Kings County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Kings County are handled by the New York City Clerk, not the county clerk. Kings County is the Borough of Brooklyn, one of the five boroughs of New York City. The Brooklyn office of the City Clerk sits at 210 Joralemon Street, Room 205, Brooklyn, NY 11201. This office issues marriage licenses and provides certified copies of marriage certificates for ceremonies performed in Brooklyn. For records from 1950 through 1995, you must visit the Manhattan office at 141 Worth Street. Records from 1996 onward are available at any borough office.

Where to Get Kings County Marriage Records

The Brooklyn office of the NYC City Clerk is at 210 Joralemon Street, Room 205. Call them at (718) 802-4107. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. This office handles marriage licenses and can provide certified copies of marriage certificates for records from 1996 to the present. Walk-in service is available, but lines can get long during peak hours.

Here is the catch. Records from 1950 through 1995 are only available at the Manhattan City Clerk's office at 141 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013. That office is the main hub for older NYC marriage records. If you need something from that time frame, you have to go to Manhattan. There is no way around it. The Brooklyn office simply does not have those files.

You can also order copies through NYC 311 online. The system lets you request marriage certificates without visiting an office. Processing times vary, but online requests are often faster than walking in during busy periods. You will need the names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage to place an order.

How NYC Handles Marriage Records for Brooklyn

New York City is different from the rest of the state. In most New York counties, marriage licenses come from the town or city clerk. In NYC, the City Clerk's office handles all five boroughs. Kings County does not have its own county-level marriage record system. Everything goes through the City Clerk.

Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, both parties must appear in person to get a license. The fee in NYC is $35 for a marriage license. There is a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued. The license stays good for 60 days. A judge can waive the waiting period if there is a good reason, but that does not happen often.

The City Clerk can also perform the ceremony. A civil ceremony at the clerk's office costs $25. Many couples in Brooklyn get their license and have the ceremony on the same trip, though the 24-hour wait means you need to come back the next day unless the waiting period is waived. Officiants in New York include judges, clergy, and anyone ordained or authorized under state law.

Fees for Kings County Marriage Certificates

NYC has its own fee structure for marriage records. A domestic-use certified copy costs $15 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. An extended copy, which is valid for international use, costs $35 for the first and $30 for each additional. These fees apply at both the Brooklyn and Manhattan offices.

The marriage license itself is $35. That covers the application and the license document. If you want the City Clerk to perform the ceremony, add another $25. So the total for a license plus a civil ceremony at the Brooklyn office is $60. Payment methods accepted at the office include credit cards, debit cards, money orders, and personal checks. Cash is not accepted.

Historical Marriage Records in Kings County

Brooklyn has a rich set of historical marriage records. The NYC Department of Records and Information Services maintains a historical vital records database at a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov. For Kings County, you can find Brooklyn marriage certificates from 1866 through 1937 and marriage licenses from 1938 through 1949 in that system. This is a free online resource and one of the best tools for Brooklyn genealogy research.

Before 1866, marriage records in Brooklyn were kept by churches and other religious institutions. Brooklyn was an independent city until 1898, when it merged with New York City. Records from the independent Brooklyn era can sometimes be found at the Brooklyn Historical Society or through the New York City Municipal Archives. The Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street in Manhattan holds a vast collection of city records going back centuries.

The New York State Archives also has marriage indexes that cover Kings County. These go back to 1881 and are open to the public after 50 years. The state archives are in Albany, but some indexes are searchable online. For Brooklyn-specific records before 1881, church records and the historical vital records database are your best bets.

Getting a Marriage License in Brooklyn Today

Walk into the Brooklyn City Clerk's office at 210 Joralemon Street with your partner and a valid photo ID. Both of you must be there. Bring proof of age and, if either person was married before, a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate of the former spouse. You will fill out the application at the office. The whole process takes about 30 minutes on a normal day, longer if the office is busy.

NYC also offers Project Cupid, which lets couples start the marriage license process online. You can fill out the application ahead of time and schedule an appointment. This cuts down the wait at the office. After the 24-hour waiting period, you can have the ceremony at the clerk's office or anywhere else with an authorized officiant. The license works across all of New York State, so you could get it in Brooklyn and have the wedding upstate if you want.

Cities in Kings County

Kings County is entirely within New York City. Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs.

Nearby Counties

The other NYC boroughs and neighboring counties handle marriage records through their own offices.