2013 New York Consolidated Laws
DOM - Domestic Relations
Article 3 - (10 - 25) Solemnization, Proof and Effect of Marriage
14-A - Town and city clerks to issue certificates of marriage registration; form.

 
    §  14-a.  Town  and  city  clerks  to  issue  certificates of marriage
  registration; form. 1. Upon  receipt  of  the  return  of  the  marriage
  license,  properly  endorsed  and completed by the person who shall have
  solemnized a marriage as provided in this article,  the  town  and  city
  clerks  of  each  and  every  town  or  city  in  the state shall, after
  abstracting, recording and indexing  the  statement  of  performance  of
  solemnization,  issue  to  the  couple  within  fifteen  days after such
  receipt or return of the completed marriage  license  a  certificate  of
  marriage, which certificate shall be substantially in the following form
  and contain the following facts:
 
    Record No............of Year........
 
                             THIS IS TO CERTIFY
 
  that ................................................................. ,
            first name, premarriage surname, new surname (if applicable)
  residing at .......................................................... ,
  who was born on ........................., at ........................ ,
                         date
  and .................................................................. ,
          first name, premarriage surname, new surname (if applicable)
  residing at .......................................................... ,
  who was born ........................, at ............................ ,
                          date
  were married on.......................at ............................. ,
                          date
  as shown by the duly registered license and certificate of
  marriage of said persons on file in this office.
 
  (SEAL)                            ......................................
                                                 Town or City Clerk
 
  Dated at.................., N. Y.
  .................................
 
  No  other  facts  contained  in  the affidavits, statements, consents or
  licenses shall be  certified  by  such  town  and  city  clerks,  unless
  expressly  requested  in  writing  by  the  man  or  woman named in such
  affidavit, license, statement or record.
    2. a. Such town and city clerks shall be entitled to a  fee  for  such
  certificate, payable at the time of issuance of the marriage license, in
  a  sum not exceeding ten dollars, to be fixed in the case of town clerks
  by the town board, and in the case of city clerks by the common  council
  or  governing  body of such cities. The town and city clerks shall, upon
  request of any applicant whose name appears  thereon,  issue  a  similar
  certificate of marriage, as set forth above, and similarly expanded with
  additional  facts upon the express additional request, for all marriages
  heretofore indexed and recorded in  the  office  of  the  town  or  city
  clerks. For such certificate of marriage, the town and city clerks shall
  be  entitled to a fee not exceeding ten dollars, to be fixed in the case
  of town clerks by the town board, and in the case of city clerks by  the
  common council or governing body of such city.
    b.  In  addition to the foregoing, upon request of any applicant whose
  name appears thereon for a certificate of marriage,  the  town  or  city
  clerk  may  issue  a  photograph,  micro-photograph  or photocopy of the
  marriage record on file in the office of such  clerk.  Such  photograph,
  micro-photograph or photocopy, when certified by the town or city clerk,

  shall   be  deemed  an  original  record  for  all  purposes,  including
  introduction in evidence in all courts or administrative  agencies.  For
  such  certificate of marriage and the certification thereof, the town or
  city  clerk  shall be entitled to a fee not exceeding ten dollars, to be
  fixed in the case of town clerks by the town board, and in the  case  of
  city clerks by the common council or governing body of such city.
    3.  No  fee  shall be charged for any certificate when required by the
  veterans administration or by the division of veterans' affairs  of  the
  state  of  New  York  to  be  used in determining the eligibility of any
  person to participate in the benefits made  available  by  the  veterans
  administration or by the state of New York.
    4.  A  copy  of  the  record  of  marriage  registration when properly
  certified by the city and town clerks or their duly authorized deputies,
  as herein provided, shall be prima facie evidence of the  facts  therein
  stated  and  in  all  actions,  proceedings  or  applications, judicial,
  administrative or otherwise, and any such certificate of registration of
  marriage shall be accepted with the same force and effect  with  respect
  to  the  facts therein stated as the original certificate of marriage or
  certified copy thereof.
    5. Upon request of any applicant whose  name  appears  thereon  for  a
  certificate  of  marriage, the town or city clerk shall be authorized to
  correct any errors on such marriage certificate where:
    a. such error was not the result of any intended fraud,  deception  or
  attempt to avoid the effect of any valid law, regulation or statute; and
    b.  either  party  to the marriage provides proof, satisfactory to the
  clerk, of the accuracy of the facts presented in support  of  correcting
  the error.
    To  effectuate  such  correction  and  provide certified copies of the
  amended certificate, the town or city clerk shall be entitled to  a  fee
  not  exceeding ten dollars to be fixed in the case of town clerks by the
  town board, and in the case of city clerks  by  the  common  council  or
  governing  body  of  such  city.  The clerk shall forward a copy of such
  amended certificate to the commissioner of health.