How to Get a Marriage License in Long Island: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in New York as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Long Island, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Town of Hempstead Town Clerk, Marriage Department, One Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550 (Town Hall)
- Booking
- Appointment required: call 516-812-3014. Office hours were not stated on the pages read.
- Fee
- $40 The fee includes a Certificate of Marriage Registration. Paying by credit card adds a $1.55 processing fee (total $41.55). Confirm with the clerk.
- Payment
- Cash, local check or money order payable to the Town Clerk (Kate Murray per the page), or credit card with a $1.55 fee
- Who attends
- Both people, in person. A representative cannot apply for you, and a power of attorney or notarized affidavit is not accepted instead.
- Valid for
- Normally 60 days, counting from the day after issue. Extensions may be possible for active-duty military and extreme circumstances.
- Same day?
- The license is issued right away, but the ceremony cannot take place until 24 hours after it is issued. A judge can waive this; the page's text and its FAQ give different age cut-offs (16 or 17) for which court handles the waiver, so ask the clerk.
Step by step
- Apply. Download and fill in the marriage license application from the Town's page, then call the Marriage Department to book an appointment. Both people sign the application in front of a clerk.
- Book or plan your visit. Appointment required: call 516-812-3014. Office hours were not stated on the pages read.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both people, in person. A representative cannot apply for you, and a power of attorney or notarized affidavit is not accepted instead. Cash, local check or money order payable to the Town Clerk (Kate Murray per the page), or credit card with a $1.55 fee
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in New York. Normally 60 days, counting from the day after issue. Extensions may be possible for active-duty military and extreme circumstances.
What to bring
- One original proof of age: baptismal record, birth certificate, census record or U.S. naturalization certificate
- One original, valid, unexpired proof of identity: driver's license, employment photo ID, immigration record or passport
- Digital birth certificates need an apostille from the issuing country's embassy or consulate; digital apostilles are not accepted
- Foreign documents must be translated into English and certified
- Each earlier marriage that ended by divorce, annulment or death needs a certified copy of the decree, certificate of dissolution or death certificate (no photocopies)
- No blood test or premarital exam is required in New York State
- Minimum age and Social Security number rules were not covered on the page read
Good to know
- The officiant returns the completed license; the Certificate of Marriage Registration is mailed to the couple within about 15 days after that
- The Town offers civil ceremonies in the Town Hall chapel or on the patio; call the Marriage Department to book
- The Town's One Day Marriage Officiant page says a friend or relative can officiate after applying through the Town Clerk who issued the license, with ID and a $25 fee; it does not address clergy such as imams, so ask the clerk what an imam needs to do
Your nikah and the license
The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in New York, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Long Island and our New York nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Long Island?
The issuing office lists the license fee as $40. The fee includes a Certificate of Marriage Registration. Paying by credit card adds a $1.55 processing fee (total $41.55). Confirm with the clerk. Fees change, so check the Town of Hempstead Town Clerk, Marriage Department page before you go.
Do I need an appointment in Long Island?
Appointment required: call 516-812-3014. Office hours were not stated on the pages read.
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
It depends on the state. Normally 60 days, counting from the day after issue. Extensions may be possible for active-duty military and extreme circumstances. Confirm with Town of Hempstead Town Clerk, Marriage Department whether your license can be used outside this county or state before you plan your ceremony.
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Only if you want the marriage to be legally recognized in New York. A nikah on its own is religiously valid but is not a legal marriage. If you want both, you need a license and an authorized officiant, and one ceremony can cover both.
Planning a nikah in Long Island?
Tell us your date and we will help you find an imam, including one who can register the marriage if you want the legal side done the same day.
Details come from the Town of Hempstead Town Clerk, Marriage Department website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Town of Hempstead Town Clerk, Marriage Department: marriage license page. Contact: Marriage Department 516-812-3014; Town main line 516-489-5000. This guide is general information, not legal advice.