage records in Ulster County.

Cities in Ulster County

Ulster County includes Kingston and several towns and villages. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All marriage license applications go through local town or city clerks.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ulster County. Contact the correct clerk for where your marriage license was filed.