Washington County Marriage License

Washington County marriage license records are kept by the town clerks who issue them across this eastern New York county along the Vermont border. The county seat is Fort Edward. Town clerks in Washington County handle all marriage license applications, and the County Clerk's office manages land records and court filings separately. If you need to find or get a copy of a marriage license that was filed in Washington County, start with the town clerk who issued it or contact the New York State Department of Health for state-level records dating back to 1881.

Washington County Marriage License Clerks

The Washington County Clerk handles land records and court records. It does not issue marriage licenses. For a marriage license, you go to a town clerk or city clerk. Under DRL Section 13, every couple must get a license from a municipal clerk before any ceremony can happen. The County Clerk's FAQ makes this clear: contact the town clerk or city clerk where you want to apply.

The fee is $40.00 at all Washington County clerk offices. Both people must come in together. Bring your birth certificates with raised seals and a photo ID like a driver's license or passport. Your Social Security number is also needed. If this is not your first marriage, bring original divorce decrees or annulment papers signed by a judge, or a death certificate with a raised seal if your prior spouse died. The application takes about 30 minutes. DRL Section 14 covers what the clerk puts on the license form.

After the clerk issues your license, the 24-hour wait starts per DRL Section 13-b. The license is then good for 60 days. Active military get 180 days. Plan to arrive at the clerk's office at least 30 minutes before closing time so there is enough time to finish the paperwork.

The screenshot below shows the Washington County website with information about county services and FAQs.

This site has a FAQ section that covers common questions about vital records in Washington County.

Getting a Marriage License in Washington County

You can apply at any town clerk in Washington County. Towns like Fort Edward, Granville, Greenwich, Cambridge, and Salem all have clerk offices that issue licenses. You do not need to be a resident. The license works anywhere in New York State. Pick whichever office is most convenient for your schedule.

Both partners fill out the form at the clerk's office at the same time. A representative cannot do this for you, even with a power of attorney. Notarized affidavits are not a substitute for showing up in person either. Once you have the license and the 24-hour wait passes, any authorized person can perform the ceremony. Under Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, that includes judges, justices, mayors, clergy, and one-day officiants. The one-day officiant license costs $25 and lets any person 18 or older perform your specific ceremony.

After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the issuing clerk within five business days. The clerk files it with the state and mails you a Certificate of Marriage Registration within about 15 days. This certificate is included in your $40 fee. If you do not receive it within four weeks, call the clerk.

Note: Washington County borders Vermont, but a New York marriage license is only valid for ceremonies in New York State.

Washington County Marriage License Copies

Certified copies cost $10 from the town clerk who issued the license. The New York State Department of Health charges $30 per copy with 10 to 12 weeks processing time. Priority handling adds $15 for about two weeks. Rush service through VitalChek costs more but ships faster.

Only the bride or groom can request a certified copy unless the record is over 50 years old and both spouses have died. For genealogy, the NYS DOH genealogy section provides uncertified copies at a base fee of $22 for a one-to-three year search. Processing takes eight months or more.

Washington County Marriage License History

Vital records in New York State started in 1881. The New York State Archives holds microfiche indexes to marriage records from that year onward. The Crandall Public Library in nearby Glens Falls at 251 Glen Street has copies of these microfiche indexes. That is one of the closest viewing locations for Washington County residents.

The New York State Library in Albany also has vital records genealogy tools. For Washington County, marriage records stay with the town clerk who filed them. The County Clerk may hold some historical records from 1908 to 1935 as part of the state's filing system. Going to the local clerk first saves time if you know which town issued the license.

Surname Options on a Washington County Marriage License

A person's last name does not change automatically when they get married. Neither party is required to change their surname. But if you want to, you can enter a new surname on the marriage license application at the clerk's office. The options under New York law include taking the other spouse's last name, using any former surname of either spouse, combining both surnames into one, or using a hyphenated combination. The change takes effect at the end of your wedding ceremony.

If you do not select a name change on the application, you would need a court order later to change your name through the legal system. Many couples in Washington County decide on this before their appointment. The clerk records the chosen name on the license form per DRL Section 14, and it becomes part of the official filing with the state. This saves the time and cost of going through the courts for a formal name change petition down the road.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County has no major cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All marriage license applications go through local town clerks.

Nearby Counties

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