Here's what you need to know and what documents to bring with you before you apply for a Carmel County marriage license. We recommend getting this legal aspect of your wedding out of the way about a month before your ceremony date.
It is important that you verify all information with the Carmel County Town Clerk before making any wedding or travel plans.
Carmel Town Clerk
Carmel City Clerk
60 McAlpin Ave.
Mahopac, NY 10541
(845) 628-1500
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M – F Call for appointment: (845) 628-1500
Closed for holidays Observed by Carmel County
The cost for getting married in Carmel County is approximately $40.00 - $50.00.
Some other locales will not accept cash or personal checks and require a money order. Check with the Carmel City Clerk for clarifications in the requirements before you leave home to apply for your marriage license.
Duration of the Marriage License:
Carmel County marriage license is valid for 60 days (except for active military
personnel, for whom the validity runs for 180 days). A Marriage License issued in Carmel County can be used anywhere within New York State but may not be used outside New York State.
Application Procedure:
Listed below are the general steps and rules of the application process.
You and your prospective spouse must appear together in person to apply for a Marriage
License.
Proxy marriage is not permitted in Carmel County, so no other party may apply on behalf of the
bride or groom.
You will receive the application from the information desk and you must complete the
application in our office.
Your Marriage License will be processed while you wait.
You should carefully read your Marriage License to make sure there are no mistakes.
You will take the Marriage License with you when you leave our office.
You must wait a full 24 hours before your Marriage Ceremony can be performed unless you obtain a Judicial Waiver.
Required Information:
Listed below is the information you will need to fill out the Marriage License Application:
The application is an affidavit where you and your prospective spouse must list your
name; current address; city, state, ZIP code and country; country of birth; date of
birth; name and country of birth of your father and mother; Social Security number; and
marital history.
When you sign the affidavit, you are making a sworn statement that there are no legal
impediments to the marriage.
If you were married before, you must list all prior marriages. You must include your
previous spouse's full name; the date the divorce decree was granted; and the city, state,
and country where the divorce was issued.
All divorces, annulments, and dissolutions must be finalized before you apply for a new
Marriage License.
You may be asked to produce the final divorce decree.
If you are a widow or widower, you must provide your deceased spouse's full name and date
of death.
You and your prospective spouse must have proper identification in order to apply for a
Marriage License.
Eight forms of identification are accepted. Expired identification is not accepted.
Driver License with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its
territories)
Non-Driver Identification Card with photograph (from the United States of America or any
of its territories)
Learner Permit with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its
territories)
Active United States Military Identification Card
Passport
United States Certificate of Naturalization (good for 10 years after date of issue)
United States Alien Registration Card
United States Employment Authorization Card
If you do not possess any of the above forms of identification, you may contact the Legal
Bureau of the Office of the City Clerk in person or by writing to:
Office of the City Clerk
Legal Bureau
141 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
Blood Test Not Required:
A blood test is not required to obtain a Marriage License in Carmel County.
Residency Requirement:
You do not have to be a resident of Carmel County.
Previous Marriages:
If previously married, you must show certified documents on how your previous marriage ended.
If a couple is already legally married to one another, and they want to have a second
wedding ceremony, and if an officiant requires a marriage license, the couple may apply for a
second or subsequent license from the town or city clerk where they were married.
Proxy Marriages:
No.
Cousin Marriages:
Yes.
Common Law Marriages:
No.
Same Sex Marriages:
No. However Carmel County does recognize same-sex marriages performed in other locales.
Various surname options are listed on the back of the application.
You must state your choice of surname on the application. If you elect to make a surname
change on your application, the surname change takes legal effect at the conclusion of the
Marriage Ceremony.
The name change option does not apply to your first name or middle name.
If you wish to change your surname through this office after your Marriage Ceremony, you
must remarry.
Although you may correct mistakes in your Certificate of Marriage Registration, a surname
choice is not considered a mistake and cannot be changed through our Amendment process.
Duplicate Marriage License:
If the Marriage License is lost, stolen, or mutilated, you must obtain a Duplicate
Marriage License in order to get married.
The fee for a Duplicate Marriage License is $25 by credit card or money order
payable to the City Clerk.
Either prospective spouse may apply for a Duplicate Marriage License by returning to the
office that issued the original Marriage License and completing a Duplicate Marriage License
affidavit.
Under the Age of Eighteen:
If either you or your prospective spouse is under the age of 18 years, you are required to
have written parental consent to obtain a Marriage License.
Please be prepared to show proof of your date of birth. You may show one of the following
forms of identification to prove your age:
original or certified copy of birth certificate,
baptismal record,
passport,
driver license,
naturalization record, or
court records.
Both of your parents must be present to consent and have proper
identification at the time of application for the Marriage License and at the Marriage
Ceremony if the ceremony is performed in our offices.
If one parent is deceased, the surviving parent must appear and a death certificate for
the deceased parent must be produced.
If both parents are deceased, the legal guardian must appear instead.
If either prospective bride or groom is under the age of sixteen years, in addition to
parental consent, the written approval of a Judge of the Supreme Court or Family Court is
needed.
A person under the age of fourteen years cannot be married.
Judicial Waiver
A 24 hour waiting period after you and your prospective spouse obtain your license is
required by New York State Law.
In the event that you and your prospective spouse must marry before the 24 hour waiting
period is over, you can request permission from a Judge to waive this requirement.
You can request a Judicial Waiver from the Town Clerk in the county (borough) where you
obtained your Marriage License. Learn more about County
Clerks.
There is no fmarriage_ee to obtain a Judicial Waiver.
Give the Judicial Waiver to your Marriage Officiant to enable them to perform the
ceremony within the 24 hour waiting period.
The Marriage Officiant must attach the Judicial Waiver when returning the Marriage
License to our office.
Officiants in New York:
According to Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, an officiant must be an authorized, officially ordained member of the clergy or a public official in the State of New York such as a mayor, city clerk, deputy city clerk, appointed marriage officer, justice, or judge. In New York City, an officiant must be registered with the City of New York. Ship captains can not perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.
Witnesses:
A marriage ceremony must have at least one witness. Carmel County requires witnesses to be at least 18 years of age.
Vital Records Section
New York State Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12237-0023
Please Note: State and county marriage license
requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. Check with Carmel City Clerk for changes and clarifications in the requirements before you leave home to apply for your marriage license.
Find local New York wedding officiants for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to New York local wedding officiants. You choose the best officiant.
Order Vital Records Online! certified copies of Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce certificates, for events which occurred within the state of New York.