Introduction
Marriage License Duration Period
Active Military Personnel
Marriage Ceremony in the City Clerk's Office
Marriage Ceremony Outside of the City Clerk's Office
Certificate of Marriage Registration
Corrections to Certificates of Marriage Registration
Special Requirement for Minors Needing Parental Consent Introduction - Once you have obtained your marriage license, the next step is to have a Marriage Ceremony.
Fee - The fee for a Marriage Ceremony in the City Clerk's Office is $25 by credit card or money order payable to the City Clerk.
Marriage License Duration Period - You must wait for 24 hours after you obtain your Marriage License before you can have your wedding, unless you obtain a Judicial Waiver.
- The Marriage License expires in 60 days after the time of purchase, except for active military personnel (see below).
- A Marriage License obtained at any of our five offices may be used anywhere within the State of New York.
Active Military Personnel - If either you or your prospective spouse is an active member of the armed forces, your Marriage License expires in 180 days after the time of purchase.
- Please indicate that you are an active member of the United States Military when you apply for your Marriage License by showing your Active United States Military Identification Card.
Marriage Ceremony in the City Clerk's Office - You may have a civil Marriage Ceremony in the City Clerk's Office.
- Marriage Ceremonies are held during our regular business hours.
- No reservations or appointments for a Marriage Ceremony are accepted.
- You and your prospective spouse must arrive together with the same proper identification you brought when you obtained your Marriage License.
- You and your prospective spouse must have at least one witness, who must be 18 years of age or over.
- The witness or witnesses must bring proper identification.
- We will not perform your Marriage Ceremony if you have not satisfied these requirements before the closing time of our office.
Marriage Ceremony Outside of the City Clerk's Office - You may arrange a civil or religious Marriage Ceremony outside of our offices in any location you wish within the State of New York.
- Your private Ceremony must be conducted by a Marriage Officiant who is eligible to perform Marriage Ceremonies under New York State Law.
- If your private Marriage Ceremony will be performed in the City of New York, the Marriage Officiant must be registered with the Office of the City Clerk before the wedding.
Learn more about Marriage Officiant Registration - You can verify whether the Marriage Officiant is registered with the Office of the City Clerk in person, by calling 311, or by inquiring by mail to:
Office of the City Clerk
Marriage Officiant Registration Clerk
141 Worth Street
New York, NY 10013
- At the conclusion of the Marriage Ceremony, the Marriage Officiant, the couple, and the witness or witnesses are required to sign the Marriage License.
- The Marriage Officiant must return the Marriage License to the office where the Marriage License was obtained within five business days. We will provide you with a return mailing envelope for that purpose when you obtain your Marriage License.
Certificate of Marriage Registration - A Certificate of Marriage Registration is the official documentation of your wedding that lists the date, time, location, Marriage Officiant's name and title, and any changes in surname.
- If you get married in the City Clerk's office, you will receive your Certificate of Marriage Registration at the conclusion of the ceremony.
- If you have a Marriage Ceremony outside of the City Clerk's office, you will receive your Certificate of Marriage Registration in the mail within approximately 20 days from the date when we receive and process the Marriage License from your Marriage Officiant and process it.
- If you have not received your Certificate of Marriage Registration within a month of your Marriage Ceremony, you should contact the Office of the City Clerk where you obtained your Marriage License.
Get a list of our office locations
Corrections to Certificates of Marriage Registration - When you receive your Certificate of Marriage Registration please review it carefully to see if there are any errors.
- If there are any mistakes on your Certificate, you may correct the Certificate free of charge within a limited time period.
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Special Requirement for Minors Needing Parental Consent TM |
