Government > Departments > City Clerk > Licenses and Permits

General Licenses

Marriage Licenses and Domestic Partnerships

This office serves as the agent of the New York State Health Department in the processing and certifying of marriage licenses. It is our responsibility to explain state law and review all documents for authenticity and legal status, i.e. divorce papers from a previous marriage, death certificate of a previous spouse, and current identification for those applying. Using a computer program, all information is entered and a license is issued. When the person who performed the ceremony returns the license, it is reviewed for legal compliance. A certificate is issued to the newlyweds, and the license is filed with the state. Each year we provide approximately 200 duplicate licenses to comply with legal requirements (social security, domestic and foreign adoptions, immigration, etc.) Licenses up to 50 years old are maintained in this office. Those older are archived at the Albany County Hall of Records or may be obtained through the Vital Records Division of the New York State Department of Health. Albany was the first city in New York State to offer Domestic Partnerships. Any couple wishing to enter into a legal partnership comes to the office, fills out computer documentation, pays a fee and receives certification. While we have no role in divorces or annulments, the Office of the City Clerk can process paperwork to dissolve a Domestic Partnership.