Copy of Marriage License New York

Getting a Copy of a Marriage License in New York

If you need to obtain a copy of a marriage license in NY, this guide can help. You will learn how to find a copy of a marriage license in New York State, whether you live in New York City or upstate, and how to find older marriage records as well as newer ones.

Who Can Get a Marriage Record?

Because marriage licenses are considered public records, anyone can obtain a copy of a marriage license in NY. You do not need to be a member of the couple named in the license, nor do you have to be related to either member of the couple, to obtain a copy of a marriage license in New York. Every marriage license in New York is maintained by records clerks who can handle records requests for marriage licenses, marriage certificates, and other legal documentation. Some people may wish to obtain a copy of a marriage license in NY for academic or geneological research.

Marriage Licenses Outside NYC

If you need a copy of a marriage license in New York State from anywhere other than New York City, you can obtain your license in one of two ways. It is cheaper to obtain your copy of a marriage license in NY from the city or town clerk where the license was originally obtained. The city or town clerk can give you a copy of a marriage certificate in New York that has official state certification for just $10. The New York State Department of Health can also give you a copy of a marriage certificate in New York. It costs slightly more to obtain your copy of a marriage certificate in New York from the Department of Health—you will have to pay $30 for each certified copy.

Marriage Licenses from New York City

If your marriage license was issued in Manhattan, you cannot obtain a copy of a marriage license in New York City from the Department of Health. Instead, you have to apply through the City Clerk's office. You can call the city clerk's office at (212) NEW-YORK to get more information about obtaining a copy of a marriage license in NY City. If you need a copy of a marriage license in New York City from 1930 to 1995, you must use the Manhattan office of the city clerk regardless of which of the five boroughs the marriage took place in.

If you are looking for a copy of a marriage license in NY City from after 1995, you should go to the location that holds marriage records for the borough the marriage occurred in. In Manhattan, the office of the city clerk is located at 141 Worth Street and handles all marriage records requests. In the Bronx, the Supreme Court Building is the location for requesting a copy of a marriage license in New York. Brooklyn's Municipal Building, the Borough Hall Building in Queens, and the Borough Hall Building in Staten Island also give these copies to anyone who submits a proper request.