New York State Marriage License Info

• A New York State Marriage License is valid for 60 days.

• It becomes valid 24 hours after it’s issued.
  (So if you get your license on a Tuesday at noon, you can’t get married until Wednesday at noon.)

You can get your license from any City or Town Clerk’s office in New York State—it doesn’t matter where in NY you’re getting married.

• In-State Ceremony? You must use a New York-issued license.

• Out-of-State License? Not valid in NY—sorry, it won’t work.

• Click here for our page of New York City and Town Hall Locations:

Outside NYC (Long Island & Statewide)

• Two forms of ID:

  1. Passport or Driver’s License

  2. Birth Certificate, Naturalization Certificate, or Baptismal Certificate
     (If your documents are in another language, a certified English translation is required.)

Inside NYC (Five Boroughs)

• Only one form of ID is needed:

  • Passport or Driver’s License is enough.

• New York State & NYC Marriage Bureau Information:

• • https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/4210/
  • https://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/content/marriage-bureau

• NYC: $35 – No cash accepted. Use money order, certified check, or credit card.

• Long Island & Statewide: $40 – Cash accepted.

• Active-duty military members may request a 180-day marriage license in NYC.

• Valid military ID required.

• NYC also allows couples to return their own license for faster processing.

• Divorced? You’ll need proof of divorce.
  Request Divorce Records

• Widowed? You’ll need a death certificate.
  Request Death Certificates

You can legally change your middle and/or last name through your marriage license. Here’s what you should know:

• You must include the new name on your marriage license application.

• Your first name cannot be changed through marriage.

• Once the ceremony is complete, your marriage certificate becomes legal proof of your new name.

NY State Name Change Info

NYC Marriage Name Change Policy

• Your officiant is legally required to return the Marriage License to the issuing office within 5 business days.

• After processing, you’ll receive your Certificate of Marriage.

• You are legally married as of the date and time listed on your signed license, even if the certificate hasn’t arrived yet.

Lost your birth certificate? Need a copy of your marriage or divorce record?

• Request Vital Records (NYS)
• Replace Birth Certificates

• New York State Marriage License Info (Health Dept.)
• NYC Marriage Bureau