Access Cattaraugus County Marriage Records

Cattaraugus County marriage records are kept by the local town and city clerks who issued each license. The Cattaraugus County Clerk in Little Valley does not hold marriage certificates. For a certified copy of a marriage record, you must contact the clerk of the municipality where the license was purchased. The county clerk's office handles land records, court filings, and other documents, but marriage records are a local matter in Cattaraugus County.

Cattaraugus County Clerk Office

The Cattaraugus County Clerk is Darrell Klute. The office is at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. Call (716) 938-9111 for questions. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. While this office does not issue marriage licenses, it handles many other important records for the county, including deeds, mortgages, and court filings.

The county clerk supports e-recording through CSC Recording and Simplifile. These electronic filing options apply to land and property records, not marriage documents. The office also runs a Fraud Alert service that can notify you if someone files a document using your name. That is worth knowing about even though it does not relate directly to marriage records.

How to Get Cattaraugus County Marriage Records

The county clerk's website is clear on this point. For certified copies of marriage records, contact the clerk of the municipality where the license was purchased. That is the only local option. Each town and city clerk in Cattaraugus County keeps records for licenses issued at their office. A certified copy costs $10.

If you do not know which municipality issued the license, the New York State Department of Health can search their statewide records. They hold copies of marriage certificates from 1881 to the present for all of New York outside New York City. A mail order costs $30, and online orders run $45 plus processing. Send mail requests to the Vital Records Certification Unit at P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602.

Processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks at the state level. Priority handling cuts that to about two weeks but costs $15 extra. You need to use overnight delivery in both directions for priority service. Local clerks in Cattaraugus County can often provide copies much faster, sometimes the same day if you go in person.

The New York State Archives holds marriage indexes from 1881 onward. These indexes are public after 50 years. They can help you figure out where a marriage was recorded before you pay for a certified copy.

Marriage Licenses in Cattaraugus County

Any town or city clerk in Cattaraugus County can issue a marriage license. The fee is $40 per state law. Both parties must appear in person with valid ID and proof of age. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, a 24-hour waiting period applies. The license stays valid for 60 days after issuance.

Cattaraugus County has over 30 municipalities, giving couples many options for where to get their license. Olean is the largest city in the county, and its clerk handles a significant number of marriage licenses. Salamanca, which sits within the Allegany Reservation of the Seneca Nation, also has a city clerk that issues licenses. The license is valid anywhere in New York State, regardless of where it was purchased.

Previously married individuals need to bring proof the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse satisfies this requirement. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. There is no blood test requirement in New York. The clerk will ask for Social Security numbers, but providing them is technically optional under federal law.

Towns and Cities in Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County is one of the larger counties in western New York. It has many small towns and a few cities. The municipalities include Allegany, Ashford, Coldspring, Conewango, Dayton, East Otto, Ellicottville, Farmersville, Franklinville, Freedom, Great Valley, Hinsdale, Humphrey, Ischua, Leon, Little Valley, Lyndon, Machias, Mansfield, Napoli, New Albion, Olean, Otto, Perrysburg, Persia, Portville, Randolph, Red House, Salamanca, South Valley, and Yorkshire.

Each of these has a clerk who can issue marriage licenses and keeps the records on file. Olean handles the most traffic. Ellicottville draws visitors for its ski resort but also has an active town clerk. Little Valley serves as the county seat, though it is a small village. Clerks in smaller towns may keep limited hours, so always call first.

Cattaraugus County Marriage Records for Research

Genealogists looking into Cattaraugus County marriages have a few paths. The state archives hold marriage indexes back to 1881. The NY.gov marriage information page gives an overview of how the system works statewide. Local historical societies in Cattaraugus County may have church records and other documents that predate civil marriage recording.

For records older than 50 years, access is straightforward. Anyone can request copies for research. Newer records are restricted to the parties named on the certificate, their attorneys, or authorized family members. The town clerk who holds the record can tell you whether you qualify to receive a certified copy based on New York's vital records access rules.

The NYS Archives in Albany maintain marriage indexes from 1881 that cover all of New York outside New York City. These indexes pass the 50-year threshold and are open to researchers at no charge. You can visit the reading room in Albany or request a search by mail. For Cattaraugus County families, the indexes help you pin down which town recorded a marriage before you order a certified copy from the local clerk. That saves both time and money, since you pay $10 per copy from the town clerk versus $30 by mail from the state.

When planning to apply for a license, bring your documents together. Both parties need photo ID and proof of age. A driver's license or passport works for both. Previously married people must show a certified divorce decree or death certificate. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15 and Section 20-B, the officiant returns the signed certificate to the issuing clerk within five days. The clerk then files it and sends a copy to the state health department. Following up with the clerk two weeks after the ceremony is a good habit to confirm the paperwork went through.

Nearby Counties

Cattaraugus County borders these counties in western New York.