How to Complete a NYC Marriage License
Whether you’re getting married in NYC, you’re the witness, or you’re the celebrant officiating a wedding, you’ll need to know how to complete a NYC marriage license. It can be a little confusing because of all the empty fields, and there’s even more confusion now with the onset of Zoom online weddings. Here’s a guide to filling out a NYC marriage license, whether you’re the bride or groom, witness or an officiant.
How to Complete a NYC Marriage License: the Marrying Couple
1. Make sure the marriage license has the correct spouse information
If you’re getting married, the first step is to get a marriage license from the City Clerk. Normally this would be obtained in person; during Covid times, with the office closed, you can get it via Project Cupid. The top half of the marriage license will contain personal information for Spouse A and Spouse B. The City Clerk will have completed this information based off your application. Double-check to make sure it’s correct.
2. Sign at the bottom
Note who is listed as Spouse A (blue box) and Spouse B (green box). Using black ink (yes, they care about this), sign your signature below – Spouse A in the blue highlight, Spouse B in the green highlight.
For Zoom weddings, you can either print out the license and sign by hand, or you can digitally sign using a program like Adobe or DocuSign.
How to Complete a NYC Marriage License: the Witness
1. Fill out witness information and sign
NYC requires one witness, but you can have two if you’d like. For Witness 1, fill out your personal information (purple highlight), then sign on the line to the right of Spouse A’s signature (purple highlight)
2. Fill out Witness 2’s information and sign, if you have two witnesses
If you have a second witness, Witness 2 will fill out their personal information (orange highlight), then sign on the line to the right Spouse B’s signature (orange highlight).
For Zoom weddings, you can either print out the license to complete by hand, or you can digitally complete using a program like Adobe or DocuSign.
How to Fill In a NYC Marriage License: the Officiant
1. Fill in Officiant information
In NYC you must ordained and also registered with New York City. When filling in a NYC marriage license, you must list your personal information (yellow highlight). It’s also smart to list your NYC ID number (found at the top-right corner of your NYC officiant registration certificate) next to your title or signature.
For Zoom weddings, you can either print out the license to complete by hand, or you can digitally complete using a program like Adobe or DocuSign.
2. Note ceremony time and location
You’ll need to accurately record what time the ceremony took place, as well as the location (yellow highlight). You’ll also need to note the county of the ceremony. Note that if you’re officiating a Zoom ceremony and you are in a different location than the marrying couple, you should list the county that the marrying couple is in.
3. Sign at the bottom
Sign your signature at the bottom (yellow highlight).
