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NYC Marriage License, NY

Local Officiants

New York City

Borough Clerk’s
Marriage License Requirements

New York State requires all persons who intend to get married to apply for and obtain a marriage license at one of the borough offices of the City Clerk of New York.


Be sure to contact your local borough 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.

Manhattan Marriage Bureau:

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. / M – F

141 Worth Street

Ph: 212.669.2400
Bronx Marriage Bureau:

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / M – F

851 Grand Concourse Rm B131

Ph: 718.590.5307
Brooklyn Marriage Bureau:

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / M – F

210 Joralemon Street

Municipal Bldg, Room 205

Ph: 718.802.3585
Queens Marriage Bureau:

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / M – F

120-55 Queens Boulevard

Ground Floor Room X001

Ph: 718.286.2829
Staten Island Marriage Bureau:

Hrs: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / M – F

10 Richmond Terrace

Borough Hall Building, Room 301

Ph: 718.816.2290

  • The fee for a marriage license is $35 in New York City. Acceptable form of payment is cash.

  • 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.

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Application:

  • Both you and your intended spouse must appear at the office of the city clerk in person, together and at the same time to obtain a marriage license. However, the application can be started online and ready for you when you arrive at the Clerk’s office.

  • Your photo identity documentation must be current and valid.

  • Provide documentation of previous marriages.

  • Decide on your surname.

  • The fee for a marriage license is $35 in New York City. Acceptable form of payment is cash.

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

Application Requirements:

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:

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

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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.

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Marriage License Fee:

The fee for a marriage license is $35 in New York City. Acceptable form of payment is cash.

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:

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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Marriage Age Requirements: ✔ 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:

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:

  • 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:

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

Cousin Marriages:

Yes.

Common Law Marriages:

No.

Solemnization of Marriage:

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

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

Expiration Date of Marriage License:

  • 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, NY 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.

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