A marriage license is required for any person intending to be married in the State of New York. The license may be obtained anywhere in the State. There is a 24-hour waiting period before the license takes effect ; the marriage license is valid for 60 days. To obtain a marriage license in Lewisboro, the couple must make an appointment with the Town Clerk's office at 914-763-3511. The license procedure takes about 20 minutes. Surname must be decided at the time the marriage license is issued.
Marriage license applicants must bring the following documents:
- certified copy of their birth certificate listing parents. Birth certificate must have a raised seal or colored stamp - photocopies are not accepted
- a picture government identity - a driver's license or a passport
- if this is not the first marriage for each we require a certified copy of each judgment of divorce. The raised seal of the court must appear on the last page along with the original signature of the Judge or Court Clerk.
- ANY DOCUMENT IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFIED TRANSLATION. “A certified translation is a translated document accompanied by a signed statement from the translator attesting to the completeness and accuracy of the translation. The statement is also notarized by a notary public."
NOTE: NO MARRIAGE LICENSE WILL BE ISSUED WITHOUT THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS
Town Policy on Marriage Officiants
The Town does not authorize or approve of Marriage Officiants. The Town issues Marriage Licenses and records when they are executed (marriage took place) and that information is kept on file at the Town. A Certificate of Marriage is sent to the couple, and the executed license, signed by the Officiant and the Witnesses, is sent to NYS. The Department of Health advises that it is up to the couple to feel confident that the Officiant is:
- “a member of the clergy or minister who has been officially ordained and granted authority to perform marriage ceremonies from a governing church body in accordance with the rules and regulations of the church body.”
- “ a member of the clergy or minister who is not authorized by a governing church body but who has been chosen by a spiritual group to preside over their spiritual affairs” ( NYS Domestic Relations Law Section 11)
Call the Town Clerk's Office if you have any questions regarding the required documents for the marriage license. The license fee is $40.00. After the ceremony the officiant will return the marriage license to us and we will issue a marriage certificate.
See "Getting Married in New York State."
Marriage ceremonies can be performed in the Town of Lewisboro by:
Town Justice Susan Simon, 763-5417
Town Justice John Pappalardo, 763-5417