Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church Ministries

New York Outline

Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in New York. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in New York. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of New York.

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: Yes*
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 1 Day
  • Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Regional Information

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of New York, choose a location below. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in New York

If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!

2 Officiating a Wedding in New York

Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.

Select your City or Town Clerk to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.



Select a city or town contact

3 New York Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in New York to get an Ordination Package. Please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

Please note that ministers who plan to perform a wedding in New York City are required to register with the city. If you plan to perform a wedding in New York City, you need to purchase a New York City Wedding Officiant Package. If you are mailing your application, the authorities in New York require a minimum of 30 days to process your minister registration, so purchase and submit this paperwork as soon as possible. Walk in submissions are processed same day.

New York has also begun to offer a single-ceremony officiant option to individuals. Curious to learn about the key differences between getting ordained and becoming a one-time officiant? Check out our New York one-day officiant guide.

4 How to get Married in New York

New York's Top Wedding Spot

New York's Top Wedding Spot

HayLoft at Blue Hill at Stone Barn, a working farm and critically acclaimed restaurant in the Hudson Valley

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their New York marriage license from the appropriate office. Note that a marriage license in New York must be signed and returned to the issuing office within 60 days after the completion of the wedding ceremony.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in New York, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new New York wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 How to Plan a Wedding in New York

Congratulations on being asked to perform a wedding in the state of New York! There are a few details to iron out, including whether the ceremony will be performed within NYC or in a more rural area. While spring and summer weddings are certainly the most popular, keep in mind temperatures and humidity can get quite high during the summer months, so you will want to dress accordingly and provide space for guests to cool off and escape the sun. Also take care to wear comfortable footwear if the event will be held on a farm or a venue that will require a bit of walking. Popular wedding venues in NYC include the New York Public Library and the Plaza Hotel, both of which have been featured in numerous films. In upstate New York and even on Long Island, there are several noteworthy castle wedding venues if you want to go all out but get outside of the city. Officiants in New York State often wonder how much they should charge for their services. Most will charge more if the ceremony is being held at a swanky New York City venue or a high-end venue upstate, but even weddings at more modest venues may cost more in New York than in other, less populous states. Keep in mind any costs you may incur from having to travel or find accommodations, and of course your experience level and level of involvement in the planning process. Most officiants will charge at least $200 in New York, but some professional officiants may charge upwards of $750 for the most popular locations and times.


New York Marriage Code

New York Flag

New York Marriage Code

Marriage in New York State is governed by Section 11 of the New York State Domestic Relations Law. Below, you will find that we have reproduced the relevant excerpts of this code.

A clergyman or minister of any religion, or by the senior leader, or any of the other leaders, of The Society for Ethical Culture in the city of New York, having its principal office in the borough of Manhattan, or by the leader of The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, having its principal office in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, or of the Westchester Ethical Society, having its principal office in Westchester county, or of the Ethical Culture Society of Long Island, having its principal office in Nassau county, or of the Riverdale-Yonkers Ethical Society having its principal office in Bronx county, or by the leader of any other Ethical Culture Society affiliated with the American Ethical Union. The term "clergyman" or "minister" when used in this article, shall include those defined in section two of the religious corporations law. The word "magistrate," when so used, includes any person referred to in the second or third subdivision. View the New York Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in New York

See the Full Statutes

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Become Ordained

Albany

24 Eagle Street, Room 202
Albany, New York
12207

Phone: (518) 434-5090
Fax: (518) 434-5081
Albany website »

Allegany

Town Hall, 52 West Main
Allegany, New York
14706

Phone: (716) 373-0120
Fax: (716) 373-4522
Allegany website »

Amsterdam

61 Church Street
Amsterdam, New York
12010

Phone: (518) 841-4313
Amsterdam website »

Auburn

24 South St
Auburn, New York
13021

Phone: (315) 255-4100
Auburn website »

Bath

110 Liberty St # 103
Bath, New York
14810

Phone: (607) 776-7013
Fax: (607) 776-7132
Bath website »

Beacon

1 Municpal Plaza
Beacon, New York
12508

Phone: (845) 838-5000
Fax: (845) 838-5012
Beacon website »

Binghamton

38 Hawley St
Binghamton, New York
13901

Phone: (607) 772-7005
Binghamton website »

Bristol

6740 County Road #32
Bristol, New York
14424

Phone: (585) 229-2400
Fax: (585) 229-4319
Bristol website »

Bronx

851 Grand Concourse, Room B131
Bronx, New York
10451

Phone: 212-639-9675
Bronx Marriage Laws »

