Find Marriage Records in Suffolk County

Suffolk County marriage records are not kept by the county clerk. Unlike many New York counties, Suffolk County routes all marriage record responsibilities through individual town clerks. The county clerk in Riverhead handles land records, court filings, and naturalization papers, but marriage licenses and certificates stay with the town where they were issued. Suffolk County spans the eastern two-thirds of Long Island and has ten towns, each with its own clerk managing marriage records independently.

Suffolk County Clerk and Marriage Records

The Suffolk County Clerk is Judith A. Pascale. Her office is at 310 Center Drive North in Riverhead, NY 11901. The phone number is (631) 852-2000. However, this office does not hold marriage records. Suffolk County is one of the few counties in New York where the county clerk never served as the central repository for marriage certificates.

In most New York counties, the county clerk holds marriage records from 1908 through April 1935. Suffolk County works differently. Marriage records have always been maintained at the town level here. So if you call the county clerk asking for a marriage certificate, they will direct you to the appropriate town clerk instead.

This setup can be confusing for people used to dealing with county-level offices. The key thing to know is that you must identify which town issued the marriage license. Suffolk County has ten towns: Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold. Each one keeps its own marriage records going back decades.

How to Get Suffolk County Marriage Records

The first step is knowing which town issued the license. If you know the town, contact that town clerk directly. Each town clerk can provide certified copies of marriage certificates for marriages that took place in their jurisdiction. The fee is typically $10 per certified copy, though some towns may charge slightly more for additional processing.

If you do not know which town issued the license, you have a couple of options. The New York State Department of Health can do a statewide search. Mail-in requests cost $30 and go to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Online orders run $45 plus processing fees. Expect 8 to 10 weeks for mail requests. The state holds records from 1881 onward for areas outside New York City.

You can also try the New York State Archives for marriage indexes. These are especially useful for older records. Indexes more than 50 years old are open to the public. The archives are in Albany, but mail-in search requests are accepted.

For genealogy purposes, FamilySearch.org has some digitized Long Island marriage records. Suffolk County historical societies in towns like Southold and East Hampton sometimes have church records that predate civil marriage registration.

Suffolk County Town Clerks and Marriage Records

Each of the ten towns in Suffolk County has a town clerk who issues marriage licenses and keeps the records. Because Suffolk County is so large and populous, some of these town clerks handle thousands of license applications each year. Brookhaven and Islip are the busiest by volume. Here is a brief look at each town.

Babylon Town Clerk handles the southwestern part of Suffolk County. Brookhaven Town Clerk covers the largest geographic area in the county and one of the most populated towns in all of New York State. East Hampton Town Clerk serves the eastern end of the South Fork. Huntington Town Clerk manages records for one of Long Island's most populated areas along the north shore.

Islip Town Clerk is another high-volume office given the town's large population. Riverhead Town Clerk sits near the county seat and serves the area where the North and South Forks begin to split. Shelter Island Town Clerk covers the small island between the two forks. Smithtown Town Clerk handles the north-central part of the county.

Southampton Town Clerk covers a wide area on the South Fork, including several villages. Southold Town Clerk serves the North Fork communities. All of these clerks charge the standard $40 state fee for a new marriage license. Call ahead to confirm office hours, especially for smaller towns like Shelter Island.

Getting a Marriage License in Suffolk County

You can get a marriage license from any town clerk in Suffolk County. The fee is $40 statewide. Both people must show up together with valid photo ID and proof of age. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, there is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place.

The license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in New York. You do not have to get married in Suffolk County just because that is where you got the license. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed marriage certificate to the town clerk who issued the license. This must happen within five days. The clerk then files the record and sends a copy to the state.

Previously married applicants must bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is needed. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. New York does not require blood tests.

State Resources for Suffolk County Marriage Records

Because Suffolk County does not have a single centralized office for marriage records, state-level resources are especially useful here. The NY.gov marriage services page explains the statewide process and legal requirements. The Department of Health website has application forms and fee information for ordering certified copies from the state.

The State Archives in Albany hold marriage indexes going back to 1881. For Suffolk County, these indexes can help you identify which town issued a particular license, which is the crucial piece of information you need. Once you have the town name, you can contact that clerk directly for a certified copy at the lower local fee.

Cities and Towns in Suffolk County

Suffolk County has several large towns that qualify as major population centers on Long Island. These are the communities with dedicated pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Suffolk County shares its western border with Nassau County on Long Island.