Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island certificates
- Order an extended (long) certified copy with apostille / embassy legalization online
- Apostille for short form marriage certificates
- Short vs. extended (long) form marriage certificates
- Marriage certificates registered outside New York City
- Marriage certificates kept in New York City Municipal Archives
Order a Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island marriage certificates with an apostille / embassy legalization:
All marriage records 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 legalized by a foreign embassy.
Apostilles for short form marriage certificates:
For apostille or foreign embassy legalization purposes both short and extended (long) form marriage certificates are acceptable.
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
Please 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.
Marriage certificates signed by Hector Diaz (City Clerk) cannot be apostilled directly. Please order a new certified copy.
Short vs. extended (long) form marriage certificates:
An extended copy of NYC marriage certificate intended for foreign use will have the following:
- information about the spouses' parents: names and places of birth
- number of times the spouses were married before
- witnesses' names
This is how your extended marriage certificate will look if the marriage was registered after 1996:
This is how your extended marriage certificate will look if the marriage was registered before 1996:
Marriage certificates from other counties of the State of New York:
If you were married outside the five boroughs of New York City, your marriage certificate will be recorded (a) by the local county registrar, and (b) in the New York State Health Department.
Locally issued marriage certificates have to be authenticated by the respective Office of the County Clerk in the county where your marriage was registered. The requirements differ a lot from county to county. Please email a copy of your marriage certificate for a free evaluation.
If you need to order a new certified copy of your marriage certificate, you can do it at www.vitalchek.com
Your marriage certificate qualifies? Mail the original to us...
If you have the original marriage certificate, and it qualifies for an apostille / embassy legalization, mail it to us and we will get an apostille / embassy seal for it
New York apostille: $175(USPS Priority within the U.S. is included) 
New York Apostille / Embassy Legalization Order Form (PDF file)Marriage certificates from NYC Municipal Archives:
We can order an exemplified copy of the marriage certificate from the New York City Municipal Archives (marriages registered before 1950), and have it apostilled or legalized by a foreign embassy.
Please note...
Notarized copies of marriage certificates are not acceptable! In fact, New York notaries by law cannot notarize copies of vital records.
Copies certified as true copies by the document custodian (you) are not acceptable! You do need the original document.
Some foreign countries require that certified copies of marriage certificates are recent, e.g. were issued within the last six or twelve months.
Related articles
- Apostilled copies of marriage certificates (before 1950) from NYC Municipal Archives
- Legalization of a New York marriage certificate for China
- Apostilles for New York City marriage certificates issued before 1996
- Certificates of Non-Impediment for New York City Residents
- Free document evaluation: is your document eligible for an apostille?