Find Marriage Records in Delaware County

Marriage records in Delaware County are filed and kept by the County Clerk's office in Delhi. The Delaware County Clerk handles all land records, court documents, and business certificates for this rural region of the Catskill Mountains. Town clerks across Delaware County's 19 municipalities also issue marriage licenses and hold local copies. Whether you need a recent marriage certificate or want to trace older records for family research, the clerk's office at 111 Main Street in Delhi is the place to start. Most requests can be handled the same day if you visit in person during regular hours.

Delaware County Clerk's Office

The Delaware County Clerk, Joseph J. Hurlburt, runs the main office at 111 Main Street in Delhi, NY 13753. The phone number is (607) 832-5700. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This office records deeds, mortgages, court documents, and business certificates for all of Delaware County. It also serves as the central repository for marriage records that have been filed with the county.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. The clerk's staff can look up marriage records by the names of either spouse and the approximate date of the marriage. A certified copy of a marriage certificate costs $10 from the local clerk. That fee is the same at every town clerk's office in Delaware County. You can also request copies by mail. Send a written request with the names of both spouses, the date and place of the marriage, and a check or money order for $10 payable to the Delaware County Clerk. Mail it to 111 Main Street, Delhi, NY 13753. Response times vary but typically run two to three weeks for mail requests.

The Delaware County Clerk's office also handles passport applications and notary services. If you need a marriage record for a passport application, the clerk can often help with both tasks in one trip. This saves time for residents who live far from Delhi, which is common in a county that covers over 1,400 square miles of mostly rural land.

How to Get Delaware County Marriage Records

Marriage licenses in Delaware County are issued by the town clerk in the municipality where the couple applies. Delaware County has 19 towns, and each one has a town clerk who can issue a license. The fee is $40. Both parties must appear in person with valid ID. After the clerk issues the license, there is a 24-hour waiting period before any ceremony can take place. The license stays valid for 60 days. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, both applicants must sign a written statement providing their names, ages, places of birth, and prior marriage history.

If you need a copy of an existing marriage record, you have a few options. The town clerk who issued the original license keeps a copy. The Delaware County Clerk's office also maintains records. For marriages that took place outside New York City from 1881 onward, the New York State Department of Health has copies as well. The state charges $30 by mail or $45 online through their vendor. Going to the local town clerk is almost always cheaper and faster.

Records less than 50 years old have restrictions on who can get copies. You must be one of the spouses named on the certificate, have a court order, or demonstrate a proper legal purpose. Records older than 50 years are open for public access and are commonly used in genealogical research. The New York State Archives holds indexes to older marriage records that researchers can use to locate the specific certificate they need.

The Delaware County Clerk's office can provide certified and non-certified copies. A certified copy has a raised seal and the clerk's signature. It is the version you need for legal purposes like name changes, immigration paperwork, or insurance claims. A non-certified copy, sometimes called an informational copy, works fine for personal records or genealogy.

Delaware County Marriage Records and Town Clerks

Each of the 19 towns in Delaware County has its own clerk who handles marriage licenses. The towns are Andes, Bovina, Colchester, Davenport, Delhi, Deposit, Franklin, Hamden, Hancock, Harpersfield, Kortright, Masonville, Meredith, Middletown, Roxbury, Sidney, Stamford, Tompkins, and Walton. Town clerk offices tend to have limited hours. Some are only open a few days a week. Call ahead before making the trip. The county clerk in Delhi can often help you figure out which town clerk holds the record you need.

The Delaware County area has a long history of record keeping. Marriages performed by local justices of the peace, ministers, and other authorized officials have been filed with town clerks since the mid-1800s. Statewide registration began in 1881, but compliance was spotty in rural areas like Delaware County for the first few decades. For marriages before 1881, church records and family bibles may be the only source. The county historian's office can sometimes point researchers in the right direction for these older records.

The screenshot below shows the Delaware County Clerk's official page where you can find contact details and information about the services they offer.

For genealogy work, the NYS Archives in Albany holds marriage indexes that cover Delaware County from 1881 forward. These indexes become publicly available after 50 years. The NY.gov marriage services page has general guidance on the marriage process across the state.

Fees and Processing for Delaware County Marriage Records

The cost to get a marriage record depends on where you order it. A certified copy from any town clerk or the county clerk in Delaware County costs $10. That is the standard rate set by state law. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is also $10. If you order from the NYS Department of Health by mail, the fee jumps to $30. Online orders through the state's authorized vendor cost $45 plus a processing surcharge.

In-person requests at the Delaware County Clerk's office are usually handled the same day. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for a response. If you need a record fast, visiting the office in Delhi is the best option. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Some town clerks may have different payment methods, so call first to confirm.

Nearby Counties

Delaware County borders several other counties in central New York. If you are not sure where a marriage license was issued, these neighboring county clerk offices may have the record you need.