People sometimes confuse a marriage license with a marriage certificate. They are different documents with different purposes.

Marriage Licenses and Marriage Certificates

• A marriage license is the piece of paper that authorizes you to get married. In most states you apply for a marriage license through the county clerk’s office where you want to be married. You may both apply in person, or in some counties, you may complete the application online.

• A marriage certificate is the document that proves you are married.

Typically, after the wedding ceremony, you, your spouse, and the witnesses will sign the marriage license. The person who performs your wedding ceremony will sign the license and submit it to a county office. The county will issue your marriage certificate—usually within a month.

Get a New or Duplicate Marriage License

Most marriage licenses expire within 30 days to a year, depending on the issuing state.

• If your license expires before you get married, you can apply for a new one.

• If your license is lost or destroyed after the wedding, and before it's submitted to the county, the person who officiated your wedding should take action—they should contact the office that issued your license to get a duplicate.

Get a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate

For a certified copy of your marriage certificate, contact the vital records office in the state where you were married. You will find instructions on how to request a copy and information on any fees.

Although the guidelines vary by state, all requests should include:

• Full names of both spouses at the time of marriage

• Month, day, and year of the marriage

• Place of the marriage (city or town, county, and state)

• Purpose for requesting the copy of the marriage certificate

• Relationship to the people whose marriage certificate is being requested

• Your daytime telephone number (include area code)

In New York State, a marriage license and a marriage certificate serve distinct purposes. A marriage license is a document that authorizes a couple to marry and can be obtained from the town or city clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person to apply for this license, which is typically valid for 60 days. After the wedding ceremony, the signed marriage license is returned to the clerk's office by the officiant, and the couple is then issued a marriage certificate, which serves as legal proof of marriage. If a marriage license expires before the ceremony, a new one must be obtained. If the license is lost or destroyed after the ceremony but before it is filed, the officiant should contact the clerk's office for a duplicate. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate in New York, one should contact the New York State Department of Health – Vital Records Section. The request must include the full names of both spouses at the time of marriage, the date and place of marriage, the purpose for the request, the requester's relationship to the married individuals, and a daytime telephone number.