Getting Married in New York State

Getting Married in New York State
"Getting Married in New York State"

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The Marriage License

Where do you get one?

A couple who intends to be married in New York State must apply in person for a marriage license to any town or city clerk in the state. The application for a license must be signed by both the bride and groom in the presence of the town or city clerk. A representative cannot apply for the license on behalf of the bride or groom. This applies even if the representative has been given the Power of Attorney. Notarized marriage license affidavits signed by the bride or groom cannot be substituted for their personal appearance.

Is there a waiting period?

Yes. Although the marriage license is issued immediately, the marriage ceremony may not take place within 24 hours from the exact time that the license was issued. When both applicants are 16 years of age or older, the 24-hour waiting period may be waived by an order of a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the County Court of the county in which either the bride or groom resides. If either person is under 16 years of age, the order must be from the Family Court judge of the county in which the person under 16 years of age resides.

How long is the license valid?

A marriage license is valid for 60 days, beginning the day after it is issued.

How much does it cost?

If the marriage license is issued by a town or city clerk in New York State outside of New York City, it costs $40. This fee includes the issuance of a Certificate of Marriage Registration. This certificate is automatically sent by the issuing clerk to the applicants within 15 days after the completed license is returned by the officiant (person who performs the marriage ceremony). It serves as notice that a record of the marriage is on file. Couples who do not receive a Certificate of Marriage Registration within four weeks of the wedding should contact the town or city clerk who issued the license.

If the license is to be issued by the City Clerk of the City of New York, please contact the New York City Clerk's Office for current fees and requirements. The City Clerk's Office can be reached at (212) 669-2400 or via their web site at New York City Marriage Bureau.

Is a premarital physical exam required?

No premarital examination or blood test is required to obtain a marriage license in New York State.

What are the age and consent requirements for minors?

If either applicant is under 14 years of age, a marriage license cannot be issued.
If either applicant is 14 or 15 years of age, such applicant(s) must present the written consent of both parents and a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the Family Court having jurisdiction over the town or city in which the application is made.
If either applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, such applicant(s) must present the written consent of both parents.
If both applicants are 18 years of age or older, no consents are required.
One parent alone may consent to a minor's marriage if:
The other parent has been missing for one year preceding the application;
The parents are divorced and the consenting parent was given sole custody of the child when the divorce decree was awarded;
The other parent has been judged incompetent; or the other parent is deceased.
Parents, guardians or other people consenting to the marriage of a minor must personally appear and acknowledge or execute their consent before the town or city clerk or some other authorized official. If the notarized affidavit is made before an official outside of the State of New York, it must be accompanied by a certificate of authentication when the consent is filed in New York State.

Proof of Age and Identity

A person is required to establish proof of age and identity by submitting to the issuing clerk one of the following age related documents:
Birth Certificate
Baptismal record
Naturalization record
Census record
And one of the following identity related documents:
Driver's license
Passport
Employment picture ID
Immigration record
Familial Restrictions

A marriage may not take place in New York State between an ancestor and descendant, a brother and sister (full or half blood), an uncle and niece or an aunt and nephew, regardless of whether or not these persons are legitimate or illegitimate offspring.

Previous Marriages

Information regarding previous marriages must be furnished in the application for a marriage license. This includes whether the former spouse or spouses are living, and whether the applicants are divorced and, if so, when, where and against whom the divorce or divorces were granted. A certified copy of the Decree of Divorce or a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage may be required by the clerk issuing the marriage license.

Surname Options

Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she wishes to be known simply by using that name consistently and without intent to defraud. A person's last name (surname) does not automatically change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage is required to change his or her last name. The bride and groom need not take the same last name.
One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be known after the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided on the marriage license. The new name must consist of one of the following options:
the surname of the other spouse;
any former surname of either spouse;
a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse;
a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.
The use of this option will provide a record of your change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, is proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful. The local Social Security Administration office should be contacted so that its records and your social security identification card reflect the name change. There is no charge for this service.
Whether you decide to use or not use this option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.
If you plan to use your married name at work, be sure to have your name changed in Social Security records. This way, you will get credit for all your earnings. It's easy and it's absolutely free. Contact any Social Security office. Look in the telephone book for the address and phone number. You will need documentary evidence showing both your old name and your new name.

