Note: The following is general information. How much does One alone may consent to a minor’s Previous Please contact the clerk where you plan to if: Information regarding previous marriages must purchase the license for specific requirements, the license cost? • The other parent has been missing for one year office hours and further information. be furnished in the application for a marriage If the marriage license is issued by a town or preceding the application; license. This includes whether the former city clerk in New York State outside of New York • The are divorced and the consenting or are living, and whether the applicants Where do you City, it costs $40. This fee includes the issuance parent was given sole custody of the when are divorced and, if so, when, where and against of a Certificate of Marriage Registration. This the decree was awarded; whom the divorce or were granted. get a marriage license? certificate is automatically sent by the issuing clerk • The other parent has been judged incompetent; A certified copy of the Decree of Divorce or a to the applicants within 15 calendar days after A couple who intends to be married in New or Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage may be York State must apply in person for a marriage the completed license is returned by the officiant required by the clerk issuing the marriage license. • The other parent is deceased. license to any town or city clerk in the state. (person who performs the marriage ceremony). It The application for a license must be signed by serves as notice that a record of the marriage is Parents, guardians or other people consenting Options both applicants in the presence of the town or on file. Couples who do not receive a Certificate to the marriage of a minor must personally appear city clerk. A representative cannot apply for the of Marriage Registration within four weeks of the and acknowledge or execute their consent before Every person has the right to adopt any name license on behalf of the applicant. This applies wedding should contact the town or city clerk who the town or city clerk or some other authorized by which he or she wishes to be known simply by even if the representative has been given a issued the license. official. If the notarized affidavit is made before an using that name consistently and without intent Power of Attorney. If the license is to be issued by the City Clerk official outside of the State of New York, it must to defraud. be accompanied by a certificate of authentication Notarized marriage license affidavits signed of the City of New York, please contact the New A person’s last name (surname) does not when the consent is filed in New York State. by the applicants cannot be substituted for their York City Clerk’s Office for current fees and automatically change upon marriage, and neither personal appearance. requirements. The City Clerk's Office can be party to the marriage is required to change his or reached at (212) NEW-YORK or via its website at Proof of Age and Identity her last name. Parties to a marriage need not take www.cityclerk.nyc.gov. A person is required to provide proof of age the same last name. Is there a by submitting to the issuing clerk an age-related One or both parties to a marriage may elect to waiting period? document showing the date of birth, such as Is a premarital physical change the surname by which he or she wishes to those listed below. Each clerk's office sets its own Yes. Although the marriage license is issued exam required? requirements, please check with the office where be known after the marriage by entering the new immediately, the marriage ceremony may not take name in the appropriate space provided on the No premarital examination or blood test is you plan to purchase your license. place within 24 hours from the exact time that the marriage license. The new name must consist of required to obtain a marriage license in 1. Birth Certificate license was issued. one of the following options: The 24-hour waiting period may be waived by New York State. 2. Baptismal record • the surname of the other spouse; a judge or justice of the Supreme Court of New 3. Naturalization record York State or the county judge of the county in Who can 4. Census record • any former surname of either spouse; which either party to be married resides, or if such A person must establish identity. Identity related • a name combining into a single surname all or party is at least seventeen years of age, the judge get married? documents: a segment of the premarriage surname or any of the Court of such county. 1. Driver’s license former surname of each spouse; 2. Passport Age Requirements • a combination name separated by a hyphen, 3. Employment picture ID provided that each part of such combination How long is • If either applicant is under 17 years of age, 4. Immigration record a marriage license cannot be issued. surname is the premarriage surname, or any the license valid? former surname, of each of the spouses. • If either applicant is 17 years of age, such Familial Restrictions A marriage license is valid for 60 calendar days, applicant(s) must present the written consent The use of this option will provide a record of A marriage may not take place in New York beginning the day after it is issued. of both parents and a justice of the Supreme your change of name. The marriage certificate, State between an ancestor and descendant, Court or a judge of the Family Court having containing the new name, if any, is proof that (full or half blood), an and niece jurisdiction over the town or city in which the the use of the new name, or the retention of the or nephew or an and niece or nephew, application is made. former name, is lawful. The local Social Security regardless of whether or not these persons are Administration office should be contacted • If both applicants are 18 years of age or older, legitimate or illegitimate offspring. so that its records and your social security no consents are required. identification card reflect the name change. There is no charge for this service. Who can perform Where do you To change the name on your NYS driver license or non-driver identification, contact the New a marriage ceremony? get copies of records? York State Department of Motor Vehicles for To be valid, a marriage ceremony must be For copies of marriage licenses issued information or visit https://dmv.ny.gov/ performed by any of the individuals specified anywhere in New York State except New York in Section 11 of the New York State Domestic City, a certified copy of the marriage record may Whether you decide to use or not use this Relations Law. These include: be obtained from the office of the town or city option at the time of your marriage license clerk who issued the license, or from the New application, you still have the right to adopt a • the current or a former governor; York State Department of Health. The fee is $10 if • the mayor of a city or village; different name through usage at some future you obtain a certified copy from the town or city date. However, your marriage license cannot be • the former mayor, the city clerk or one of the clerk who issued the license. If applying to the changed to record a surname you decide to use deputy city clerks of a city of more than one New York State Department of Health, the fee is after your marriage. million inhabitants; $30. For a certified copy, write to: If you plan to use your married name at work, • a marriage officer appointed by the town or New York State Department of Health be sure to have your name changed in Social village board or the city common council; Bureau of Vital Records Certification Unit Security records. This way, you will get credit • a justice or judge of the following courts: the P.O. Box 2602 for all your earnings. It’s easy and it’s absolutely U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Albany, New York 12220-2602 free. Contact any Social Security office. You can U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, For marriage licenses issued in New York City, find the address and phone number of your local Eastern or Western Districts of New York, the do not apply to the New York State Department Social Security Office at http://www.ssa.gov. You New York State Court of Appeals, the Appellate of Health. You must apply to the Office of the City will need documentary evidence showing both Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Clerk of New York. For an application and current fees, contact the Clerk’s Office at (212) NEW-YORK your old name and your new name. the New York State Supreme Court, the Court of Claims, the Family Court, a Surrogates Court, or go to www.cityclerk.nyc.gov. the Civil and Criminal Courts of New York City MANHATTAN: Where can a (including Housing judges of the Civil Court) and 141 Worth Street marriage take place? other courts of record; New York, New York 10013 • a village, town or county justice; BRONX: A New York State marriage license may be used • a member of the clergy or minister who has 851 Grand Concourse, Room B131 within New York State only. Please note that if you New York, New York 10451 go out of New York State to be married, your New been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing BROOKLYN: York State marriage license will not be filed in 210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Room 205 New York State. church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body; Brooklyn, New York 11201 • a member of the clergy or minister who is not QUEENS: 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Room G100 What about authorized by a governing church body but who Kew Gardens, New York 11424 the ceremony? has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside STATEN ISLAND: Getting over their spiritual affairs; There is no particular form or ceremony 10 Richmond Terrace, 3rd Floor, Room 311 required except that the parties must state in • other officiants as specified by Section 11 of the Staten Island, New York 10301 the presence of an authorized public official or Domestic Relations Law. authorized member of the clergy and at least one The person performing the ceremony must be Married other witness that each takes the other as his or registered with the City of New York in order to her spouse. perform a ceremony within the New York City in New York State There is no minimum age for a witness. However, limits. The officiant does not have to be a resident in selecting a witness, choose at least one person of New York State. who you feel would be competent to testify in a Ship captains are not authorized to perform court proceeding as to what he or she witnessed. marriage ceremonies in New York State. 4210 7/17