Brooklyn

210 Joralemon Street, Room 205
Brooklyn, New York
11201

Phone: 212-639-9675
Brooklyn website »

Broome

920 State Route 145
Middleburgh, New York
12122

Phone: (518) 827-7788
Fax: (518) 827-8696
Broome website »

Buffalo

65 Niagara Square, Suite 1301
Buffalo, New York
14202

Phone: (716) 851-5444
Buffalo website »

Canandaigua

2 North Main Street
Canandaigua, New York
14424

Phone: (585) 396-5000
Canandaigua website »

Canton

60 Main Street
Canton, New York
13617

Phone: (315) 386-3735
Fax: (315) 386-4881
Canton website »

Catskill

439 Main Street
Catskill, New York
12414

Phone: (518) 943-2141
Catskill website »

Chemung

48 Rotary Road Extension
Chemung, New York
14825

Phone: (607) 529-3532
Chemung website »

Clarkstown

10 Maple Ave
Clarkstown, New York
10956

Phone: (845) 639-2010
Fax: (845) 639-2008
Clarkstown website »

Clinton

1215 Centre Road (County Rte 18)
Clinton, New York
12572

Phone: (845) 266-5721
Fax: (845) 266-5932
Clinton website »

Cohoes

97 Mohawk Street
Cohoes, New York
12047

Phone: (518) 233-2141
Cohoes website »

Columbia

560 Warren Street
Columbia, New York
12534

Phone: (518) 828-3339
Fax: (518) 828-5299
Columbia website »

Corning

500 Nasser Civic Center Plaza #1
Corning, New York
14830

Phone: (607) 962-0340
Corning website »

Cortland

25 Court Street
Cortland, New York
13045

Phone: (607) 756-6521
Fax: (607) 756-4644
Cortland website »

Delaware

104 Main Street
Delaware, New York
12745

Phone: (845) 887-5250 ext 8
Fax: (845) 887-5185
Delaware website »

Dix

304 7th St, Watkins
Dix, New York
14891

Phone: (607) 535-9125
Dix website »

Dunkirk

342 Central Ave, Floor 1
Dunkirk, New York
14048

Phone: (716) 366-0452
Fax: (716) 363-0058
Dunkirk website »

Dutchess County

County Office Bldg.<br>22 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, New York
12601

Phone: (845) 486-2120
Fax: (845) 486-2138
Dutchess County website »

Elizabethtown

7563 Court Street
Elizabethtown, New York
12932

Phone: (518) 873-6555
Elizabethtown website »

Elmira

317 E Church St, Suite 102
Elmira, New York
14901

Phone: (607) 737-5672
Elmira website »

Fort Edward

118 Broadway
Fort Edward, New York
12828

Phone: (518) 747-4023
Fax: (518) 747-0476
Fort Edward website »

Fulton

141 South 1st St.
Fulton, New York
13069

Phone: (315) 592-5390
Fulton website »

Geneseo

119 Main Street
Geneseo, New York
14454

Phone: (585) 243-4530
Fax: (585) 243-5025
Geneseo website »

Geneva

47 Castle Street, 1st Floor
Geneva, New York
14456

Phone: (315) 789-2603
Fax: (315) 789-0604
Geneva website »

Glen Cove

9 Glen Street
Glen Cove, New York
11542

Phone: (516) 676-2000
Glen Cove website »

Glens Falls

42 Ridge Street
Glens Falls, New York
12801

Phone: (518) 761-3803
Glens Falls website »

Gloversville

3 Frontage Rd
Gloversville, New York
12078

Phone: (518) 773-4500
Gloversville website »

Goshen

41 Webster Ave
Goshen, New York
10924

Phone: (845) 294-6250
Fax: (845) 291-3673
Goshen website »

Herkimer

114 North Prospect Street
Herkimer, New York
13350

Phone: (315) 866-2690
Fax: (315) 866-8105
Herkimer website »

Hornell

82 Main St.
Hornell, New York
14843

Phone: (607)324-7421
Fax: (607)324-3150
Hornell website »

Hudson

520 Warren St
Hudson, New York
12534

Phone: (518) 828-1030
Fax: (518) 828-3103
Hudson website »

Huntington

100 Main Street
Huntington, New York
11743

Phone: (631) 351-3000
Huntington website »

Ithaca

108 E. Green St.
Ithaca, New York
14850

Phone: (607) 274-6570
Fax: (607) 274-6432
Ithaca website »

Jamestown

200 E 3rd St # 2
Jamestown, New York
14701

Phone: (716) 483-7612
Jamestown website »

Johnstown

33-41 East Main Street
Johnstown, New York
12095

Phone: (518) 736-4011
Fax: (518) 736-4032
Johnstown website »