Where can a marriage take place?

A New York State marriage license may be used within New York State only. Please note that if you go out of New York State to be married, your New York State marriage license will not be filed in New York State.

What about the ceremony?

There is no particular form or ceremony required except that the parties must state in the presence of an authorized member of the clergy or public official and at least one other witness that they take each other as husband and wife. There is no minimum age for a witness. However, in selecting a witness, choose at least one person who you feel would be competent to testify in a court proceeding as to what he or she witnessed.

Who can perform a marriage ceremony?

To be valid, a marriage ceremony must be performed by any of the individuals specified in Section 11 of the New York State Domestic Relations Law. These include:
the mayor of a city or village;
the former mayor, the city clerk or one of the deputy city clerks of a city of more than one million inhabitants;
a marriage officer appointed by the town or village board or the city common council;
a justice or judge of the following courts: the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern or Western Districts of New York, the New York State Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, the New York State Supreme Court, the Court of Claims, the Family Court, a Surrogates Court, the Civil and Criminal Courts of New York City (including Housing judges of the Civil Court) and other courts of record;
a village, town or county justice;
a member of the clergy or minister who has been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body;
a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs;
other officiants as specified by Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law.
The person performing the ceremony must be registered with the City of New York in order to perform a ceremony within the New York City limits. The officiant does not have to be a resident of New York State. Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in New York State.

Where can I get copies of my records?

For copies of marriage licenses issued anywhere in New York State except the five (5) boroughs of New York City, a certified copy of the marriage record may be obtained from the office of the town or city clerk who issued the license, or from the New York State Department of Health. The fee is $10 if you obtain a certified copy from the town or city clerk who issued the license. If applying to the New York State Department of Health, the fee is $30. For a certified copy, write to:
Certification UnitVital Records SectionNew York State Department of HealthP.O. Box 2602Albany, New York 12220-2602
For marriage licenses issued in New York City, do not apply to the New York State Department of Health. For an application, current fees and ordering information contact the City Clerk of New York at (212) 669-2400 or visit their web site at New York City Marriage Bureau. You can also write them at:
New York City marriage records from 1930 to 1995 can be obtained solely from the Manhattan Office.
MANHATTAN:Municipal Building1 Centre Street, Room 252 SouthNew York, New York 10007
BRONX:Supreme Court Building851 Grand ConcourseNew York, New York 10451
BROOKLYN:Municipal Building210 Joralemon Street, 2nd Floor, Room 205Brooklyn, New York 11201
QUEENS:Borough Hall Building 120-55 Queens BoulevardKew Gardens, New York 11424
RICHMOND:Borough Hall Building10 Richmond Terrace, 3rd Floor, Room 311Staten Island, New York 10301

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Beware of this Scam

Beware of this Scam
Please be aware of this scam

It has come to our attention that you may have received a contact through mywedding.com similar to this:

HelloMy name is Rachel Abby and my fiancée’s name is Richard Brixton, we both work as a partnership in an artwork business, and we preparing for our up coming wedding, which is coming up by 26th of April 2008, we need the services of a wedding planner service, I & my fiancée are presently on vacation to England on a business Contract, and should be back to the State in 2 to 3 weeks time, I want you to get back to Us if you are available for Our date, you can call me on +447853363953 for any question, but I will appreciate if you can e-mail me ASAP, so that I can know what you have for us in planning.

Best Regards Rachel AbbyDO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL OR ANY SIMILAR, THIS IS FRAUDULENT.

This particular scam asks you to cash a chashier's check and request you to return a portion of the money. The cashier's check is fraudulent.
We have taken a number of steps to prevent these scam emails from getting through to you.
Please follow this 3 simple steps to help recognize scams.
Most scams involve one or more of the following:Inquiry from someone far away, often in another countryWestern Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction

Regards, The staff of mywedding.com

I myself have recieved several similiar emails;

Here's the First Email that was sent to me:

Donald Castle is interested in your services. You can email Donald Castle directly by replying to this message.Donald Castle dcastle66@yahoo.com+447031943191 Donald Castle writes:

Hello,How are you doing?i just want to know if you will be available to plan my wedding coming up in April 26,2008.My Name is Pam George and my fiance's name is Janet Davis.I works for an Engeneering Company in United Kingdom where i'm presently.I will be coming to State next month with my fiance.So i want most of the arrangement to be done before i come. I am having a budget $70,000 and i hope that will do.

