New York marriage certificate apostille

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new york city marriage certificate

All marriage records from 1950 to the present, originating from the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island ) are kept in the New York City Marriage Bureau. We can order an extended certified copy of the marriage certificate and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassyMarriage records from 1866 to 1949 are kept in the New York City Minucupal Archives. We can order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate, and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.

How to prepare your New York City marriage certificate for foreign use?

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Check if your marriage certificate is eligible for an apostille or embassy legalization. You can save time if you email a copy for a free evaluation.

check mark 2 orangeMake sure that the document you have will satisfy the foreign country of intended use. Some foreign agencies specifically require a long (extended) marriage certificate. Some countires require that the certificate is recent (e.g. issued within the last six or twelve months)

check mark 2 orangeIf your marriage certificate is not eligible or does not satisfy foreign requirements, we will be happy to get it for you, and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.

check mark 2 orangeIf you have an eligible marriage certificate, submit it for an apostille along with the Order Form.

NYS apostille: price, processing time, order form

If you have an original NYC marriage certificate and it qualifies for a New York apostille, please send the original certificate to us by mail.
NYS apostille: price, processing time, order form

price 4New York apostille: $175

USPS Priority mail (within the U.S.): free
You will find more shipping options in the Order Form

Processing time: currently 1-1,5 weeks + mail

order form 3Please complete the Order Form and mail it with your original document(s) to

Foreign Documents Express
331 Newman Springs Rd., Bldg. 1
4th Floor, Suite 143
Red Bank, NJ 07701

If you are sending your document(s) from a foreign country, please use FedEx, DHL or TNT, and email the tracking number so that we can watch for your package.

175 apostille 1No hidden fees.

Our guarantee: If we are unable to get your documents apostilled or legalized, we issue a 100% refund, we do not keep any service fees.

Free document evaluation

What does a New York apostille look like?

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What marriage certificates are eligible for apostilles?

  1. Short form marriage certificates
  2. Extended (long form) marriage certificates
  3. Marriage certificates before 1950

new york city marriage certificateIt does not matter whether you have a short form or a long form (extended) marriage certificate, the eligibility for an apostille will depend on the name of the City Clerk of the City of New York who signed the marriage certificate.

If your marriage certificate is signed by one of the following City Clerks, it is acceptable for a New York apostille or embassy legalization.

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  • Michael McSweeney (City Clerk)
  • Carlos Cuevas (City Clerk)
  • David N. Dinkins (City Clerk)
  • Victor L Robles (City Clerk)

 


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If your marriage certificate has the signature of Hector Diaz (City Clerk), it cannot be apostilled as is. You will need to order a new certified copy.


new york city marriage old 1 page documentAn extended copy of the New York marriage certificate, as compared to a short form marriage certificate, will have the following:

- information about the spouses' parents: names and places of birth
- number of times the spouses were married before
- witnesses' names
- a color stamp and an original signature of the Deputy City Clerk on the back
 
arrow leftExtended marriage certificates issued before 1996 is a full page document. Sometimes the certificate consists of two pages.
 
arrow downExtended marriage certificates issued after 1996 are about half a letter size page.
 
new york city marriage certificate extended form front
 
 

 

Marriage certificate 1927

arrow leftThis is how a marriage certificate might look if the marriage was registered in 1930.

Why would anyone need a copy of his/her grandparents' marriage license? The most common answer is applying for dual citizenship. The processes and requirements for applying for citizenship are developed by each county and vary from country to country. Many countries require apostilled certified copies of vital events in order to verify an applicant's claim of lineage.

If the marriage was registered in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens or Staten Island before 1950, the file will be in the New York City Municipal Archives. All documents are kept on film. To locate the right film, you need to know the year and the borough where the marriage license was issued.

We do a lot of research in the New York City Municipal Archives, and so far, we were able to locate 100% of the records ordered.

Marriage certificate municipal archives backHow does it work? Our staff member will go to the New York City Municipal Archives, and look through the catalogs. The records are arranged by year, and by borough where the license was issued. The first and most important task is to find the film and the certificate number. We will do this. Then, we will look through the actual film, and find the certificate. After that, the certificate can be printed out and exemplified by the staff of the Municipal Archives. Some experience is required for working with the archived materials.

Order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate form the NYC Archives, with an apostille...

  

 

 

Marriage certificate exemplificationIf you have a certificate like this, it does not mean that it is ready for an apostille. The document will need a Letter of exemplification.

An exemplified copy is an official copy of the document issued by a the New York City Municipal Archives with a Letter of Exemplification as shown above. Upon request, the Municipal Archives will issue an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate. 

Please note...

tip apostilleNotarized copies of marriage certificates are not acceptable! In fact, New York notaries by law cannot notarize copies of vital records.

tip apostille Copies certified as true copies by the document custodian (you) are not acceptable! You do need the original document.

 

Our staff member will go to the Municipal Archives, find the certificate, order an exemplified copy of the certificate, and then we will get it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.

Order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate form the NYC Archives, with an apostille...

Marriage certificates from before 1950 are public records.

Freuently asked questions about apostilles for New York marriage certificates

Are short form marriage certificates acceptable for apostilles?

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Short form marriage certificates are eligible for apostilles / embassy legalization if they have one of the following signatures:

Michael McSweeney - City Clerk
Carlos Cuevas - City Clerk
David N. Dinkins - City Clerk
Victor L Robles - City Clerk
 

ist1 6463761 exclamation mark icon compressedMarriage certificates signed by Hector Diaz (City Clerk) cannot be apostilled directly. Please order a new certified copy.

 

Want to double check? Please email a copy of your marriage certificate for a free evaluation.

tip 2Please note that some foreign countries specifically require an extended (long) form marriage certificate with an apostille / embassy legalization. Please check before ordering an apostille or consular stamp for a short form! If you need an extended form, we will be happy to get it for you, and have it apostilled / legalized.

Are old marriage certificates acceptable for apostilles?

question answerOld marriage certificates are eligible for apostilles / embassy legalization if they have one of the following signatures:

Michael McSweeney - City Clerk
Carlos Cuevas - City Clerk
David N. Dinkins - City Clerk
Victor L Robles - City Clerk
 

ist1 6463761 exclamation mark icon compressedMarriage certificates signed by Hector Diaz (City Clerk) cannot be apostilled directly. Please order a new certified copy.

 

Not sure? Please email a copy of your marriage certificate for a free evaluation.

tip 2Some foreign countries require that certified copies of marriage certificates are recent, e.g. were issued within the last sic or twelve months. Always follow the requirements of the country of intended use.

Where to get a certified copy of the marriage certificate if the marriage was registered outside the five boroughs of New York City?

question answerIf you were married in the State of New York, outside the five boroughs of New York City, then your marriage records will be on file in two places: (a) with the local city/town/county clerk, where the marriage license was issued, and (b) in the Vital Records Bureau of the New York State Department of Health in Albany.

 

Can a notarized copy of a marriage certificate be apostilled?

question answerNotarized copies of marriage certificates are not acceptable for apostilles / legalization! In fact, New York notaries by law cannot notarize copies of vital records.

 

Foreign Documents Express

 
331 Newman Springs Rd., Bldg. 1
4th Floor, Suite 143
Red Bank, NJ 07701
 
Phone: (646) 267-1140
Fax: (800) 905-0421
Email: ForeignDocumentsExpress@gmail.com
 
         

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