New Yorkers Can Apply for One-Day Officiant License at City Clerk Office

An update to the new one-day officiant law puts NY Clerks in charge of issuing licenses to would-be wedding officiants

 

 

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Town and City Clerks in New York will soon be able to issue a one-day marriage officiant license to anyone wanting to perform a single wedding ceremony in the state. If you’re already ordained, you don’t have to go through this process, however this one-day marriage officiant process is a fine alternative for folks that don’t want to get ordained. Our objective is to help couples find the perfect officiant, and vice versa, so more options is fine with us!

 

When the new one-day license was first approved by Gov. Hochul in December, the Secretary of State was selected to oversee applications, issuance, and use. But legislators passed an amendment last week (A02901 / S02234) that shifts that responsibility to local town and city clerk offices. 

 

The one-day license is expected to be available for purchase by the end of the month (late March), and must be applied for with the clerk’s office in the same town or city where the couple is to be married. The fee has been set at $25 per license.

 

NY One-Day Marriage Officiant License Quick Facts:

 

• One-day Marriage Officiant License Fee: $25
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old
• Applications must be submitted to the clerk’s office in the same town or city where the couple is to be married (but is not required to appear in person)
• Applicants must provide personal information for themselves and the couple
• Applicants must include the exact date and location of the wedding ceremony in their application 

 

Click the link below for more information on the pros and cons of a one-day officiant license:

 

• What to Know About New York's New One-Day Marriage Officiant License 

 

For many New Yorkers, online ordination is still the most affordable way to qualify to officiate a wedding. Officiants ordained for free online with American Marriage Ministries are authorized to marry people in New York, and in most parts of the state, this ordination is all that’s required to officiate. (NYC requires registration however, which costs about $15.)

 

• Get ordained to officiate weddings in NY here. 

 

But would-be officiants who don’t want to get ordained now have a simple and low-cost pathway to qualify as well, making it easier than ever for couples to choose the perfect officiant for their ceremony… As it should be!

 

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The full one-day marriage officiant license guidelines, effective at the end of the month (March 2023), are included below: 
  

 

§  11-d.  One-day  marriage officiant license. 

 

1. A town or city clerk shall issue a one-day marriage officiant license upon  request. Such one-day marriage officiant shall have the authority to solemnize a marriage which marriage shall be valid if performed in accordance with other provisions of law. Nothing  herein contained shall nullify the authority of other persons authorized to solemnize marriages.

 

2. Such one-day marriage officiant shall be eighteen years of  age  or over and need not be a resident of the town or city to which they apply or a resident of the state. A one-day marriage officiant shall have the authority to solemnize a marriage anywhere in the state.

 

3. An applicant for a one-day marriage officiant license must apply for such license in the same town or city clerk's office as  the couple to be married. Such applicant shall not be required to personally appear.

 

4. A town or city clerk shall be entitled to a fee of twenty-five dollars for issuing a one-day marriage officiant license. Such license shall be issued only after payment of such fee and  submission of a completed application form.

 

5. The application form shall require the following information of the applicant: name, date of birth, address, email address and telephone number. The application form shall also require the  following information of the parties to be married: names, dates of birth, and addresses as they appear on the application for a marriage license.

 

6. Such license shall only be valid for the parties to be married  as stated on the application and shall expire upon the earlier of either completion of such solemnization or the expiration of the  marriage license.

 

7.  One-day marriage officiants shall be exempt from registration as required pursuant to section eleven-b of this article.

See all New York marriage laws here. 

 

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Read our previous coverage of this topic: 

 

• NY’s one-day marriage officiant license awaits final approval from Governor
• NY is one step closer to approving one-day wedding officiants
• New York considers one-day marriage officiant designation
• What to Know About New York's New One-Day Marriage Officiant License

 

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• How to Officiate a Wedding For the First Time
   

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