How to Fill out a New York Marriage License with Examples & FAQs

Asked to officiate a New York wedding? Getting married in New York? Whether you're a new wedding officiant or soon-to-be newlyweds, here’s everything you need to know about the marriage license process, including cost, waiting period, and – most importantly – how to fill out a NY marriage license correctly the first time!

 

Wedding bells are ringing, so let’s take a look! 

 

 

How to Fill Out NY Marriage License: Example & FAQs

 

1. How to fill out a New York marriage license (for the Officiant)

 

The couple must purchase their marriage license at least 24 hours before the ceremony, and bring it with them to be signed. 

 

It’s the wedding officiant’s responsibility to complete the bottom portion of the marriage license (the marriage certificate) after the wedding ceremony, along with one or two witnesses. The officiant must return the completed document to the clerk’s office to be recorded within five days of the ceremony, either by mailing it in or returning it in person.

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Here are a few pointers from the Mount Pleasant Town Clerk and Mount Vernon City Clerk's Offices to help you get started:

 

• A New York marriage license can be used anywhere in the state regardless of where you apply, but it must be returned to the issuing office (where it was issued) within 5 days of the ceremony. The completed license can be returned either by mail or in person by the officiant.

 

For example: A license issued within NYC can be used anywhere in the state; and the marriage record is maintained by the NYC Office of the City Clerk; a license issued by a town clerk in Buffalo can be used for a ceremony in NYC, and the record will be maintained by the NY Department of Health and the Buffalo City Clerk’s office.

 

• Use a typewriter or print with permanent black ink only. Please print legibly, do not use cursive to fill in the license except when signing your name.

 

• "Type of Ceremony" for AMM Ministers: Where the license asks "Type of Ceremony" (#27), mark "Religious." Even if you perform a ceremony that's secular in nature (nonreligious / non-spiritual), you do so in your capacity as a minister, which is a "Religious" official. In general, a wedding is only registered as "Civil" when it has been performed by a judge or other officer of the court.
   

Learn more: Wedding Officiant Training: Ceremony Type on Marriage License

 

• Your “marriage license” has three distinct sections (as shown in the image/s below). The bottom portion (labeled “Certificate”) must be completed following the marriage ceremony by the officiant and the required witness. 

 

The top section (labeled “Affidavit”) will be completed as part of the marriage application process. The middle section (labeled “License”) is your official marriage license, granting you permission to marry. This will have an official seal from the clerk’s office placed on the space marked “seal.” 

 

• At least one witness must sign the marriage certificate after the ceremony. Your witness should be at least 18 years old, and someone qualified to speak as a witness in court later on, if needed. 

 

Related: Who Can Be a Witness for a Wedding & How Do You Choose?

 

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2. Example of a New York Marriage License

 

We reached out to the Mount Pleasant Town Clerk's Office for an example of an official NY marriage license to help you fill one out. You’ll also see a sample marriage certificate completed by an officiant provided by the Mount Vernon City Clerk.

 

These images show what each portion of the marriage license may look like. The officiant will fill in each section as indicated, and sign the marriage license. 

 

Sample One: City of Mount Vernon Marriage License, New York

The example above is provided by the City of Mount Vernon, Office of the CIty Clerk, as part of their "Civil Marriage Checklist for Officiants." 

 

 

Sample Two: Mount Pleasant, New York, Marriage License Example

 

Notice that the "certificate" portion is at the bottom of the document. This is the section that the officiant and witness will complete.

 

 

 

3. What to do if you make a mistake on a NY marriage license?

 

If you make a mistake while filling out the marriage license – such as a misspelled name or incorrect date – the couple may need to purchase a replacement license to fill in with the accurate information. Since each county has different steps to take to correct various types of errors, we recommend you contact the issuing clerk’s office directly with your questions. This will be the simplest way to handle any issues that come up.