Second Message Before I realized It was a Scam....

Hello Naida,How are you doing today?thanks for your response and for making yourself available to plan my wedding,in fact we are so happy to meet you,we believe that you are going to give us the best.I want you to know that this is what you will do concerning my wedding, you will help me to get a befitting wedding area for the location, a photographer, wedding cake, videographer, makeup and hair bride, DJ, and Reception Dinner that is all,i want to let you know that my company will be responsible for the payment of the wedding as they have promised to send the payment to you by check to make things easy for us, the details of the wedding is not much as am in Uk to discuss in details and they have agree to send the first payment to you and out of it,you will help me also to book my pastor before i return to the State.I am planning tocome over to the State as soon as i finish the company assignment here withmy fiance.Also,i want to know how much is the amount you will take first as your first deposit payment because i want you to book the minister too immediately you get the first payment.I will like you to know that i have my pastor that will be coming for the wedding as the minister,he is my Sunday school teacher when i was teens and it is my great honor to have him as the minister on my wedding,it will really give my fiance a happy time to see him as the minister,all you will do it that when you get the first deposit payment,you will help me to secure the date with him so that i won't lose the date of the wedding.You can call me +44 703 194 3191 or send me a quick replyThanks

Third Email; Hello Naida,I have attach the registration form filled back to you so that you will have the full info of what you want.I will like to answer your questions here .Do you have a theme, set already?no get it for us.Do you have the wedding attire style of wedding dress and Tux's? yes.How many people are in your wedding party?100.How many guest will you be having?100.What kind of cuisine are you thinking of ?nothingWill you need lodging for your guests and or Bridal Party ?yes.Did you want a oceanside event, victorian, country club, romantic, traditional ?country club. What kind of music were you thinking of Band or Dj?DJ.Kindly get back to me.Thanks Donald

Fourth Email:Hi Naida,Thanks for your response,i will be expecting the contract soon and also how much is the deposit payment is require first?Thanks Donald

I was very weary and started rereading the emails, and I called the tel # and all Igot was a voicemail service on one line which was supposed to belong to the Best Man Micheal Smith and Maid Of Honor Rebecca Kingston. I was also skeptical because in the original email It stated that Janet Davis and Pam George were getting married and then Donald Castle keep replying that he was the groom. Im glad I caught them before they scammed me. Just be careful.

Naida Lopez
Kreayesions Wedding and Events Planning

South Florida Marriage License Requirements

Marriage license requirements in South Florida

A marriage ceremony can't take place unless a valid marriage license has been issued and you must apply for it prior to your ceremony

Details are different and may vary by county, so it is best to check with your local county Register of Deeds office. A selection of local counties with their contact information is listed below. Both applicants should appear at the Register of Deeds to get a marriage license. Both parties must be at least 18 years old to be legally married. If one or both of the applicants is under legal age, parental consent must be obtained (contact Register of Deeds for additional information). Be prepared to pay a license fee.

Important Documents Required.

Social Security Number (provide proof with a W-2 form, payroll stub or statement from the Social Security Office)
Proper Identification (Drivers License)
If 18-21 also bring your Certified Birth Certificate

The marriage license fee is $88.50. If you complete a state sanctioned marriage preparation course, you are entitled to a discount of $32.50. The course has to be taken prior to, but not exceeding one year, the date of application. Accepted forms of payment are cash.
There is no waiting period for a South Florida marriage license, but you must wait 3 days to be married. Be mindful to allow adequate time for marriage license processing.
You are responsible for insuring that the license is received by your officiant. Which should be returned and completed with the bottom portion of both copies to the Register of Deeds within 10 days by officiant. You may obtain proof of your marriage by completing a copy request form, which will cost $10.

