New York Marriage License Requirements

If you're getting married in the state of New York you must first apply for a wedding license at any in-state county clerk office. These offices, some of which are referred to as the "marriage license bureau," are usually located in the county probate court or circuit court. This document outlines the requirements you must adhere to in order to get a valid marriage license that can be used statewide. Let's begin…

Cost of Your License

How much does a marriage license cost?

The marriage license fee is $40.00 dollars.

Residency Requirement

Are there any special residency conditions for in-state or out-of-state residents?

There are none. You do not have to be a previous or current resident of New York to obtain a marriage license that will be valid statewide.

Waiting Period

After I submit my application how long do I have to wait before I receive my marriage license?

There is no waiting period. You will receive your marriage license immediately after you submit your application.

Is there a waiting period from the moment the license is given to me to the date I'm allowed to actually marry?

Yes, after you receive your license, there is still a mandatory 1 day waiting period before you can actually get married.

License Expiration

How long will my marriage license remain valid once it's been issued?

Your license will expire 60 days from the date it is issued. Once it expires, it can no longer be used to get married.

What happens if my marriage license expires before I get a chance to use it?

Unfortunately, you'll just have to get a brand new one as your expired one will no longer be recognized as valid by the state nor by the person who will be responsible for officiating your marriage.

Age Requirement

How old must I be to get married?

You must be at least 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.

What if one or both of us is younger than 18?

If either partner is under 18, parents or legal guardians must be present. If a parent can not be present, due to death, separation, divorce or other circumstances, proper evidence must be presented for verification. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you are under 16 you can not marry without a court order.

Blood Test

Are blood tests and physical exams required?

No blood test or physical exam is required.

Divorced or Widowed Applicants

What if one or both partners have been divorced or have had a spouse die?

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. If necessary, a copy of your divorce records or spouse's death certificate can be ordered from your local vital records office and mailed to you.

Marriage Name Change

How do I legally change my name before or after I get married?

When you are married, you will receive a marriage certificate, which is a piece of paper proving that you are legally married. This document will serve as evidence of your marriage, which you'll need to complete the process of notifying several government agencies about your name change, as well as any non-government institutions that you do business with (ie, banks, employers, credit cards, memberships, etc).

There is an online marriage name change kit that you can use and complete before or after your marriage takes place. It's applicable for New York or any other state in the union. Completing all the necessary name change documentation prior to your wedding is recommended in order to expedite the name change process.

Proxy Marriage

What is a proxy marriage?

A proxy marriage, also known as a "proxy wedding," is when one or both partners to be married are unable to physically attend the ceremony. The missing person, or persons, will have someone "stand in" for them and serve as their "proxy."

Can I get married by proxy if I'm unable to to be present for the ceremony?

No, getting married by proxy is not allowed in New York. There are actually only five states left that do allow marriage by proxy.

Common Law Marriage

What is a common law marriage?

The term "common law marriage" refers to an informal marriage, based upon cohabitation and a mutual understanding by both partners, rather than getting married through a civil or religious ceremony. The latter, more common approach, would require an actual New York marriage license.

Is a common law marriage a legal option for me instead of undergoing a conventional marriage?

No, common-law marriages are not allowed in New York. This is unsurprising as only one-fifth of the country currently recognizes common law marriage.

Cousin Marriage

Can I get married to my cousin?

Yes, cousin marriages (first, second, etc) are allowed to take place.

Same Sex Marriage

Are same sex marriages legal?

Yes, same-sex marriages are allowed and legally recognized in New York.

Where to Go

Where do I physically need to go to get my marriage license?

New York has 59 offices where a marriage license can be acquired. Simply choose a location below to visit. Phone numbers as well as map and accompanying driving direction links are provided for every address.