 

How to amend a NY marriage record

 

If you need to correct or amend a New York marriage license after it's been filed, you have a few options depending on where you were married. If you were married at the City Clerk’s office in NYC, your “Certificate of Marriage Registration can be corrected free of charge within 24 hours” after you receive it (per the NYC City Clerk). If you were married elsewhere, you have 2 weeks from the day you receive it in the mail to amend it for free. And if you need to amend your marriage record outside of this timeframe, you will need to file an Amendment Application with the clerk’s office. 

 

For a list of common corrections and what to do, check out this NY Department of Health Certificate of Marriage Corrections/Amendments resource, or contact your clerk’s office directly.

 

 

4. Can someone who is ordained online sign a marriage license in New York?

 

Yes, ministers who are ordained online through a reputable and recognized church, including American Marriage Ministries, can officiate weddings in New York and sign your marriage license. 

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However, not all online-ordained ministers are legally qualified to perform marriages in all states. If your officiant is ordained online with a church other than American Marriage Ministries, it’s important to verify their minister credentials before they perform your wedding ceremony: 

 

• How to Tell if Your Officiant Can Perform a Legal Wedding

 

In New York State, most cities and towns do not require new ministers to register proof of their ordination locally before they perform a marriage ceremony. The one big exception is New York City, however, which does require officiant registration. This means that after you become ordained online, you will need to file paperwork with the local government before performing a ceremony in New York City. Learn more about New York’s rules on officiant registration. 

 

New York also offers a One-Day Officiant License for friends and family who don’t want to get ordained online. Compare your options here: New York’s One-Day Officiant License vs Online Ordination: Which is the best choice for Wedding Officiants?

 

 

5.  How much is a marriage license in New York?

 

Marriage license prices may vary slightly by town / city, and sometimes increase to keep up with state budget costs. For the most-current New York marriage license cost, click the link below, or contact your local clerk’s office: 

 

• How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?

 

 

6. How long does it take to get a marriage license in New York? (NY marriage license waiting period)

 

The amount of time you spend in the clerk’s office will vary depending on where you apply. After completing the marriage license application, there is a 24-hour waiting period. This means you must wait 24-hours from the exact time the license was issued before you use it. Your wedding ceremony can’t take place until after this 24-hour period has passed. Some couples may qualify for a waiting period waiver. Learn more about marriage license waiting periods and waivers by clicking the link below: 

 

• State-by-state marriage waiting periods should be part of your wedding plan

 

 

7. How long is a marriage license good for in NY?

 

How long a marriage license is valid in each state is called the “expiration period.” This is the number of days or months you have to use your license after it’s issued – your ceremony must take place within this timeframe. To see the current New York marriage license expiration period, click the link below: 

 

• Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return
• See all NY marriage license laws

 

 

8. How to get a copy of a New York marriage license

 

If you were married in New York, anywhere outside of New York City, you can purchase a certified copy of your marriage record from either the office of the town or city clerk who issued your license, or from the New York State Department of Health. Ordering a copy from the clerk’s office will be less expensive than ordering from NYSDOH (about $10 versus $30). 

 

If you were married in one of the Five Burroughs of New York City, you must contact the Office of the City Clerk of New York to purchase a copy of your marriage record. 

If you need a replacement copy of a marriage license before it’s been filed, contact the issuing office directly for next steps. 

 

 

9. What if the officiant doesn’t return the marriage license, or loses it? 

 

If an officiant doesn't return a marriage license, the process to fix the error may vary by town / city. To give you a general idea of what these steps might include, here's a description, from the NY City Clerk FAQs: 
 

“You must present the Office of the City Clerk a letter from the Marriage Officiant addressed to the City Clerk and written on the Marriage Officiant's official stationery stating that the ceremony did occur and the date of occurrence. You or your spouse will be asked to complete a Duplicate Marriage License Affidavit that you fill out in our office. You must then request a Duplicate Marriage License for a fee of $25 by credit card or money order payable to the City Clerk. You must then have all of the parties who signed the original Marriage License fill out the Duplicate Marriage License. If the original signers are not available due to death or otherwise, you should contact the Office of the City Clerk. After all of the documents have been submitted properly and reviewed, we will issue your Certificate of Marriage Registration.” 

 

We suggest you contact the issuing clerk’s office for specific instructions in your case. 

 

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