Kingston

420 Broadway
Kingston, New York
12401

Phone: (845) 334-3915
Fax: (845) 334-3918
Kingston website »

Lackawanna

714 Ridge Rd. Rm 215
Lackawanna, New York
14218

Phone: (716) 827-6431
Fax: (716) 827-6453
Lackawanna website »

Lake Pleasant

2679 State Rt. 8
Lake Pleasant, New York
12108

Phone: (518) 548-3625
Fax: (518) 548-3028
Lake Pleasant website »

Little Falls

659 E. Main Street
Little Falls, New York
13365

Phone: (315) 574-5246
Fax: (315) 823-4406
Little Falls website »

Lockport

One Locks Plaza
Lockport, New York
14094

Phone: (716) 439-6776
Fax: (716) 439-6702
Lockport website »

Long Beach

1 West Chester Street – Room 307
Long Beach, New York
11561

Phone: (516) 431-1002
Fax: (516) 431-2717
Long Beach website »

Lyons

43 Phelps St
Lyons, New York
14489

Phone: (315) 946-6252 ext. 101
Fax: (315) 946-0060
Lyons website »

Malone

27 Airport Rd.
Malone, New York
12953

Phone: (518) 483-4740
Fax: (518) 483-1445
Malone website »

Malta

2540 Route 9
Malta, New York
12020

Phone: (518) 899-2552
Fax: (518) 289-6015
Malta website »

Manhattan

141 Worth Street
Manhattan, New York
10013

Phone: 212-639-9675
Manhattan website »

Mechanicville

36 N Main St
Mechanicville, New York
12118

Phone: (518) 664-9884
Mechanicville website »

Middletown

16 James Street
Middletown, New York
10940

Phone: (845) 346-4100
Middletown website »

Mount Vernon

1 Roosevelt Square N, Suite 104
Mount Vernon, New York
10550

Phone: (914) 665-2351
Mount Vernon website »

New Bremen

8420 NY-812
New Bremen, New York
13367

Phone: (315) 376-2641
Fax: (315) 376-2576
New Bremen website »

New Rochelle

515 North Avenue
New Rochelle, New York
10801

Phone: (914) 654-2000
New Rochelle website »

Newburgh

83 Broadway
Newburgh, New York
12550

Phone: (845) 569-7311
Fax: (845) 569-7314
Newburgh website »

Niagara Falls

745 Main St
Niagara Falls, New York
14301

Phone: (716) 286-4393
Niagara Falls website »

North Castle

15 Bedford Road
North Castle, New York
10504

Phone: (914) 273-3321
North Castle website »

North Tonawanda

216 Payne Ave
North Tonawanda, New York
14120

Phone: (716) 695-8555
Fax: (716) 695-8557
North Tonawanda website »

Norwich

One City Plaza
Norwich, New York
13815

Phone: (607) 334-1230
Norwich website »

Ogdensburg

330 Ford St., Floor 1, Room 4
Ogdensburg, New York
13669

Phone: (315) 393-3540
Fax: (315) 393-1136
Ogdensburg website »

Olean

Town Hall
Olean, New York
14760

Phone: (716) 376-5604
Fax: (716) 376-5634
Olean website »

Oneida

109 N. Main St.
Oneida, New York
13421

Phone: (315) 363-7378
Fax: (315) 363-9558
Oneida website »

Oneonta

258 Main Street
Oneonta, New York
13820

Phone: (607) 432-6450
Fax: (607) 433-3420
Oneonta website »

Onondaga

5020 Ball Road
Onondaga, New York
13215

Phone: (315) 469-1583
Fax: (315) 469-1549
Onondaga website »

Orleans

20558 Sunrise Ave
Orleans, New York
13656

Phone: (315) 658-9950
Fax: (315) 658-2513
Orleans website »

Oswego

13 West Oneida Street, Floor 1
Oswego, New York
13126

Phone: (315) 342-8116
Fax: (315) 342-8100
Oswego website »

Owego

2354 NY State Route 434
Owego, New York
13732

Phone: (607) 687-0123 Dept #2
Fax: (607) 687-6381
Owego website »

Peekskill

840 Main Street
Peekskill, New York
10566

Phone: (914) 737-3400
Fax: (914) 734-4233
Peekskill website »

Plattsburgh

41 City Hall Pl
Plattsburgh, New York
12901

Phone: (518) 563-7702
Plattsburgh website »

Port Jervis

20 Hammond Street
Port Jervis, New York
12771

Phone: (845) 858-4000
Fax: (845) 856-0322
Port Jervis website »

