{"id":375296,"date":"2018-03-22T10:42:16","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T15:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/new-york-law\/new-york-marriage-license-requirements.html"},"modified":"2018-03-22T10:42:16","modified_gmt":"2018-03-22T15:42:16","slug":"new-york-marriage-license-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/new-york-law\/new-york-marriage-license-requirements.html","title":{"rendered":"New York Marriage License Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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New York Marriage License Requirements<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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While a wedding is a celebration or ceremony marking the union of two individuals, and by extension two families, marriage is a civil arrangement made under state jurisdiction. All states require parties to a marriage to obtain a marriage license<\/a> from the local clerk’s office prior to making the union formal through the ceremony. A marriage license is, in effect, a legal contract between two individuals involving the comingling of finances and the forming of a family unit. However, the exact details of property division and other contingencies should the marriage end in divorce may vary if prenuptial agreements are in place.<\/p>\n

In New York State, parties to a marriage must apply in person and sign the application (sample New York marriage license<\/a>) in the presence of the clerk, even if an individual has power of attorney with respect to one of the parties. If either party has previously been married, they will need to obtain a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce. Those applying for a marriage license in New York City<\/a> must do so through the Office of the City Clerk.<\/p>\n

Each party to the marriage must present proof of age and identity through one of the following documents:<\/p>\n

Age:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n