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Marriage License Requirements

New York (Chapter 14), Articles 1 and 2 Domestic Relations

Marriage Applying Requirements New York State:

New York State requires all persons who intend to get married to apply for and obtain a marriage license from any city
or town clerk’s office.

  • Marriage license fee is $40.

  • Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license.

  • Photo ID and Proof of age is required.

  • You do not need to be a New York State resident to get married

  • New York does not require a blood test before marriage.

  • New York law requires a twenty-four (24) hour waiting period before your ceremony an be performed.

  • The marriage license in New York is valid for 60 days.

Be sure to contact your local city or town clerk’s office well in advance of the wedding to find out on what days and during what hours the clerk will be in the office.

Allegany Amsterdam
Batavia Bath
Bristol Broome
Canton Catskill
Chemung Clarkstown
Clinton Columbia
Cortlandt Deerfield
Delaware Dix
Elizabethtown Fort Edward
Geneseo Goshen
Herkimer Huntington
Johnstown Lake George
Lake Pleasant Lockport
Lyons Malone
Malta New Bremen
North Castle Norwich
Onondaga Orleans
Oswego Owego
Potter Poughkeepsie
Putnam Valley Riverhead
Rochester Rye
Schoharie Thompson
Tompkins Ulster
Victor Warsaw
Waterloo Watertown
Wawarsing Woodbury

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  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY

Marriage Application Requirement New York:

To complete the application for a marriage license, a couple must:

  • Both you and your intended spouse must appear at the office of the city
    or town clerk in person, together and at the same time to obtain a marriage license.

  • Your photo identity documentation must be current and valid.

  • Provide documentation of previous marriages.

  • Decide on your surname.

  • If you apply for a marriage license in New York City, the fee is $35. Acceptable form of payment is cash. For guidance on additional methods of payment, please call ahead.

  • If you apply for a marriage license anywhere else in the state of New York, the fee is $40. Acceptable form of payment is cash. For guidance on additional methods of payment, please call ahead.

It is important that you verify all information with your local city or town clerk’s office. before making any wedding or travel plans.

Application Information Requirements New York:

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 parents;

  • Social Security number;

  • And marital history.

  • If you were previously married, the date of your divorce or the date of your spouse’s death must be provided. Bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate.

  • All divorces, annulments, and dissolutions must be finalized before you apply for a new Marriage License.

  • When you sign the affidavit, you are making a sworn statement that there are no legal impediments to the marriage.

Marriage ID Requirement New York: Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

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 Permanent Resident Card

  • United States Employment Authorization Card

Marriage Residency Requirement New York:

You do not have to be a resident of New York.

  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
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Marriage Waiting Period Requirements New York:

Yes. Once a license is issued, there is a 24-hour waiting period before your wedding ceremony can be performed.

If you and your prospective spouse must marry before the 24 hour waiting period is over, you can request a Judicial Waiver from the County Clerk in the county or borough where you obtained your Marriage License.

When both applicants are 16 years of age or older, the 24-hour waiting period may be waived by an order of a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the County Court of the county or borough which either of the applicants resides.

If either person is under 16 years of age, the order must be from the Family Court judge of the county or borough in which the person under 16 years of age resides.

Previous Marriages: ✔ Search Marriage | Divorce Records

  • 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 also be required to show a certified copy of the divorce decree or other dissolution document.

  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
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  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY

Marriage License Fees New York:

  • The fee for a marriage license is $35 in New York City. Acceptable form of payment is cash. For guidance on additional methods of payment, please call ahead.

  • Anywhere else in the state of New York the marriage license fee is $40. Acceptable form of payment is cash. For guidance on additional methods of payment, please call ahead.

  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY
  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY

Marriage Blood Test Requirement New York:

No premarital examination or blood test is required to obtain a marriage license in New York State.

Last Name Change New York:

Just because you have a marriage license with your new last name doesn’t mean you’ve officially changed your name.

  • Surnames do not automatically change after marriage. You must choose your legal surname. One or both parties may choose to change their surnames.

  • You do not have to change your surname to be legally married.

  • In the state of New York, you must choose from the following options for the surname change:

    • one spouse’s surname for both partners

    • a surname that combines elements of both spouses’ surnames

    • both spouses’ surnames, separated by hyphen

Name Change Kit:

Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.

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  • NY Marriage License, NYS (Town Clerk’s) Marriage License, NY

Marriage Age Requirements New York: ✔ Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

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.

  • Provide proof of age.

  • 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 borough office of the clerk.

  • 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 spouse 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.

Proof of Age Identification New York:

A person is required to establish proof of age and identity by submitting to the issuing clerk one of the following age related documents:

  1. Birth Certificate

  2. Baptismal record

  3. Naturalization record

  4. Census record

And one of the following identity related documents:

  1. Driver's license
  2. Passport
  3. Employment picture ID
  4. Immigration record

Judicial Waiver New York:

  • A 24 hour waiting period after you and your prospective spouse to 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 County Clerk in the county or borough where you obtained your Marriage License.

  • There is no fee 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 the Clerk’s office.

Proxy Marriages New York:

No. Proxy marriage is not permitted in New York, so no other party may apply on behalf of either spouse.

Cousin Marriages New York:

Yes.

Common Law Marriages New York:

No.

Solemnization of Marriage New York:

A clergyman or minister of any religion, a mayor, city clerk, deputy city clerk, appointed marriage officer, justice, or judge.

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Marriage Witnesses New York:

One person must witness your signature and they must be at least 18 years old.

Expiration Date of Marriage License New York:

  • Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance.

  • 180 days for active military personnel.

  • A Marriage License issued in New York can be used anywhere within New York State but may not be used outside New York State.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage License

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. Additional information can be found on the New York State Department of Health website.

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State Laws marriage requirements to obtain and file a marriage license to receive certified copy of your marriage certificate from clerk’s office upon request.

United States Marriage License Laws