Marriage Information

Couples wishing to obtain a marriage license may do so up to 60 days in advance of their wedding date; it must be obtained at least 24 hrs before the wedding. Both parties must be present to sign before the clerk.

  

Proof of Age and Identity

  Both applicants must provide 2 from the following list of options:

• A certified copy of a birth record

• a certification of birth issued by the state department of health, a local registrar of vital statistics or other public officer charged with similar duties by the laws of any other state, territory or country

• a baptismal record

• a passport

• an automobile driver's license

• any government or school issued identification card that contains a photograph of the applicant

• a life insurance policy

• an employment certificate

• a school record

• an immigration record

• a naturalization record

• a court record or any other document or record issued by a governmental entity, showing the date of birth

    

Previous Marriages

  Information regarding previous marriages must be furnished in the application for a marriage license. This    includes whether the former spouse or spouses are living, and whether the applicants are divorced and, if    so, when, where and against whom the divorce or divorces were granted. You must provide a copy of your    final divorce decree that has the County stamp on it as to where it was filed.  If there was more than one      divorce, you will have to provide the date of all divorces and have the paperwork for the latest divorce. If a    marriage ended due to spousal death, you must provide the death certificate. 

  

Name Change Options

  Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she wishes to be known simply by using that    name consistently and without intent to defraud. A person's last name (surname) does not automatically      change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage is required to change his or her last name.              Parties to a marriage need not take the same last name.

    

  One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be            known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage      license. The new name must consist of one of the following options:

• the surname of the other spouse;

• any former surname of either spouse;

• a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse;

• a combination name separated by a hyphen or a space, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.

     

  One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the middle name by which he or she wishes to be    known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage      license. The new middle name must consist of one of the following options:

• the current surname of the spouse electing to change his or her name;

• any former surname of the spouse electing to change his or her name;

• the surname of the other spouse.

      

The use of this option will provide a record of your change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, is proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful. The local Social Security Administration office should be contacted so that its records and your social security identification card reflect the name change. There is no charge for this service.

     

To change the name on your NYS driver license or non-driver identification, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for information.

    

Whether you decide to use or not use this option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.

    

If you plan to use your married name at work, be sure to have your name changed in Social Security records. This way, you will get credit for all your earnings. It's easy and it's absolutely free. Contact any Social Security office. You can find the address and phone number of your local Social Security Office at http://www.ssa.gov. You will need documentary evidence showing both your old name and your new name.

  

For more information please visit the New York State Department of Health website.