Access Rockland County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Rockland County are kept by the five town clerks who issue licenses throughout this small but densely populated county just north of New York City. The Rockland County Clerk's office in New City handles deeds, mortgages, court records, and passports. Donna M. Ross is the county clerk at 11 New Hempstead Road in New City. Rockland has just five towns and no cities, making it one of the most compact counties in the state. Despite its small size, the county has a large population, and its town clerks process a significant number of marriage licenses each year.

Where to Get Rockland County Marriage Records

The Rockland County Clerk is at 11 New Hempstead Road in New City. The phone number is (845) 638-5070. Donna M. Ross is the county clerk. The office records deeds, mortgages, and court documents, and also handles passport applications. Marriage licenses are issued by the town clerks, not the county clerk. The county clerk may hold records from 1908 to 1935 when state law required county-level filing.

Rockland County has five towns: Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point. Each has a town clerk who issues marriage licenses. Ramapo is the largest town by population and its clerk handles the most licenses. Clarkstown, centered around New City, is the next busiest. Orangetown covers the southern part of the county near the New Jersey border. Haverstraw sits along the Hudson River, and Stony Point is the smallest of the five.

Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, both people must appear in person at the clerk's office. The license fee is $40. A 24-hour wait follows before the ceremony can take place. The license stays valid for 60 days. With only five town clerks to choose from, couples in Rockland County have a simple decision about where to apply. Most pick the town where they live.

Searching for Marriage Records

Start with the town clerk who issued the license. In a county with only five towns, you can check all of them quickly if needed. The Ramapo and Clarkstown clerks handle the most volume. Each clerk can search by name and approximate date. You will need at least one spouse's full name.

The New York State Department of Health has copies of marriage certificates from 1881 to the present for areas outside New York City. Mail requests cost $30 and go to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Online orders through VitalChek are $45 plus processing. Mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. Priority handling is an extra $15 and brings the wait down to about two weeks. The state option works as a backup if you cannot reach the local clerk or are unsure which town handled the license.

The New York State Archives maintains marriage indexes from 1881 onward. Records older than 50 years are open to the public. The Rockland County Historical Society in New City has local history materials that may help with genealogy research, including some marriage-related documents from the county's earlier years.

Rockland County Town Clerks

All five Rockland County town clerks operate on regular weekday schedules. This is a suburban county where even the smallest town, Stony Point, has consistent office hours. Ramapo's town clerk office serves a diverse and growing population and is well-equipped to handle a high volume of applications. Clarkstown's clerk in New City sits near the county government center, making it a convenient choice for people who are already visiting the courthouse area.

Orangetown covers Nyack, Pearl River, and the southern part of the county. Its clerk handles a steady flow of license applications. Haverstraw includes the villages of Haverstraw and West Haverstraw along the river. Stony Point is the northernmost town and the least populated, but its clerk still maintains regular hours and can issue licenses just like the larger towns.

Every clerk charges $40 for a license and $10 for certified copies. You can get a license from any clerk in New York State and have the ceremony anywhere. A Rockland County couple could get their license in Orangetown and have their wedding in Clarkstown with no issue. The signed license just needs to come back to the issuing clerk after the ceremony.

Fees and Access to Marriage Records

Certified copies cost $10 per copy from the issuing town clerk. Mail requests should include both spouses' full names, the marriage date, and a check payable to the town clerk. In-person requests are typically faster. The state health department charges $30 by mail or $45 online, which is more expensive but useful when you cannot determine which clerk issued the license.

Access to records less than 50 years old is limited to the people named on the certificate, their legal representatives, or close family members. After 50 years, the records open to the public. This applies at both the local and state levels. Rockland County's proximity to New York City means many couples moved between the city and the suburbs over the decades, so checking both NYC and Rockland County sources is sometimes necessary.

Make sure you bring the right documents when applying for a license. Both parties need a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. Proof of age is also required. A birth certificate from the state health department works. Hospital-issued birth certificates do not count. If either person was previously married, bring a certified divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse. The clerk will not process the application if any document is missing. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, both applicants must appear in person together at the same time.

For genealogy, the NYS Archives in Albany have marriage indexes from 1881 for all areas outside New York City. These indexes are open to the public after 50 years. You can visit the reading room for free or request a search by mail. This is a smart first step before paying for certified copies. Confirm a marriage exists in the index, then order the copy from the Rockland County town clerk for $10. That approach saves money and avoids dead ends.

Cities in Rockland County

Rockland County has three qualifying towns with dedicated pages for marriage record information.

Nearby Counties

Rockland County borders Orange County to the north and Westchester County across the Hudson River.