Wedding bells. Don’t we just love the sound of wedding bells, especially if it is ours! Are you planning on getting hitched soon and do you live in New York? If you nodded or are in both shoes, then you would probably be wondering what the marriage license requirements are for New York as a state. Well, things are not too complicated, and with the right guidance, you should pretty much understand how everything works.
The marriage license is regulated by chapter 14 of domestic relations in force in New York. Here are some of the things which you would have to sort out first when seeking a marriage license;
Application Fees
Application fees for marriage licenses would vary depending on where you are. For example, if you are making an application right from New York City itself, then you would probably have to pay $35. However, if the application is being made from any other place in the state, then the fee goes up a notch to $40. It is mandatory in the state that you must get a marriage license. These licenses are usually gotten from offices manned by the town clerks.
The application process is usually one which has to be done online or at least started online. However, the couple or soon to be wedded would still have to go to anyone of the various borough offices which are located in the state. Once there, the marriage license application can be completed and signed by both parties.
Requirements to complete the application
To complete the application at the borough office, you must first make sure you and your spouse are there in person. Then you must come with some means of identification and proof of age. The laws guiding New York does not stipulate that you have to be a resident of the state before you can get a license; neither does it require a blood test. The only mandatory rule is that you must wait for at least a day after the application is granted before having a marriage ceremony. Any application which, if granted, would have an expiration of 60 days.
Documents and other details which would be necessary
Apart from this, there are other little things which you would probably need in your quest to get a marriage license. If you have been previously married, then it would be recommended that you get documentation on the history of those marriages. You should also have decided on whose surname you or your spouse would like to bear after the marriage ceremony is complete. Make sure that any photograph which has been submitted to the town clerk is valid and subsisting during the present period.
Most people find it useful to finish with the town clerk and the marriage license process before engaging in any plans for marriage. The application would usually come with an affidavit which would spell details which you would need to provide such as your full name, your zip code, and the country you were born. It is important to note that if you are currently going through a divorce process, you should finish that before applying for a marriage license. The same would apply for the process of annulments and dissolutions.
For means of identification, a driver’s license, a government-issued card from the US, a military card and your international passport would be concerned valid enough to prove your identity. You can also use your green card or your employment authorization card as a source of identity.
What if I have to get married in the next 24 hours?
If you have to get married during the next 24 hours after the license is issued, then you would have to apply for a judicial waiver. This can be done through any of the town clerks or the boroughs which are open in New York. It is most appropriate to get it from the same clerk or borough where your marriage license is handed to you. The license would usually be waived by a judge of any county and justice of the Supreme Court. This will only be allowed if both parties are above 16 years. The judge or justice must also reside within the jurisdiction of the parties seeking the marriage license.
There you go! Applying for a marriage license should be fairly straightforward, if you need further assistance, you can learn all of the specifics at the U.S marriage laws website. Have a wonderful married life!