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New York Marriage Certificate Search

A New York marriage certificate search affords members of the public a means to access New York marriage records, including certificates. Marriage certificates are usually issued to couples who obtained a marriage license for their ceremony per New York State Law. The certificate is important as it is the most widely recognized legal proof of marriage in New York and in other US states. It is also an essential document for:

  • Persons who wish to have a change of name following a marriage
  • Those being audited by the IRS and their marital status is relevant
  • A person who plans to add themselves or a spouse to a benefit plan because employers require a marriage certificate as proof of marriage
  • Persons who wish to take a loan will have to show the lender the marriage certificate as proof of marriage
  • The husband or wife later files for a divorce

New York marriage records, marriage licenses, and other vital records are available at the New York Vital Records Unit (the state vital records office) or at the county clerk's office where the marriage occurred.

Are Marriage Certificates Public in New York?

Yes. However, only records of New York marriages that took place 50 years ago are regarded as public documents according to the Freedom of Information Law. Interested individuals can access such marriage records in-person at the county clerk's office or using the vital records online repository made available by most county clerks. A resource of this sort may also be useful when seeking a birth certificate, death certificate, or divorce certificate.

Some third-party sites enable members of the public to access a marriage record if they know the names of any of the parties involved in the marriage, the state and county in which the marriage took place, and the date of the marriage.

However, the original certificate remains the property of the persons involved in the marriage. Hence, a certified copy of a marriage record will only be accessible to persons named on the record.

A person seeking access to certain marriage records in New York must appear at the county clerk's office where the marriage took place. Otherwise, such an individual may print the appropriate application form from the county clerk's website, fill it out, and go with it to the clerk's office on a scheduled appointment date.

Online or phone orders usually cost about $45.00 (plus a vendor processing fee of $8.00 for each transaction). For mail orders, the fee is $30.00. Payment options include Master/Visa cards, American Express, ACH, Discover, Personal Checks, and Postal Money Orders. Also, a valid check that is payable to the New York Department of Health is acceptable.

If a marriage isn't up to 50 years old, members of the public can only access it if they meet any of the following requirements:

  • They are a party to the marriage
  • They have a legal court order to access such files
  • The requestor is a direct descendant from the union (child or grandchild)
  • Both parties are deceased and the requestor has the original death certificates to present as evidence
  • The requestor is a U.S. attorney who wishes to use the requested certificate as evidence in a legal proceeding.

A member of the public who requests a certified copy of a marriage certificate must submit a means of identification. An authorized person (who must be a party to the marriage) who has no means of identification can give written authorization to a person who can be identified. The required means of identification could be any of the following:

  • A state-issued ID card
  • Passport
  • Letter from a government agency issued not more than six months from the date of the request
  • U.S. Military-issued photo-ID
  • Driver's license.

What is a Marriage Certificate in New York?

A marriage certificate in New York is an official document that proves marriage is legally valid. Marriage certificates usually contain the first and last names of the groom and bride (before and after the marriage), the name of the registration county, the date the marriage was held, the citizenship and nationality of the bride and groom, etc.

What Do Marriage Certificates Contain in New York?

A marriage certificate in New York typically contains basic information about the bride and the groom and the location at which the marriage ceremony was held. The contents of a typical marriage certificate are listed below:

  • The names of the bride and groom – this is usually the first and last name (and new names if a name change is required)
  • The place of birth of the bride and groom
  • The date of birth (and age in some cases) of the bride and groom
  • The state and county in which the wedding was held
  • The venue and exact address where the wedding took place
  • The date the marriage took place (and the quarter – may be March, June, September, or December
  • The name of the officiant (an officiant is a person recognized legally to officiate at weddings in the state)
  • Names and signatures of the witnesses – usually two. Could be one in certain states, and they must be above the age of 18. Witnesses could be any of the parents of the bride or groom or their maid of honour and best man.
  • Signature of the county clerk.

Where Do I Get a Certified Copy of My Marriage Certificate in New York?

Married couples can get their marriage certificate at the Vital Records Unit of the New York Department of Health. Also, the county clerk of any county can issue a certified marriage certificate, provided the marriage took place in the county, and it was the same office that issued the marriage license.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of My Marriage Certificate in New York?

The county office typically mails back a copy of the certified marriage certificate to the couple within a few days or weeks after the wedding has taken place. If a spouse loses their marriage certificate and they wish to get a replacement, they must visit the clerk at the county office where the marriage license was originally issued. There, they will be required to submit an application for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. An application for a marriage certificate usually contains the following:

  • The date a marriage took place
  • Full name of both spouses as they appear on the certificate
  • The location, including state, county, and city, in which the marriage was held
  • The date of birth of both spouses
  • Reasons for which the applicant is requesting the marriage certificate
  • The applicant's current address
  • Phone number of applicant

After filling in the required details in the appropriate application form, an applicant has to sign a sworn statement. The sworn statement must get notarized; otherwise, the application will be returned to the applicant without being processed.

Note that the social security numbers of the parties involved in the marriage will not appear on the copy that will be issued to any interested members of the public. Only persons who are parties to the marriage (may be a witness or officiant, but their names must be on the certified marriage certificate) can view copies of marriage certificates with the social security numbers of the couple. To access such a copy, a requestor must show proof of identification, such as a driver's license, an international passport, or a valid government-issued photo ID.

Can I Find My Marriage Certificate Online in New York?

While New York marriage certificates can't be accessed online, they can be ordered online, and requesters can also look up New York marriage records online. However, persons submitting an online request for a marriage certificate still have to complete the application at the county office or by mail.

All such applications must be accompanied by a valid means of identification. If a person only wishes to view information about the marriage, they can do so on the marriage records page on the county's website or on third-party apps that have access to such databases. However, copies with sensitive details like the bride or groom's social security numbers are only available to persons whose signatories appear on the marriage certificate.

How to Get a New Marriage Certificate in New York

A person is automatically eligible to get a marriage certificate in New York if they have a marriage license issued to them by the county clerk. All they need to do is have their marriage solemnized by a government-recognized officiant. Generally, the county office mails back a copy of the marriage certificate to the couple within a few weeks after the marriage. If a person loses their marriage certificate and is in need of a new one, they can get it by contacting the Vital Records Office or the clerk's office where the marriage license was first issued.

How Do I Verify a Marriage Certificate in New York?

A New York marriage certificate can be verified at the county clerk's office in the county where the marriage was licensed. The New York state legislation laws authorize a county clerk to keep a register in which every marriage held in his county is recorded. Marriage certificates without serial numbers and other details recorded in the county clerk's register are considered invalid.

Generally, the information required to verify a marriage certificate includes the couple's names, the marriage date, the witnesses' names, or the officiant's names. Some counties also provide a search tool where searchers may use these details to search for the record of marriage.