How to get a marriage license in New York City — where to apply, the fee, the waiting period and how long it stays valid — plus the public record. We hold 13,846 historical marriage records for New York City, dated 1788–1995. This is an archive — no new filings arrive for New York City.
We now focus on Texas. New York City records stay here, searchable and free, but are no longer updated daily — see Texas coverage →
In New York, marriage licenses are issued by the town or city clerk. These are the state rules that apply in New York City; the office itself sets its hours, accepted ID and payment methods, so check with it before you go.
Checked September 2026 against New York State — Get Married in New York State. Rules and fees change — the issuing office has the final word. This is general information, not legal advice.
A marriage license application filed with the town or city clerk becomes part of the public record. The records we hold for New York City run from January 1788 to January 1995.
This set is historical and is most useful for genealogy and family research. For a certified copy or a recent record, contact the town or city clerk that issued the license.
$40 outside New York City, $35 in New York City. Confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods with the town or city clerk before you go.
24 hours from the exact time the license is issued. A judge can waive it.
60 calendar days, beginning the day after it is issued.
Any town or city clerk in New York State; both applicants sign in the clerk’s presence.
Yes. Marriage records are public records. MarriageSignals holds 13,846 historical records for New York City, dated 1788 to 1995. This is an archive: we do not receive new filings for New York City, so for a recent record contact the town or city clerk directly.
Getting married in New York City? These tools help couples plan.
The all-in-one wedding registry. Register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds. Free website, guest list manager, and checklist included.
Start Your Zola Registry — FreeRegister for anything on Amazon with free shipping and easy returns. Add items from any store with the universal registry button. Completion discount included.
Create Your Amazon RegistryCouples land here while they are getting their marriage license. A featured slot puts one business per category on New York City's pages — venue, photographer, officiant, planner, florist, DJ. Tell us who you are and we will reach out with pricing and what the slot includes. No commitment.