Search Ulster County Marriage Records

Ulster County marriage records span more than a century and are split between the county clerk in Kingston and 20 individual town clerks throughout the county. The county clerk maintains marriage records from 1908 through April 1935, while town clerks hold everything issued after that date. Ulster County stretches from the Hudson River west into the Catskill Mountains, and its mix of small cities, historic villages, and rural towns means that record keeping is spread across many offices.

Ulster County Clerk and Marriage Records

The Ulster County Clerk is Taylor J. Bruck. The office is at 240 Fair Street in Kingston, NY 12401. Phone is (845) 481-9270. Hours are Monday through Friday, generally 9 AM to 5 PM. The clerk's office is in the historic Ulster County Office Building in downtown Kingston, which also houses other county departments.

Marriage records at this office span 1908 through April 1935. After that, the state shifted responsibility to town clerks. The county clerk can search records within that date range by name. A certified copy costs $10. Walk-in and mail requests are both accepted. For mail requests, include full names of both spouses, approximate date of marriage, and a check or money order for $10 made payable to the Ulster County Clerk.

The clerk's office also handles land records, court documents, and naturalization papers. Some of these older court records mention marriages in connection with property transfers or estate matters, which can be a secondary source for genealogy researchers. The office has records going back to the county's founding in 1683, making it one of the older county record collections in the state.

How to Get Ulster County Marriage Records

Start by pinning down when the marriage happened. For the 1908 to April 1935 window, contact the county clerk at (845) 481-9270. For anything after 1935, you need to identify which town clerk issued the license.

Ulster County has 20 towns and one city (Kingston). The towns are Denning, Esopus, Gardiner, Hardenburgh, Hurley, Kingston (the town, not the city), Lloyd, Marbletown, Marlborough, New Paltz, Olive, Plattekill, Rochester, Rosendale, Saugerties, Shandaken, Shawangunk, Ulster, Wawarsing, and Woodstock. Kingston city has its own city clerk. New Paltz, Saugerties, and Woodstock are among the busier offices due to their population and tourism draw.

If you do not know which municipality was involved, the New York State Department of Health can search the entire state outside New York City. Mail-in requests cost $30. Send them to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Online orders are $45 plus processing. Allow 8 to 10 weeks for mail requests.

The New York State Archives has marriage indexes from 1881 for the state outside NYC. Indexes over 50 years old are public. These indexes can tell you which town issued a license, which saves you from guessing when you contact the local clerk for a certified copy.

Marriage License Process in Ulster County

Any town or city clerk in Ulster County can issue a marriage license. The statewide fee is $40. Both applicants must come in together with valid photo ID and proof of age. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 15, a 24-hour waiting period applies. The license stays valid for 60 days after that.

The license works anywhere in New York State. Ulster County is a popular wedding spot because of its scenic Catskill and Hudson Valley settings. Venues in New Paltz, Woodstock, and Kingston draw couples from across the region. Town clerks in these areas handle more license applications than average, especially from late spring through fall.

If either person was previously married, proof that the prior marriage ended is required. Bring a certified divorce decree or death certificate. Both people must be 18 or older. No blood test is needed. After the wedding, the officiant returns the signed certificate to the issuing clerk within five days. The clerk files it locally and sends a copy to the state.

Towns and Communities in Ulster County

Ulster County has 20 towns plus the city of Kingston. The city clerk in Kingston handles the most marriage licenses in the county. Among the towns, New Paltz and Saugerties are the busiest. Woodstock, despite its fame, is actually a small town, though it still sees a fair number of license applications from couples who want to get married there.

The western towns like Denning, Hardenburgh, and Shandaken are very rural and sparsely populated. Their clerks may only keep office hours a few days per week. Call before you visit. Lloyd, Marlborough, and Plattekill sit along the Hudson River in the eastern part of the county. Gardiner and Shawangunk are in the southern part near the Shawangunk Ridge. Each town clerk operates independently and keeps its own set of marriage records.

Ulster County Marriage Records for Genealogy

Ulster County has a rich history dating back to Dutch colonial settlement. The county clerk's 1908 to 1935 records cover a useful slice of time for researchers. Court records in the same office go back centuries and can provide supporting evidence for family connections. The NY.gov marriage page has general statewide information.

The Ulster County Clerk's Archives has historical materials beyond just vital records. Local historical societies in Kingston, New Paltz, and Hurley maintain collections of church records, family papers, and newspapers that often mention marriages. The Huguenot Historical Society in New Paltz has records from some of the oldest European families in the Hudson Valley. For statewide research, FamilySearch.org and the State Archives in Albany are useful tools.

Nearby Counties

Ulster County borders these counties. Each has its own clerk office handling marriage records.