To get a license to marry in the state of New York, you have to apply for it in person—both of you, as New York law limits the number of spouses to one. As of this writing, there are no other options. This can be done at the office of any town or city clerk in the state. Clerks in bigger cities dedicate staff members entirely to processing marriage documents. It doesn’t matter where in the state you plan on getting married, and it doesn’t matter where you live. If you will be getting married within New York, then you can get a license from any clerk in New York.
According to state law, two adults (aged 18 years or more) may get a license to marry each other if they can produce proof of age and identity. New York being a state where home rule is a big deal, it’s the individual clerks who make the decision as to what counts as evidence, and what doesn’t. It’s unlikely any of them would object to state-issued identification, or official birth records, and documents of that sort, but if you have anything different it’s probably a good idea to find out if your documentation is acceptable in that clerk’s office.
Gender limitations on marriage were eliminated with the signing of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011, eight years after Jason West married multiple same-sex couples in New Paltz.
Marriage licenses aren’t usable until exactly 24 hours after they are issued, unless a judge waives that waiting period. It’s good for 60 calendar days from that point on. As soon as the ceremony is complete, fill in the date, time, and location in the appropriate fields. Your officiant will double-check to make sure nothing is missed.
This is also when witness and officiant signatures are executed. There is space for two witnesses, but only one adult is required. Usually, addresses are requested of all these parties.
Licenses usually come with a pre-addressed return envelope. At Weddings in the Gunks, mailing the completed form back after checking for accuracy is one of the responsibilities given to the officiant in the contract, but any client who wants to take that one is welcome to strike that clause entirely. The normal process includes providing pictures of the license just prior to mailing, and sending it back certified mail with return receipt requested. Past experience shows that there is never a guarantee that even certified mail will not be lost in transit, but requesting tracking provides peace of mind.