Potter

1226 Phelps Rd
Potter, New York
14507

Phone: (585) 554-6758
Potter website »

Poughkeepsie

1 Overocker Road
Poughkeepsie, New York
12603

Phone: (845) 485-3620
Fax: (845) 485-3701
Poughkeepsie website »

Putnam Valley

265 Oscawana Lake Road
Putnam Valley, New York
10579

Phone: (845) 526-3280
Fax: (845) 528-3961
Putnam Valley website »

Queens

120-55 Queens Boulevard, Ground Floor, Room G-100
Queens, New York
11424

Phone: 212-639-9675
Queens Marriage Laws »

Rensselaer

62 Washington Street
Rensselaer, New York
12144

Phone: (518) 462-4266
Fax: (518) 462-0890
Rensselaer website »

Riverhead

200 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, New York
11901

Phone: (631) 727-3200
Fax: (631) 208-4034
Riverhead website »

Rochester

30 Church St,
Rochester, New York
14614

Phone: (585) 428-7421
Rochester website »

Rome

198 N Washington St
Rome, New York
13440

Phone: (315) 339-7659
Rome website »

Rye

1051 Boston Post Road
Rye, New York
10580

Phone: (914) 967-7371
Rye website »

Rye

1051 Boston Post Rd
Rye, New York
10580

Phone: (914) 967-7371
Rye website »

Salamanca

225 Wildwood Avenue
Salamanca, New York
14779

Phone: (716) 945-4620
Fax: (716) 945-8289
Salamanca website »

Saratoga Springs

474 Broadway Suite 14
Saratoga Springs, New York
12866

Phone: (518) 587-3550
Fax: (518) 587-6512
Saratoga Springs website »

Schoharie

Town Office<br>300 Main St, Suite 8
Schoharie, New York
12157

Phone: (518) 295-6570
Fax: (518) 295-7599
Schoharie website »

Sherrill

377 Sherrill Road
Sherrill, New York
13461

Phone: (315) 363-2440
Fax: (315) 363-0031
Sherrill website »

Staten Island

10 Richmond Terrace, Room 311
Staten Island, New York
10301

Phone: 212-639-9675
Staten Island website »

Syracuse

233 E Washington St # 231
Syracuse, New York
13202

Phone: (315) 448-8382
Syracuse website »

Thompson

4052 Route 42
Thompson, New York
12701

Phone: (845) 794-2500 x302
Thompson website »

Tompkins

148 Bridge St
Tompkins, New York
13847

Phone: (607) 865-5694
Tompkins website »

Tonawanda

2919 Delaware Ave, Rm 14
Tonawanda, New York
14217

Phone: (716) 877-8800
Fax: (716) 877-0578
Tonawanda website »

Troy

433 River Street 5th Floor
Troy, New York
12180

Phone: (518) 279-7134
Fax: (518) 270-4639
Troy website »

Ulster

1 Town Hall Rd
Ulster, New York
12449

Phone: (845) 336-0311
Ulster website »

Utica

1 Kennedy Plaza
Utica, New York
13502

Phone: (315) 792-0113
Fax: (315) 792-0220
Utica website »

Victor

85 East Main Street
Victor, New York
14564

Phone: (585) 742-5080
Fax: (585) 924-0202
Victor website »

Warsaw

83 Center St.
Warsaw, New York
14569

Phone: (585) 786-2800
Fax: (585) 786-0475
Warsaw website »

Waterloo

66 Virginia Street
Waterloo, New York
13165

Phone: (315) 539-3080 EXT 2
Fax: (315) 539-4119
Waterloo website »

Watertown

245 Washington St
Watertown, New York
13601

Phone: (315) 785-7780
Fax: (315) 785-7796
Watertown website »

Watervliet

2 Fifteenth Street, Suite B
Watervliet, New York
12189

Phone: (518) 270-3810 x 116
Fax: (518) 270-3844
Watervliet website »

Wawarsing

108 Canal Street
Ellenville, New York
12428

Phone: (845) 647-7800 x2
Fax: (845) 647-6571
Wawarsing website »

Westchester County

110 Dr.Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
White Plains, New York
10601

Phone: (914) 995-3080
Westchester County website »

White Plains

255 Main Street
White Plains, New York
10601

Phone: (914) 422-1227
Fax: (914) 422-1330
White Plains website »

Woodbury

511 Route 32
Woodbury, New York
10930

Phone: (845) 928-6829 Ext. 4
Fax: (845) 928-7380
Woodbury website »

Yonkers

40 S Broadway
Yonkers, New York
10701

Phone: (914) 377-6020
Yonkers website »