Marriage License Guidelines
All persons who intend to get married in New York State must obtain a marriage license. When you apply for the license, both the prospective bride and groom must appear together in person with valid identification and the application must be completed at the Office of the City Clerk.
The application consists of an affidavit wherein the applicants list various personal details such as their name, address, birth place, date of birth, social security number, (where applicable) and marital history and make a sworn statement that there are no legal impediments to the marriage.
Applicants who have been married previously must list all prior marriages on the Marriage License Application. They are required to supply their prior spouse's full name, the date the divorce was granted and the place the divorce was filed and may be asked to produce the final divorce decree. All divorces, annulments, and dissolutions must be finalized before applying for a new Marriage License. If you are a widow or widower, you must provide your deceased spouse's full name and date of death.
The Marriage License is generated based on this information. It will be prepared while you wait, and you will take it with you upon your departure. Unless you obtain a judicial waiver, you must wait a full 24 hours before your Marriage Ceremony can be performed.