Frequently Asked Questions

All documents must be certified with a raised seal. You will need a birth certificate or Baptismal Certificate (if birth certificate cannot be obtained) or Naturalization Papers (if birth certificate cannot be obtained) and a photo ID (driver’s license, non-driver’s or work ID with a birth date on it).

All previous marriage information is needed (Divorce, Annulment, Death certificates). Passports cannot be used as a substitute for a birth document. Both parties must be present with $40. Cash or credit card accepted.

You can contact the City Clerk's Office where the parties to the marriage have applied or will apply for their marriage license.

We issue marriage licenses by appointment from 9 am until 4 pm (Monday through Friday only) at City Hall, Room 202, Albany, NY 12207. For more information contact the City Clerk’s Office by calling 518-434-5090.

NY State Law requires a 24-hour waiting period before a ceremony can be performed. The license is valid for 60 days from the day after you receive it.

No, a blood test is not required to obtain a marriage license in the State of New York.

Marriage licenses are kept on file where the original marriage license was obtained. Each town, city, or village keeps their own records, e.g. Guilderland, Colonie and Bethlehem. If you are still having trouble locating it, or have forgotten where you obtained it, you may go through NY State Department of Health by calling 518-474-3077.

Birth certificates are not obtained in the City Clerks Office; they are obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, a division of the City Clerk’s Office located at:
City Hall, Room 254M
Albany, NY 12207

Contact Vital Statistics by calling 518-434-5045.

These may be obtained at the County of Albany located at:
112 State Street
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: 518-447-7070

Divorce documents are obtained from the county in which you filed for divorce; if that is the County of Albany, they can be found and reached at:

Albany County Clerk, 16 Eagle Street - Room 128, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: 518-487-5100 or email: countyclerk@albanycounty.com 

Animal Control is no longer a part of the City Clerks office; they can be reached at the Albany Police Department located at 526 Central Avenue, or by calling 518-434-5091.

Taxi complaints may be made to Traffic Safety by calling 518-434-5791.

Family Court is now located at 30 Clinton Avenue (the old Salvation Army building). For more information, call 518-285-8600.