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Romantic Adventure

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Searching For Marriage Records New York

By Claire Dowell


Marriage Records New York are maintained by the Vital Records Unit of the New York State Department of Health. They are also maintained by the New York Marriage Bureau and the specific clerk of Superior Court where the marriage was finalized.

The public is granted access to the document because they are deemed as public documents but there are certain protocols that need to be followed to get them. Of course, the bride and groom hold the right to access their own marriage document. Their legal representatives can access them too if necessary. The only time a person can get access to another person's documents is when he or she has the consent of the court, as such in the case of someone investigating the marital status of a potential spouse.

To start a search you need to secure first the proper request form at the state's Department of Health or at a clerk of Superior Court. Next, fill out the form with the vital details that it requires such as the groom's full name, the bride's maiden name, their respective dates of birth, their address, when and where the marriage took place, why you want to obtain the records and your relationship to the bride or groom. Do not forget to present a proof of identity upon submission of request. Double check the details that you are providing because they are vital to the success or failure of your search. In addition, if the custodian of the record you want to obtain does not find your reason to be valid, they have the right to accept your request.

Each certified copy of a marriage record costs $30 and $15 for extra copies. If you send your request via phone or Internet, it will take 5-7 business days to complete the search process. If you send it via mail, the process takes at least 2 weeks and can take as long as 8 weeks. If you want to get the records sooner, you can opt for a rush handling for $45 per copy. All fees are non-refundable once paid, regardless of the outcome of the search.

Another way to acquire marriage documents is through websites that have the consent of the court to maintain and provide them to the public. There are several of such websites but, sadly, not all of them are reliable sources. It is ideal that you check their background first before deciding on which website you will do your search on.

There are two types of online search tools: one renders fees for their service while the other allows you to do a Free Marriage Records Search. Regardless what type of search tool you use, you will gain access to the basic pieces of information of a marriage file. However, those that render fees have an advantage in terms of the amount of information they can provide because they can put together an extensive version of a marriage file. At times, they can even get you access to the confidential details.




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