How to Find New York City Marriage Records
Looking for a marriage record from New York City as part of your genealogy research? On January 1, 1898, the towns located in four counties (New York, Richmond, Queens, and Kings) were consolidated into the five boroughs of New York City (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island). Prior to this time, New York City referred primarily to Manhattan. Records for the towns that became New York City (prior to 1930) do exist, many of which are held by New York City's Municipal Archives. Later records are held by the New York City Office of the city clerk.
According to New York State law, marriage records for New York City are not filed with the state of New York. Learn how to find New York state marriage records outside New York City
Next Step: When and where did the marriage occur? |
|
|---|
Marriages before 1829
The Secretary of the Province of New York issued approximately 20,000 marriage licenses before 1784.
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
Marriages 1829 thru 1865
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
Marriages before 1847 (Queens and Staten Island)
The Secretary of the Province of New York issued approximately 20,000 marriage licenses before 1784.
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
Marriages 1847 thru 1849 (Queens)
In 1847, New York State passed a law requiring marriages to be reported. It quickly fell into disfavor and few communities reported marriages after 1850 (with many discontinuing after the 1847-1848 time period). Towns records of Queens County were kept from 1847 to 1849. The towns included were Far Rockaway, Flushing Town, Flushing Village, Jamaica Town, Richmond Hill, Rockaway Beach, and Flatbush. The records only have date of marriage, name of couple, residence, clergyman, and age of couple; no parents are listed.
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
Marriages 1847 thru 1897 (Richmond and Staten Island)
There are some available marriage records for 1847 to 1897 for Richmond. There are no indexes for those records before 1882.
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering death records
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Search other records with marriage information.
Marriages 1850 thru 1880 (Queens)
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
Marriages before 1864 (Brooklyn)
The Secretary of the Province of New York issued approximately 20,000 marriage licenses before 1784.
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
Marriages 1864 thru 1937 (Brooklyn)
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering death records
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Search other records with marriage information.
Marriages 1866 thru 1937 (Manhattan)
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering death records
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Search other records with marriage information.
Marriages 1881 thru 1937 (Queens)
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering death records
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Search other records with marriage information.
Marriages 1888 thru 1937
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering death records
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Search other records with marriage information.
Marriages before 1898 (Bronx)
The Secretary of the Province of New York issued approximately 20,000 marriage licenses before 1784.
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
|
|
Marriages 1898 thru 1937 (Richmond and Staten Island and Bronx)
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | |||||
|
||||||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | |||||
| Try each of the databases: | ||||||
|
||||||
| Try next: | New York City Birth Substitute Records | |||||
| Try searching substitute records with birth information. |
||||||
| ||||||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information |
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering death records
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Search other records with marriage information.
Marriages 1937 thru present
OPTION ONE: Find Marriage Information and Certificates Online
| Try 1st: | New York City Marriage Databases - Index and some images | ||
|
|||
| Try 2nd: | New York City Marriage Databases - Includes Indexes | ||
| Try each of the databases: | |||
|
|||
OPTION TWO: Obtain the Marriage Certificate if it's Not Found Online
Marriage Certificates for this time period are held by the Office of the City Clerk and can be ordered for a fee. The order can be made online, or by mail by completing the request and mailing it.
A request may be made in person for a marriage record between 1930 and 1995 at the Record Room Division in the Manhattan Office. A request may be made in person for a marriage record from 1996 to present at any of the office locations.
See list of restrictions for ordering marriage records.
If you do not want to order the marriage record, you can search Other records with marriage information.
Restrictions for Obtaining Marriage Records
To obtain a marriage certificate copy for a marriage that occurred within the past 50 years, you must be:
- The person named on the marriage certificate
- Persons who have a documented judicial or other proper purpose
- Persons by order of a New York State Court
Restrictions are waived if both spouses are deceased.
Wiki Articles
- Learn more about U.S. marriage records
- How to find U.S. birth records
- How to find U.S. marriage records
- How to find U.S. death records
- United States Record Finder
- United States, How to Use Marriage Records
- United States Marriage Records
- United States Vital Records
- U.S. Vital Records Overview
- Locating United States Vital Records