These are the steps on getting a license for a marriage in New York. First, the couple needs to be together to apply for a license to marry. Second, they have to be at the city or town where the wedding will take place. They will have to go to the nearest town or city clerk. Finally, they have to fill out an application form and sign said form in the presence of the clerk. Just a reminder though, the rules are very strict. Only the couples about to be married can fill out the form. This means that the couple can\’t use representatives or proxies to sign for them. A special power of attorney or notarized marriage license is not a sufficient substitute for one of the couple. Don\’t worry though; the state of New York doesn\’t require a blood test or premarital examination so if you can fill out the form you\’ll be getting your license soon.
Once the license is issued to the couple, they need to wait 24 hours before they can get married. This isn\’t a big issue as most couples have their wedding days scheduled months after getting their licenses. However if the couple wants to be married immediately, the can make a request from the supreme court or county court to waive the 24 hour waiting period. If one of the couple or both are 16 years old and below, the request to waive the 24 hour period can be obtained from the family court instead. The license to wed is valid up to three months or 60 days. For same sex weddings, the rules are the same.
The costs of getting a marriage license in New York City vary depending on the town or city where the couple applied. You may contact the nearest city clerk for the updated fees. If the application was submitted outside of New York City, the fee is $40. The fee already covers the certificate of marriage registration that will be sent to the applications within 15 calendar days.
You may also obtain marriage records or copies of licenses for other purposes. There are various uses for a marriage document. The document can be used to complete a genealogical tree. Others may use it to prove their relation to certain family members such as in-laws or stepchildren. For legal purposes, it can be used as supporting papers for someone filing a divorce. Some may need it to verify their status as widow or widower to signify that they were once married to the deceased spouse.
The fee in getting a copy of a marriage registration and license is $10 for general purposes. For genealogical purposes, the fees vary depending on the date of the wedding. The fee starts at $22 for weddings within 1 to 3 years. Fees can reach as high as $202 for marriages that took place 90 years ago. For weddings for the years 1996 to present, the documents can be found at the New York City clerk. Weddings within 1930 to 1955, the records are located at the Manhattan office. If you\’re unsure where to get your records, call the nearest clerk to ask for information. Once you\’ve found the right office and clerk, fill out an application request form and submit it with your fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope so you can have your documents mailed to your home.
It\’s a good thing that there are websites that offer free marriage records that you can browse. The search tool makes it easier for you to look for a specific wedding than having to sift through possibly thousands of records. You\’ll find a lot of websites offering the service and they will only charge you if you need a physical document or a certified record.
Finding Free Marriage Records Online can be tricky and potentially demoralizing but we know the smart way. Come and share our insights and tips at Free Public Marriage Records.
