One of the most stressful points generated when planning a getaway wedding in New York is getting a marriage license.
In the city that never sleeps, you need to have an official document that the state grants in order to get married.
Many people think that getting a marriage license in New York is somewhat complicated, but in reality, it is much simpler than it seems, you just need to know what the requirements are and follow a few simple steps.
If you have the requirements that the state of New York asks from you to get a marriage license, then getting it truly becomes a walk in the park.
Anyway, in this step-by-step guide, we are going to tell you everything you will need to get it all done. This way, before you know it, you will be on your way to enjoy your Pop Up wedding in New York and will no longer have to worry about any type of legal process for the town hall.
What is a Marriage License?
Every couple who wants to have a wedding in New York needs a marriage license.
It’s basically the New York government’s way of making sure that people getting married know each other, and no one is forcing them to do so.
Likewise, the certificate allows you to identify that both people are of legal age, and can be considered some sort of marriage tax since it has a cost that you have to pay to the town hall.
After you get your marriage license in New York, you have 60 days to have your wedding.
It does not have to be a conventional wedding, it can be a Pop Up wedding or a micro wedding, the only requirement that is completely necessary is that the wedding must be in New York.
Marriage licenses you get in the state of New York can only be used within the state.
What Do I Need to Get a Marriage License in New York?
The Marriage license in New York has a cost of 35$ and has to be paid before a public city clerk.
You can pay in cash or online. In order to obtain it you have to follow these steps:
- You have to make an appointment online through this following link.
- Once you have completed the online Scheduling process, you and your partner must show up (either virtually or in person) before a City Hall representative. For this appointment, both have to show up at the same time.
- When the process before the town hall is finished, your marriage license application will be processed.
- You have to review all the information that the marriage license includes just to make sure that everything is correct.
- At the time the license is in your hands, you have to wait 24 hours before being able to carry out the wedding.
What Information is Needed to Obtain a Marriage License in New York?
Before you can celebrate your micro-wedding in New York, you need to fill out your marriage license. The data you need is the following:
- Full names of both spouses.
- Current address (city, state, zip code, country).
- Place and date of birth of both spouses.
- Name and place of birth of the parents of both spouses
- Social Security number.
- Marital history.
Now that the marriage license is signed in New York, it is being confirmed that there is no type of legal impediment to being able to celebrate the wedding. In the event that one of the two spouses is going through a divorce process, it must have been concluded previously in order to celebrate the wedding, and the date and proof of dissolution of any previous marriage must also be included.
In addition to all that information, both have to show an official identification in which their current age can be confirmed. At the time of signing the marriage license in New York, they will also be offered the option to change their maiden name, in case they want to change their current last name to a new one to celebrate their union.
The last thing you need to know:
- If you are under 18, you cannot get married in New York.
- If you don’t want to wait 24 hours to get married, you have to ask a judge for permission.
- In case you lose or damage your marriage license, you have to pay an additional $25 to get a copy of it.
- Since 2011, same-sex marriage has been legal in New York City, so you don’t need any additional information.