Requirements For Applying For A Marriage License: Fill & Download for Free

Ms. Belforti is correct when she says, “New York law protects my right to hold both my job and my beliefs.” And, truly, there is nothing preventing her from holding her beliefs, while doing her job. She doesn't have to approve of gay marriage. She simply has to sign, as an elected official of the town, that a marriage license has been properly issued to two people who are legally entitled to marry in the state of New York. She is not endorsing their marriage. She's simply registering their intent to marry.EDIT 12.14.11: A couple intending to marry must appear in person before the town clerk and fill out a form entitled, State of New York, Department of Health, Affidavit, License, and Certificate of Marriage. The clerk's function is pro forma, to determine that the parties have appeared and sworn to the answers they have given on the form. The line to which she must attach her signature reads,"Subscribed and sworn to/affirmed before me. Signature of town or cityclerk _____________________ Date___.I'm sure there are many situations in which town clerks such as Ms. Belforti are called upon to issue marriage licenses to couples they do not think should marry. When one party is drunk or impaired by drugs for instance. Or when a much older person wants to marry someone of barely legal age. Or interracial marriages before the civil rights movement. Regardless of personal feelings, such officials are required by law to do the duty the people elected them to do.The New York State Oath of Office reads,"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of ............, according to the best of my ability."If Ms. Belforti's religious objection to gay marriage is so strong that she feels unable to issue a license to a gay couple, as it clearly seems to be, then she is no longer faithfully discharging the duties of the office.. New York law protects her right to hold both her job and her religious beliefs as long as she is doing her job. But she is not doing her job. Without knowing what the state law says (it might allow for a "reasonable accommodation" such as having the deputy sign all marriage licenses by appointment) it's hard to say what her options might be. It does seem to me that if the law requires the clerk to sign marriage licenses, and she is present in the office at times when people are permitted to apply for a marriage license, and she then refuses to do so, there are grounds for impeachment or recall, along with the possibility of a civil action against the town for sexual bigotry.The simplest solution is for her to decide which is more important to her, her bigoted beliefs (which she is entitled to hold) or her job as town clerk. Then she should either sign or resign. All the other options require some sort of legal or political action.

From the day you apply for your marriage license (having met all requirements for applying), it will be 10 working days until your marriage license is issued. The license is valid for 120 days from the date of issue.

What are some different ways to get married in the US without applying for a marriage license?There's only one way to get LEGALLY married in the US without applying for a marriage license: Live in one of the few states that allows common-law marriage AND fulfill all of the state's requirements for such a marriage.Anything else is not a legal marriage.