Get your certified New York Marriage Certificate

In New York, most state records are generally open to the public; however, the amount of access will depend on the record type and the year of marriage. Many marriage records in New York are free and readily available to the public after 75 years.

Third-party websites can be a great place to begin your research. These websites offer an extensive range of records, making finding the records you need easier, although they may differ from official government reports. Generally, to access the records, you must provide the location of the record you are looking for, including the city, county, or state where it was recorded.

The New York State Department of Health – Bureau of Vital Records (NYSDOH-BVR) created an efficient way to amend or correct marriage certificates by law. Different forms exist depending on the details that need to be amended. Refer to the NYSDOH Public Instructions for Marriage Corrections form.

To correct your marriage certificate, you will typically need the following:

The Affidavit for Correction of Marriage Record must be signed by both parties in front of a notary public; except in cases of divorce or death, you must submit a certified copy instead.

Correcting the name, date of birth, place of birth, or parents on the marriage record requires a birth certificate with a raised seal. For foreign-born individuals, acceptable documents include a certified translated birth certificate, a valid passport (all pages required), a U.S. Resident Alien Card, or a U.S. Naturalization Certificate.

To change the date or place of marriage, a letter from the officiant on official letterhead, a certified copy of the officiant's record, or a church certificate with a seal is required.

There may be a processing fee of up to $10.00, set by the town or city where your request is submitted.

Mail the original affidavit and documentation, with a copy of the corrected record, to:

New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section Marriage Correction Unit P.O. Box 2602 Albany, NY

Apostilles can be requested from the New York State Department of Health-Bureau of Vital Records, or Vital Records Online (VRO). VRO offers reliable apostille services in all 50 states and is legally recognized by governments and organizations in over 100 countries.

An apostille is necessary to certify vital records for use in another country. The New York State Department of Health-Bureau of Vital Records, issues apostilles for vital records originally filed with the NYSDOH-BVR. VRO provides professional assistance for apostilles on birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, which can be conveniently done online in just three steps, starting at $149 (plus government fees).

1. Complete the VRO Apostille Express online application.
2. Submit the required documents for approval.
3. Receive your apostille document.

Once you have completed the necessary apostille documentation, it will be sent to you via FedEx or DHL. The delivery will be made right to your doorstep using reliable courier services, regardless of your location, whether in the US or abroad.

To manually mail in a request, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Obtain a copy of the document that needs to be authenticated.
• Have the document certified by a New York State official or County Clerk unless the NYSDH issued the certified copy and bears the signature of the Director of Vital Statistics or NYS Registrar.
• Complete the Apostille Request Form
• Submit the document with the necessary certifications to the NYS Department of State with the required fee ($10.00 per document).
• Submit a prepaid envelope for express delivery (optional).

You can reach the office at (855) 322-1022 or at  https://dos.ny.gov/apostille-or-certificate-authentication. The fee is $10.00 per apostille or certificate. You can submit requests for vital record apostilles by mail to the NYSDOH-BVR Department of State at the following addresses:

New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services Apostille and Authentication Unit, PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001

For express shipping (UPS, DHL, or Federal Express), submit the request to the physical address:

NYS Department of State Division of Licensing Services, 1 Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, 6th Floor, Albany, NY 12231

State Office Phone Number: (518) 474-4429.

Alternatively, you can obtain an apostille in person at the local office (by appointment only):

123 William Street, 2nd Floor (between Fulton and John Streets), New York, NY 10038, Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 3:30 PM Local Office Phone Number: (212) 417-6103.

If you lose your marriage certificate:

1. Submit an application for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or through VRO. You will need to complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the NYSDOH-BVR
2. 1. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a county health department.
   2. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the NYSDOH-BVR at:
      New York State Department of Health
      Bureau of Vital Records, PAC Unit
      P.O. Box 2602
      Albany, NY 12220-2602
   3. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
2. NYSDOH-BVR will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.