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.
- 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
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 county contact
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HayLoft at Blue Hill at Stone Barn, a working farm and critically acclaimed restaurant in the Hudson Valley
3 License to Marry in New York
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.
4 How to get Married in New York
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
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.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for New York state:
New York Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Allegany
Town Hall, 52 West MainAllegany, New York
14706
Phone: (716) 373-0120
Fax: (716) 373-4522
Allegany website »
Beacon
1 Municpal PlazaBeacon, New York
12508
Phone: (845) 838-5000
Fax: (845) 838-5012
Beacon website »
Bristol
6740 County Road #32Bristol, New York
14424
Phone: (585) 229-2400
Fax: (585) 229-4319
Bristol website »
Bronx
851 Grand Concourse, Room B131Bronx, New York
10451
Phone: (212) 693-3615
Bronx Marriage Laws »
Brooklyn
210 Joralemon Street, Room 205Brooklyn, New York
11201
Phone: (212) 693-3615
Brooklyn website »
Broome
Town Hall <br> 38 Hawley St, 3rd FloorBinghamton, New York
13901
Phone: (607) 772-7005
Fax: (607) 778-2243
Broome website »
Buffalo
65 Niagara Square, Suite 1301Buffalo, New York
14202
Phone: (716) 851-5444
Buffalo website »
Canandaigua
2 North Main StreetCanandaigua, New York
14424
Phone: (585)396-5000
Canandaigua website »
Canton
60 Main StreetCanton, New York
13617
Phone: (315) 386-3735
Fax: (315) 386-4881
Canton website »
Clarkstown
10 Maple AveClarkstown, 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 »
Columbia
560 Warren StreetColumbia, New York
12534
Phone: (518) 828-3339
Fax: (518) 828-5299
Columbia website »
Corning
500 Nasser Civic Center Plaza #1Corning, New York
14830
Phone: (607) 962-0340
Corning website »
Cortland
25 Court StreetCortland, New York
13045
Phone: (607) 756-6521
Fax: (607) 756-4644
Cortland website »
Delaware
104 Main StreetDelaware, New York
12745
Phone: (845) 887-5250 ext 8
Fax: (845) 887-5185
Delaware website »
Dunkirk
342 Central Ave, Floor 1Dunkirk, New York
14048
Phone: (716) 366-0452
Fax: (716) 363-0058
Dunkirk website »
Dutchess County
County Office Bldg.<br>22 Market StreetPoughkeepsie, New York
12601
Phone: (845) 486-2120
Fax: (845) 486-2138
Dutchess County website »
Elizabethtown
7563 Court StreetElizabethtown, New York
12932
Phone: (518) 873-6555
Elizabethtown website »
Fort Edward
118 BroadwayFort Edward, New York
12828
Phone: (518) 747-4023
Fax: (518) 747-0476
Fort Edward website »
Geneseo
119 Main StreetGeneseo, New York
14454
Phone: (585) 243-4530
Fax: (585) 243-5025
Geneseo website »
Geneva
47 Castle Street, 1st FloorGeneva, New York
14456
Phone: (315) 789-2603
Fax: (315) 789-0604
Geneva website »
Gloversville
3 Frontage RdGloversville, New York
12078
Phone: (518) 773-4500
Gloversville website »
Goshen
41 Webster AveGoshen, New York
10924
Phone: (845) 294-6250
Fax: (845) 291-3673
Goshen website »
Herkimer
114 North Prospect StreetHerkimer, 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 StHudson, New York
12534
Phone: (518) 828-1030
Fax: (518) 828-3103
Hudson website »
Ithaca
108 E. Green St.Ithaca, New York
14850
Phone: (607) 274-6570
Fax: (607) 274-6432
Ithaca website »
Johnstown
33-41 East Main StreetJohnstown, New York
12095
Phone: (518) 736-4011
Fax: (518) 736-4032
Johnstown website »
Kingston
420 BroadwayKingston, New York
12401
Phone: (845) 334-3915
Fax: (845) 334-3918
Kingston website »
Lackawanna
714 Ridge Rd. Rm 215Lackawanna, New York
14218
Phone: (716) 827-6431
Fax: (716) 827-6453
Lackawanna website »
Lake Pleasant
2679 State Rt. 8Lake Pleasant, New York
12108
Phone: (518) 548-3625
Fax: (518) 548-3028
Lake Pleasant website »
Little Falls
659 E. Main StreetLittle Falls, New York
13365
Phone: (315) 574-5246
Fax: (315) 823-4406
Little Falls website »
Lockport
One Locks PlazaLockport, New York
14094
Phone: (716) 439-6776
Fax: (716) 439-6702
Lockport website »
Long Beach
1 West Chester Street – Room 307Long Beach, New York
11561