Form can be found on your local Register of Deeds website.
Local Register of Deeds in South Florida
Broward County ClerkP.O. Box 14668 Search Dept.Ft Lauderdale, FL 33302954-831-6600
Palm Beach County300 North Dixie Hwy, Room 201Recording DepartmentWest Palm Beach, FL 33401561-355-2996

Please contact the appropriate office prior to your visit to verify office hours and fees.

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Bridal Shower Party Game Ideas

GUESS WHAT'S IN THE BAG! Buy several cheap kitchen items and place each of them in their own small paper bag (so that you cannot see through it, lunch bags are perfect!). Write a number on each of the bags. At the shower, hand each guest a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, then pass around each bag one at at time and have the guests write down what they think each item is. After everyone has felt all the bags, reveal each item. Guests can check answers themselves. Whoever guesses the most items correctly wins a prize. The kitchen items can then go to the bride!

BRING A RECIPE! Send blank recipe cards inside the shower invitations and ask each guest to write down their favorite recipe and bring it to the shower. Collect all of the recipe cards at the shower and put them in a recipe box to give to the bride.

WEDDING WORD SCRAMBLE! Think up approximately 20 wedding-related words (i.e. bride, groom, rings, engagement, honeymoon, love, etc.) and mix up the letters into a word jumble. Put one word on each line leaving room for your guests to write their answers next to each word. Whoever can correctly unscramble the most words in a set amount of time (i.e. 2 minutes) wins a prize!

TOILET PAPER BRIDE! Have your guests break up into several different teams (depending on amount of guests). Each team will choose 1 member of their team as the "bride". Give each team 2-3 rolls of toilet paper and give them a time limit (i.e. 5 minutes). Each team is to wrap toilet paper around their chosen "bride" to create a gown for her. The "official bride" will choose which gown design she likes the best and that team will win a prize!

GIFT AUCTION! Purchase play money from a toy store. Each guest will be given a certain amount of "money" as they arrive (i.e. $150, or whatever amount you choose). During the shower choose a time for your auction. Purchase several gifts that vary from inexpensive gifts such as a small vase, Stationery, candles to gag gifts such as smiley face pencils or silly string. Wrap each gift creatively so that guests will not guess what type of gift is inside. Hold each gift up one at a time and have your guests bid on each gift with their money. As the "bidding" continues, you will be surprised at all the screaming and yelling that goes on…all in fun of course!

PICTURE BOARD! Gather pictures of the bride, groom, their families and those in the wedding party. Pictures should range from baby pictures and possibly the teenage years so that they are not readily recognizable. Put each picture on a board and write a number under each picture. Give guests a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil and have them guess who each person is. If you feel the guests may not know who each person is, have a list of names of the people in the pictures next to the board so they may guess who each one may be. Whoever guesses the most pictures correctly wins a prize!

PURSE SCAVENGER HUNT! Make a list of some normal and not so normal things found in a purse (i.e. hairbrush, B&W photo, lipstick, unpaid bill, mirror, cell phone, fingernail polish, chewing gum, etc.). Call off each item on your list and have your guests search their purse for that item and have them put the item in front of them (on a table or floor). Whoever has the most items wins a prize!

BRIDE & GROOM TRIVIA! Create a trivia quiz with approximately 15-20 pertaining to the bride and groom. Other questions may have to do with love, wedding traditions, where the couple will be honeymooning, etc. Question ideas include: What date did the Bride & Groom meet? When was the Bride & Grooms first kiss? When did he first tell her he loved her? What is the Brides favorite color? Where will the Bride & Groom live after the wedding? Where will they be honeymooning? Choose some hard questions and some not so hard ones. Give each guest a sheet of paper with the questions on them and give them a set amount of time to answer them (i.e. 5 minutes). Once the time is up read the answers out loud so the guests can score themselves. The guest with the most correct answers wins a prize!A twist to this game may be that before the shower you create questions for the groom to answer about himself that the bride will answer outloud at the shower. Questions such as what is his favorite color? Where would he most like to vacation? How many children does he want? Would a perfect evening with the bride mean staying in with a candlelight dinner, or going out on the town? Each question the bride answers incorrectly, she must stick a piece of bubble gum in her mouth to chew. She is not allowed to take any out, it just keeps adding up. This game is a great way to learn about the groom and usually provides laughter for all, including the bride!