Legal requirements for marriage in NYC are the same for everyone, whether you are a U.S. citizen or resident, or from another country. You must comply with age requirements, show legal proof of your identity, including birth date and country of birth, present any documents regarding any previous marriages (divorce, death of spouse, etc.) The couple must apply for the license IN PERSON and TOGETHER, at City Hall at least 24 hours before the marriage ceremony. The officiant will conduct the Marriage Ceremony at least 24 hours after the license is issued, and all parties will sign the license.  The Officiant will file the license with City Hall. [Unless you are applying for an apostille, which some countries require for international weddings - please check with your consulate, and write to us with any questions] 

"The fee for a Marriage License is $35 payable by Money Order or Credit Card. (Buy a Money Order before you go to the Bureau).

"Both the prospective bride and groom must appear together in person to apply for a Marriage License.

"The application must be completed in our offices. 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, 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.

"It is strongly suggested that you proof read your Marriage License before leaving our offices. If an error is found, please return to the clerk for a correction. Any errors found within the first 24 hours after issuance will be corrected at no cost to you. After the 24 hours, there is a fee of $25 payable in money order only for any corrections. A Marriage License which is lost in the mail or is returned to the City Clerk's Office mutilated must be replaced with a duplicate Marriage License for a fee of $25 payable in money order only.

"A New York State Marriage License is valid for 60 days only and can only be used in the state of New York.

"A blood test is not required to obtain a Marriage License in New York State.

Acceptable Identification 

"All applicants must bring valid forms of identification when applying for a Marriage License. All identification must be valid. Expired forms of identification will not be accepted, no exceptions.

Acceptable forms of identification:

1. Valid driver's license (from the United States or one of its territories)
2. Non driver's identification card (from the United States or one of its territories)
3. Learner's permit from New York State only
4. Active United States Military Identification Card
5. Valid passport
6. U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (issued within the past ten years)
7. Valid United States Alien Registration Card with expiration date
8. Employment Authorization Card issued by the United States Immigration Authorities

"If you are under the age of 18 and want to obtain a Marriage License, continue to read the following message:

If either prospective bride or groom is under the age of eighteen years, but over the age of sixteen years, written parental consent is required to obtain a Marriage License. If either prospective bride or groom is under the age of sixteen years, in addition to parental consent the written approval of a judge of the Supreme Court or Family Court is needed. If you are less than eighteen years of age be prepared to show proof of your date of birth. Such proof of date of birth may be one of the following: original or certified copy of birth certificate, baptismal record, passport, driver's license, life insurance policy, school records, naturalization record or court record. In all instances where either prospective bride or groom is under eighteen years, both parents must be present with valid identification at the time of application for the Marriage License and at the Marriage Ceremony if the ceremony is performed in our offices. If one parent is deceased, the surviving parent must appear and a death certificate for the deceased parent must be produced. If both parents are deceased, the legal guardian must appear instead. A person under the age of fourteen years cannot be married.

"You should have at least one witness unless one of the applicants is under 18, in which case both parents should also be present."