Search Franklin County Marriage Records

Marriage records for Franklin County are available through the County Clerk's office in Malone and through individual town clerks spread across this northern New York county. Franklin County borders Canada to the north and sits at the edge of the Adirondack Park. The County Clerk records all types of legal documents, from deeds and mortgages to court papers and business certificates. Marriage records are filed by the town clerks who issue licenses, and copies go to both the county and the state. With 20 towns covering a large geographic area, knowing which office to contact first can save significant time when you need a Franklin County marriage certificate.

Franklin County Clerk's Office Information

Nicole M. Favreau is the Franklin County Clerk. The office is at 355 West Main Street, Malone, NY 12953. The phone number is (518) 481-1681. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Franklin County Clerk handles recording of legal documents, court records, business certificates, and passport applications.

For marriage records, the county clerk's office can help locate records that have been filed at the county level. The primary place to look, though, is the town clerk who issued the original license. Franklin County's 20 towns are Bangor, Bellmont, Bombay, Brandon, Brighton, Burke, Chateaugay, Constable, Dickinson, Duane, Fort Covington, Franklin, Harrietstown, Malone, Moira, Morgan, Santa Clara, Tupper Lake, Waverly, and Westville. Town clerk hours vary, and some offices are only open part-time. A quick phone call before visiting is a good idea.

The Franklin County Clerk in Malone can point you in the right direction if you are not sure which town clerk to contact. Staff there deal with these questions regularly and can help narrow down your search.

Getting Marriage Records in Franklin County

A certified copy of a marriage certificate costs $10 from any town clerk or the county clerk in Franklin County. Bring a photo ID and know the names of both spouses and the approximate marriage date. In-person requests are handled the same day in most cases. For mail requests, send a letter to the appropriate clerk with the marriage details and a check or money order for $10. The Franklin County Clerk's mailing address is 355 West Main Street, Malone, NY 12953. Expect two to three weeks for a mailed response.

You can also get Franklin County marriage records from the New York State Department of Health. The state holds copies of all marriage certificates filed in Franklin County from 1881 to the present. State mail orders cost $30. Online orders run $45 plus a vendor fee. The local clerk is cheaper at $10 and usually faster, but the state office is useful when you do not know exactly where in Franklin County the marriage took place.

Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, the information on a marriage license includes both parties' names, ages, birthplaces, and prior marriage history. This information is the same on every New York marriage license. Records less than 50 years old have access restrictions. Only the named spouses, their legal representatives, or someone with a documented proper purpose can get a certified copy of a recent record. Older records are open to anyone for genealogical or historical research.

Here is a look at the Franklin County government website, which provides information about the clerk's office and the services available to the public.

Applying for a Marriage License in Franklin County

Both parties must show up in person at a town clerk's office. That is the law. You cannot do this by mail or online. Each person needs a valid photo ID. Under New York law, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. If either person was married before, they need to bring proof that the prior marriage is over. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse will satisfy this requirement.

The license costs $40. There is a mandatory 24-hour wait after the clerk issues it. A judge can waive this in rare cases. The license remains valid for 60 days. Military members on active duty can get a 180-day extension. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the issuing clerk within five days. The clerk files it and sends a copy to the state health department.

Residency in Franklin County is not required. Any couple can apply at any town clerk in New York State. The NY.gov services portal covers the full process. The Harrietstown town clerk in Saranac Lake and the Malone town clerk tend to handle the most license applications in the county, but every town clerk can issue one.

Older Marriage Records and Genealogy in Franklin County

The New York State Archives holds marriage indexes for Franklin County from 1881 forward. These indexes are public once the records are more than 50 years old. They show names, dates, and certificate numbers, which you can use to order the actual certificate from the state health department or the local clerk.

For records that predate 1881, the search gets harder. Church records are often the best source for very old marriages in Franklin County. Some of these records have been microfilmed or digitized by genealogical societies. The county historian may also have leads on where to find early marriage records. Between 1908 and 1935, county clerks kept duplicate copies of marriage records, and some of these may still be in the Franklin County Clerk's files.

Franklin County's location near the Canadian border means that some families crossed back and forth. Marriage records for those families might be in Canadian archives rather than New York files. Keep that in mind if your search in Franklin County comes up empty.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County shares borders with several other northern New York counties. These neighboring clerk offices may have the records you need.