Phone: (516) 431-1002
Fax: (516) 431-2717
Long Beach website »
Malone
27 Airport Rd.Malone, New York
12953
Phone: (518) 483-4740
Fax: (518) 483-1445
Malone website »
Mechanicville
36 N Main StMechanicville, New York
12118
Phone: (518) 664-9884
Mechanicville website »
Mount Vernon
1 Roosevelt Square N, Suite 104Mount Vernon, New York
10550
Phone: (914) 665-2348
Mount Vernon website »
New Bremen
8420 NY-812New Bremen, New York
13367
Phone: (315) 376-2641
Fax: (315) 376-2576
New Bremen website »
New Rochelle
515 North AvenueNew Rochelle, New York
10801
Phone: (914) 654-2000
New Rochelle website »
Newburgh
83 BroadwayNewburgh, New York
12550
Phone: (845) 569-7311
Fax: (845) 569-7314
Newburgh website »
Niagara Falls
745 Main StNiagara Falls, New York
14301
Phone: (716) 286-4393
Niagara Falls website »
North Castle
15 Bedford RoadNorth Castle, New York
10504
Phone: (914) 273-3321
North Castle website »
North Tonawanda
216 Payne AveNorth Tonawanda, New York
14120
Phone: (716) 695-8555
Fax: (716) 695-8557
North Tonawanda website »
Ogdensburg
330 Ford St., Floor 1, Room 4Ogdensburg, New York
13669
Phone: (315) 393-3540
Fax: (315) 393-1136
Ogdensburg website »
Oneida
109 N. Main St.Oneida, New York
13421
Phone: (315) 363-7378
Fax: (315) 363-9558
Oneida website »
Oneonta
258 Main StreetOneonta, New York
13820
Phone: (607) 432-6450
Fax: (607) 433-3420
Oneonta website »
Onondaga
5020 Ball RoadOnondaga, New York
13215
Phone: (315)469-1583
Fax: (315)469-1549
Onondaga website »
Orleans
20558 Sunrise AveOrleans, New York
13656
Phone: (315) 658-9950
Fax: (315) 658-2513
Orleans website »
Oswego
13 West Oneida Streetm, Floor 1Oswego, New York
13126
Phone: (315) 342-8116
Fax: (315) 342-8100
Oswego website »
Owego
2354 NY State Route 434Owego, New York
13732
Phone: (607) 687-0123
Fax: (607) 687-6381
Owego website »
Peekskill
840 Main StreetPeekskill, New York
10566
Phone: (914) 737-3400
Fax: (914) 734-4233
Peekskill website »
Port Jervis
20 Hammond StreetPort Jervis, New York
12771
Phone: (845) 858-4000
Fax: (845) 856-0322
Port Jervis website »
Poughkeepsie
1 Overocker RoadPoughkeepsie, New York
12603
Phone: (845) 485-3600
Fax: (845) 485-3701
Poughkeepsie website »
Putnam Valley
265 Oscawana Lake RoadPutnam Valley, New York
10579
Phone: (845) 526-3280
Fax: (845) 528-3961
Putnam Valley website »
Queens
120-55 Queens Boulevard, Ground Floor, Room G-100Queens, New York
11424
Phone: (212) 693-3615
Queens Marriage Laws »
Rensselaer
62 Washington StreetRensselaer, New York
12144
Phone: (518) 462-4266
Fax: (518) 462-0890
Rensselaer website »
Riverhead
200 Howell AvenueRiverhead, New York
11901
Phone: (631) 727-3200
Fax: (631) 208-4034
Riverhead website »
Salamanca
225 Wildwood AvenueSalamanca, New York
14779
Phone: (716) 945-4620
Fax: (716) 945-8289
Salamanca website »
Saratoga Springs
40 McMaster St.Ballston Spa, New York
12020
Phone: (518) 885-2213
Saratoga Springs website »
Schoharie
Town Office<br>300 Main St, Suite 8Schoharie, New York
12157
Phone: (518) 295-6570
Fax: (518) 295-7599
Schoharie website »
Sherrill
377 Sherrill RoadSherrill, New York
13461
Phone: (315) 363-2440
Fax: (315) 363-0031
Sherrill website »
Staten Island
10 Richmond Terrace, Room 311Staten Island, New York
10301
Phone: (212) 693-3615
Staten Island website »
Syracuse
233 E Washington St # 231Syracuse, New York
13202
Phone: (315) 448-8382
Syracuse website »
Tonawanda
2919 Delaware Ave, Rm 14Tonawanda, New York
14217
Phone: (716) 877-8800
Fax: (716) 877-0578
Tonawanda website »
Victor
85 East Main StreetVictor, New York
14564
Phone: (585) 742-5080
Fax: (585) 924-0202
Victor website »
Waterloo
66 Virginia StreeWaterloo, New York
13165
Phone: (315) 539-3080
Fax: (315) 539-4119
Waterloo website »
Wawarsing
108 Canal StreetWawarsing, New York
12428
Phone: (845) 647-7800 x2
Fax: (845) 647-6571
Wawarsing website »
Westchester County
110 Dr.Martin Luther King Jr BlvdWhite Plains, New York
10601
Phone: (914) 995-3080
Westchester County website »
White Plains
255 Main StreetWhite Plains, New York
10601
Phone: (914) 422-1227
Fax: (914) 422-1330
White Plains website »
Woodbury
511 Route 32Woodbury, New York
10930
Phone: (845) 928-6829 Ext. 4
Fax: (845) 928-7380
Woodbury website »
