Search New York City Marriage Records

Marriage records in New York City are handled by the NYC City Clerk's office, which operates borough offices across all five counties. The city uses its own system for licenses and certificates, separate from the rest of the state. NYC processes more marriage licenses than any other city in New York, and the City Clerk has maintained records dating back decades. Both in-person and virtual options are now available for couples who want to get married in the city, making the process more flexible than it has ever been.

NYC Marriage Bureau and City Clerk

The main NYC Marriage Bureau is at 1 Centre Street, Room 252, New York, NY 10007. Call (212) 639-9775 for questions. This office handles marriage licenses for all five boroughs. Both people must appear in person with valid photo ID. The fee is $35, payable by money order or credit card. Cash is not accepted. That $35 fee is lower than the $40 charged by clerks in the rest of the state.

Appointments are required. You must book through the city's online portal at nyc.gov/cupid before visiting any office. Walk-ins are not accepted. The system lets you pick a date and time at any borough office. Bring your ID, Social Security number, and any divorce or death certificates if a prior marriage ended. The clerk checks your documents, takes payment, and issues the license.

After the license is issued, there is a 24-hour waiting period. A judge can waive this in certain cases, but waivers are rare. The license stays valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, you need to start over with a new application and pay the fee again.

How to Find Marriage Records in New York City

The City Clerk holds marriage records from 1950 to the present. For records from 1996 forward, you can request copies from any borough office. Records from 1950 to 1995 are only available from the Manhattan office at 141 Worth Street. This is a key detail that trips people up. If your record falls in that older range, you must go to Manhattan or send a mail request there.

The NYC City Clerk portal shown below is where most people start their search for marriage records in the city.

For records older than 1950, you need the NYC Municipal Archives. They hold marriage records going back to the mid-1800s. The archives are at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007. There is a search fee for archival lookups, and processing can take several weeks. Genealogists and family history researchers use this office heavily.

Records less than 50 years old have access restrictions. Only the spouses named on the certificate, their attorneys, or someone with a direct legal interest can get copies. After 50 years, marriage records become public. The New York State Archives also holds indexes to older marriage records that can help with research.

Project Cupid and Virtual Marriage Licenses

NYC launched Project Cupid to allow couples to get marriage licenses through video conference. This started during the pandemic and has continued as a permanent option. You complete your application online first. Then both people join a video call with a City Clerk staff member who verifies your IDs and processes the license. The fee is the same $35.

Project Cupid has been popular. It saves time and removes the need to visit an office in person for the license step. You still need an in-person ceremony (or a virtual one officiated by someone authorized), but the paperwork part can happen from home. This is a unique feature that most other cities in New York do not offer.

Marriage Record Copies and Fees

Certified copies come in two types. A domestic certificate costs $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. This version works for most purposes within the United States. An extended certificate, sometimes called the international version, costs $35 for the first copy and $30 for each extra. The extended version includes more detail and is typically needed for use in other countries.

You can request copies in person at any borough office (for records from 1996 onward) or by mail. Mail requests go to: City Clerk, 141 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, Attn: Record Room. Include the full names of both spouses, the date of marriage, and the borough where the ceremony took place. Enclose a money order for the correct amount. Mail requests take four to six weeks to process. The office does not accept checks or cash by mail.

The NYS Department of Health also maintains copies of NYC marriage records. Their fees are higher. A mail request costs $30 and an online order through their vendor costs about $45. Going directly to the City Clerk is cheaper and often faster for NYC records.

Borough Offices for Marriage Records

Each borough has a City Clerk satellite office where you can apply for licenses and pick up records. The locations are spread across the city to make things easier for residents. Here are the borough offices:

• Manhattan: 141 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013
• Brooklyn: 210 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
• Bronx: 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
• Queens: 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11424
• Staten Island: Borough Hall (contact main office for current hours)

All offices require appointments for license applications. Hours vary by location. The Manhattan office at 141 Worth Street is the busiest and handles the most requests. It is also the only location for records from 1950 through 1995. If you are not sure which office to visit, start with the main number at (212) 639-9775 and the staff can direct you.

New York Marriage Law

New York State law governs all marriages in the city. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, both people must provide their names, ages, residences, and birthplaces when applying for a license. If either person was married before, the application must include how and when that marriage ended. There is no blood test requirement. There is no residency requirement either. Couples from anywhere can marry in New York City.

The minimum age is 18. There are no exceptions. New York raised the marriage age to 18 with no parental consent loophole in 2021. Anyone under 18 simply cannot get a marriage license in the state. The officiant who performs the ceremony must be authorized under state law. Judges, clergy, and certain other officials can perform ceremonies. The officiant has five days after the ceremony to sign and return the license to the issuing clerk.

The NY.gov marriage page has a good overview of all statewide rules that apply to couples marrying in the city. These rules are the same across all five boroughs.

Nearby Cities

These neighboring cities also have marriage record resources and their own clerk offices.