Access Clinton County Marriage Records

Clinton County marriage records are maintained at the municipal clerk level. The Clinton County Clerk's office at 137 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh serves as the central county office for land records and court filings, but vital records including marriage certificates are held by the local town and city clerks. For marriage records in Clinton County, start with the clerk of the municipality where the license was issued. The county also has a Surrogate's Court and a County Historian who can assist with historical research.

Clinton County Clerk's Office

The Clinton County Clerk is at 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Phone is (518) 565-4700. Email is countyclerk@clintoncountygov.com. The clerk's office handles recording duties for the county. That includes deeds, mortgages, court records, and other legal documents. Marriage licenses and certificates, however, belong to the municipal clerks.

Clinton County sits in the northeastern corner of New York, along the Canadian border and Lake Champlain. Plattsburgh is the county seat and its largest city. The Plattsburgh city clerk handles the most marriage license applications in the county. Smaller towns throughout Clinton County have their own clerks who also issue licenses.

Searching for Clinton County Marriage Records

The first step is knowing where the license was issued. If the couple got married in Plattsburgh, the city clerk there keeps the record. For marriages in other Clinton County towns, contact that town's clerk. Each keeps records only for licenses they issued.

When you do not know the issuing municipality, the New York State Department of Health can help. They hold copies of all marriage certificates from 1881 to the present for areas outside New York City. A mail order costs $30 and takes 8 to 10 weeks. Online orders cost $45 plus processing. Send mail requests to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Priority handling costs $15 extra and cuts the wait to about two weeks with overnight delivery both ways.

The Clinton County Surrogate's Court at (518) 565-4630 handles probate and estate matters. Marriage records sometimes appear in estate cases, so the surrogate's court may have documents that reference a Clinton County marriage. The County Historian at (518) 565-4749 or historian@co.clinton.ny.us can direct you to historical marriage records and local resources.

How to Get a Marriage License in Clinton County

Both people must appear in person at a municipal clerk's office. Bring valid photo ID and proof of age. The fee is $40, set by state law. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, a 24-hour waiting period applies. The license then stays valid for 60 days.

Previously married individuals must bring a certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. There is no blood test. No residency requirement exists, which means anyone can get a marriage license from any Clinton County clerk, even visitors from out of state or Canada.

Clinton County's location on the Canadian border means some couples include a Canadian citizen. Foreign nationals can marry in New York. They need a valid passport for identification. No special visa or additional documentation beyond the standard requirements is needed for the license itself.

Clinton County Marriage Record Fees

License fees are $40. Certified copies from the local clerk cost $10 each. The state health department charges $30 by mail or $45 online. The local route is cheaper and usually faster for Clinton County residents.

There is no charge to search marriage indexes at the New York State Archives in Albany. Those indexes cover 1881 to the present and are public after 50 years. You only pay when you order actual certified copies. This makes the archives a good starting point for genealogy research where you want to confirm a record exists before spending money on copies.

Historical Clinton County Marriage Records

For older marriage records, the Clinton County Historian can be a valuable resource. Contact them at (518) 565-4749 or historian@co.clinton.ny.us. The historian may have access to church records, newspaper announcements, and other historical documents that predate civil marriage registration.

New York began requiring civil registration of marriages in 1880 for areas outside New York City. Records from before that date are harder to find through government offices. Church records and family documents are often the best sources for pre-1880 marriages in Clinton County. The state archives and state library in Albany also hold historical materials that may include Clinton County marriage references.

The NY.gov marriage services page gives an overview of the statewide process. For historical research specifically, the state archives and the county historian are your best starting points. Local libraries in Plattsburgh may also have genealogy collections with marriage-related materials.

Applicants should plan what documents to bring. Both parties need a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You also need proof of age. An original birth certificate or passport works. If either person was married before, a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is required. Hospital birth certificates do not count. Only the official version from a state health department is accepted. Missing even one document means you leave empty-handed, so double-check before you go.

The price for a certified copy from a Clinton County town clerk is $10. That same record from the state Department of Health costs $30 by mail or $45 online. The local clerk is cheaper and quicker, but the state can search without knowing the exact municipality. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15 and related provisions, the state receives a copy of every marriage certificate filed outside New York City, giving them a complete database going back to 1881.

Nearby Counties

Clinton County borders these counties in northern New York.