Albany Town Clerk
24 Eagle Street
Albany, NY 12207
518-487-5100
Allegany Town Clerk
14 Clara Barton St
Dansville, NY 14813
716-335-2330
Batavia County Clerk
P.O. Box 379
Batavia, NY 14021
716-343-1729
Bath Town Clerk
3 East Pulteney Square
Bath, NY 14810
607-776-7013
Bristol Town Clerk
6740 County Road 32
Canadaigua, NY 14424
716-229-2400
Bronx City Clerk
210 Joralemon St, Ste 205
Bronx, NY 10457
718-802-3585
Buffalo Town Clerk
25 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY 14202
716-851-5444
Canton Town Clerk
864 State Highway 68
Canton, NY 13617
315-386-8311
Catskill County Clerk
Court House Main St
Catskill, NY 12414
518-943-2141
Cattaraugus County Clerk
303 Court St
Little Valley, NY 14755
716-257-9288
Cayuga Town Clerks Office
P.O. Box 616
Auburn, NY 13021
315-253-9021
Chemung County Clerk
1255 W Water St
Elmira, NY 14902
607-734-2031
Clarkstown Town Clerk
31 Chambers St
New City, NY 10007
914-639-2010
Clinton Town Clerk
137 Margaret St
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518-563-8100
Columbia County Clerk
Court House, Union St
Hudson, NY 12534
518-828-4656
Cortland County Clerk
P.O. Box 5590
Cortland, NY 13045
607-756-6521
Deerfield Town Clerk
6329 Walker Rd
Utica, NY 13501
315-724-0413
Delaware County Clerk P.O. Box 426
Court St
Delhi, NY 13753
607-746-2236
Dix Town Clerk
304 7th St
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607-535-9125
Elizabethtown Town Clerk
1 Main St, Court House
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
518-873-6555
Fort Edward Town Clerk
118 Broadway
Fort Edward, NY 12828
518-747-5212
Geneseo Town Clerk
119 Main St
Geneseo, NY 14454
716-243-0722
Goshen Town Clerk's Office
41 Webster Ave
Goshen, NY 10924
914-294-6250
Herkimer Town Clerks
P.O. Box 111
Herkimer, NY 13350
315-866-2690
Johnstown County Clerk
223 West Main St
Johnstown, NY 12095
518-762-7070
Lake George Town Clerk
Old Post Road
Lake George, NY 12845
518-668-5722
Lake Pleasant County Clerk
County Court House, Rte 8
Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
518-548-3625
Lockport Town Clerk
175 Hawley St
Lockport, NY 14094
716-439-9524
Lyons Town Clerk
76 William St
Lyons, NY 14489
315-946-6252
Malone Town Clerk
63 West Main St
Malone, NY 12953
518-483-4740
Malta Town Clerk
2540 State Route 9
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
518-899-2552
Manhattan Town Clerk The Municipal Building
1 Centre Street<BR>2nd Floor South
New York, NY 10007
212-669-8898
Mohawk Town Clerks Office New County Bldg Broadway
2 Park St
Fonda, NY 12068
518-853-3031
New Bremen Town Clerk
7660 State St
Lowville, NY 13367
315-376-2641
North Castle Town Clerk
15 Bedford Rd
Armonk, NY 10504
914-273-3321
Norwich Town Clerk
5 Court St
Norwich, NY 13815
607-334-1220
Oneida Town Clerk
New Hartford, NY
315-733-7500, ext. 2322
Onondaga Town Clerk
4801 W Seneca Turnpike
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-469-1583
Orleans Town Clerk Court House Sq.
1 Main St
Albion, NY 14411
716-589-5100
Oswego Town Clerk
2320 County Route 7
Osewego, NY 13120
315-343-2586
Owego Town Clerk
2354 Route 434
Owego, NY 13827
607-687-2194
Potter Town Clerk
1226 Phelps Rd
Penn Yan, NY 14527
716-554-6758
Poughkeepsie Town Clerk
22 Market St
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
914-485-3620
Putnam Town Clerk
2 County Center
Carmel, NY 10512
914-225-2067
Queens Town Clerk
120-55 Queens Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11435
718-520-3137
Riverhead Town Clerk
210 Howell Ave
Riverhead, NY 11901
516-727-3200
Rochester Town Clerk
50 Scenic Rd
Accord, NY 12404
914-626-7384
Rye Town Clerk
10 Pearl St
Port Chester, NY 10573
914-939-3570
Schenactady Town Clerk
620 State St
Schenectady, NY 12305
518-384-0036
Schoharie Town Clerk
12157 Main St
Schoharie, NY 12157
518-295-7677
Staten Island Town Clerk Richmond County Court House
10 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
718-816-2290
Thompson Town Clerk's Office
4052 State Route 42
Monticello, NY 12701
914-794-2500
Tompkins Town Clerk
126 E Seneca St
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-273-1721
Troy Town Clerk Court House
Congress & 2nd St
Troy, NY 12180
518-279-3461
Ulster Town Clerk
1 Town Hall Rd
Lake Katrine, NY 12449
914-382-2455
Warsaw Town Clerk Office
27 N Main St
Warsaw, NY 14569
716-786-2800
Waterloo Town Clerk
66 N Virginia St
Waterloo, NY 13165
315-539-3080
Watertown Town Clerk
25859 New York State Rt 37
Watertown, NY 13601
315-785-9793
Woodbury Town Clerk
Route 32
Highland Mills, NY 10930
914-928-6323