Marriage Certificates

Vital Records has marriage records (since 1880) for marriage licenses purchased in all of New York State except New York City. It does not have records for marriage licenses purchased in all of New York State except New York City, which includes the five boroughs: Manhattan, Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, and Richmond (Staten Island).

Copies of marriage records are also available from the town or city clerk where you purchased (i.e., applied for) your original license.

Amendments to Marriage Certificate based on a change in gender

Legislative Proposal #13-22, ‘Marriage Certificate Amendments’ defines the process for marriage certificate amendments to accommodate changes to name and gender identification. Amended Domestic Relations Law, § 20-C, now requires that a revised marriage certificate be issued to reflect a properly documented change in name or gender designation.

Proper documentation is required to revise a marriage certificate to reflect a change in name or gender designation. Documentation shall consist of:

1. a judgment, order or decree affirming a change of name or gender designation of either party to a marriage;
2. an amended birth certificate demonstrating a change of name or gender designation; or
3. in the case of a change only to gender designation, a notarized affidavit from the individual attesting to their change of gender designation.

The above noted documentation must be submitted to the town or city clerk where you purchased (i.e., applied for) your marriage original license. When completed, the town or city clerk will issue you a new Certificate of Marriage Registration.

Questions or comments?

Contact the Vital Records Call Center at (855) 322-1022.

Who is eligible to order a certified copy of a marriage record?

People eligible to get a marriage certificate:

• Spouses
• Other people who have a:
  • documented judicial or other proper purpose
  • New York State Court Order

  If you are not a spouse, you must document a judicial or other proper purpose. For example, you may need a marriage certificate to claim a benefit. You would need an official letter from the agency saying that you need the marriage record to process the claim.

  What identification needs to be submitted by the applicant?

  Application must be submitted with copies of either A or B:

  1. One of the following forms of valid photo-ID:
     • Driver's license
     • State-issued, nondriver photo-ID card
     • Passport
     • U.S. Military-issued, photo-ID

  OR

  1. Two of the following showing the applicant's name and address:
     • Utility or telephone bill
     • Letter from a government agency dated within the last six months

  Please submit a copy of your U.S. passport in addition to the above ID if you are applying from a foreign country that requires a passport for travel.

  Common Denial Reasons:

  • Applications without proper ID
  • Failure to submit a copy of their U.S. passport in addition to the required identifications when applying from a foreign country that requires a passport for travel

  Fees

  We are currently experiencing significant delays in order processing.

  ORDER TYPE	FEES (per copy)
  Online/Phone orders	$45 + vendor processing fee per transaction (not per copy) See vendor website for current processing fee
  Mail orders	$30

  Mail forms to:

  New York State Department of Health
  Vital Records Certification Unit
  P.O. Box 2602
  Albany, NY 12220-2602

  Payment Options:

  • Online / Phone – MasterCard/Visa, Discover, American Express, ACH (Electronic Check)
  • Mail – Personal Check, Postal Money Order, or Certified Check made payable to NYS Department of Health. Payment for orders from foreign countries must be made by a check drawn on a United States bank or by international money order - Do not send cash

  Marriage Certificate Corrections/Amendments

  Refer to the linked document below for answers to basic questions about the marriage certificate correction/amendment processes, including timelines and who can submit on your behalf, which form to submit, required supporting documentary evidence for the requested change, how to submit a correction, and other frequently asked questions.

  PLEASE NOTE: : A request for change to gender must be submitted to the town or city clerk where you purchased (i.e., applied for) your marriage original license. When completed, the town or city clerk will issue you a new Certificate of Marriage Registration.

  • Marriage Affidavit Corrections (PDF)
  • Gender X FAQs (PDF)

  Correction Form:

  • Affidavit for Correction of Marriage (DOH-1827) (PDF)

  Questions or comments: contact the Vital Records Call Center at (855) 322-1022.