Requirements

Age Requirements 

  • As of August 21, 2021, both applicants must be 18yrs. or older. 

A person is required to establish both proof of age and identity by submitting to the issuing clerk one of each of the following:

Proof of Age 

  • Birth Certificate (original or certified copy) Hospital certificates are not accepted.  
  • Sealed Original Baptismal Record
  • U.S. Naturalization Certificate

Proof of Identity  

  • Valid Driver’s License
  • Valid Non-Driver ID
  • Valid Passport
  • Valid Passport Card
  • U.S. Military ID

Proof of Divorce or Death

(Informational documents concerning the dissolution of the most recent legal relationship)

  • Certified Judgement of Divorce
  • Certified Death Certificate 

Translations

If the above documentation that you are providing is not in English, the document(s) must be translated by: A certified translator on the list of translators approved by the Town of Southampton or by a university, embassy, or consulate. 

  • The translation must be on university or government letterhead with a copy of the original document attached.
  • The translation must be completed from the original document, not a scan, fax or photo copy.
  • The translation must include a statement/certification of accuracy with the translator’s original notarized signature. This statement/certification must identify that the document(s) translated was an original, attest to the accuracy of the translation and that the translator is competent to translate the specific languages.
  • You must present the original document(s) AND the original translation to the Town Clerk’s Office when applying for the marriage license.

Familial Restrictions

A marriage may not take place in New York State between an ancestor and descendant, siblings (full or half blood), an uncle / aunt and a nephew / niece, regardless of whether or not these persons are legitimate or illegitimate offspring.

Previous Marriages

Documentation regarding previous marriages must be furnished when applying for a marriage license. Providing a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce, or a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage or certified Death Certificate is required.

Surname Options

A person’s last name (surname) does not automatically change upon marriage, and neither party to the marriage must change his or her last name. Parties to a marriage need not have the same last name.

One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which he or she wishes to be known after the solemnization of the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided in the Affidavit Section of this application. 

Such entry shall consist of one of the following surnames:

    1. the surname of the other spouse; or
    2. any former surname of either spouse; or
    3. a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse; or
    4. a combination name separated by a hyphen or space, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses.

 

Middle Name Options

One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the middle name by which he or she wishes to be known after the solemnization of the marriage by entering the new name in the appropriate space provided in the Affidavit Section of this application. Such entry shall consist of one of the following options:

    1. the current surname of the spouse electing to change his or her name; or
    2. any former surname of the spouse electing to change his or her name; or
    3. the surname of the other spouse.

 The use of these options will have the effect of providing a record of the change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new name, if any, constitutes proof that the use of the new name, or the retention of the former name, is lawful.


Changes at a Later Date

Whether or not you decide use either of these option at the time of your marriage license application, you still have the right to adopt a different name through usage at some future date. However, your marriage license cannot be changed to record a surname you decide to use after your marriage.