N.Y. Domestic Relations Law Section 12
Marriage, how solemnized


No particular form or ceremony is required when a marriage is solemnized as herein provided by a clergyman or magistrate, or one-day marriage officiant as designated by a town or city clerk pursuant to § 11-D (One-day marriage officiant license)section eleven-d of this article, but the parties must solemnly declare in the presence of a clergyman, magistrate, or such one-day marriage officiant and the attending witness or witnesses that they take each other as spouses. In every case, at least one witness beside the clergyman, magistrate, or such one-day marriage officiant must be present at the ceremony. The preceding provisions of this chapter, so far as they relate to the manner of solemnizing marriages, shall not affect marriages among the people called friends or quakers; nor marriages among the people of any other denominations having as such any particular mode of solemnizing marriages; but such marriages must be solemnized in the manner heretofore used and practiced in their respective societies or denominations, and marriages so solemnized shall be as valid as if this article had not been enacted.

Source: Section 12 — Marriage, how solemnized, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/DOM/12 (updated Mar. 31, 2023; accessed Apr. 13, 2024).

10
Marriage a civil contract
10–A
Parties to a marriage
10–B
Religious exception
11
By whom a marriage must be solemnized
11–A
Duty of city clerk in certain cities of the first class
11–B
Registration of persons performing marriage ceremonies in the city of New York
11–C
Marriage officers
11–D
One-day marriage officiant license
12
Marriage, how solemnized
13
Marriage licenses
13–AA
Test to determine the presence of sickle cell anemia
13–B
Time within which marriage may be solemnized
13–C
Twenty-four hour provision waived in certain cases
13–D
Duty of clerk issuing marriage license
14
Town and city clerks to issue marriage licenses
14–A
Town and city clerks to issue certificates of marriage registration
15
Duty of town and city clerks
15–A
Marriages of minors under eighteen years of age
15–B
Temporary provisions authorizing issuance of marriage license, upon court order, without consent of a parent in armed forces of United St...
16
False statements and affidavits
17
Clergyman or officer violating article
18
Clergymen or officer, when protected
19
Records to be kept by town and city clerks
19–A
Marriages on vessels
20
Records to be kept by the state department of health and the city clerk of the city of New York
20–A
Certified transcripts of records
20–B
Certification of marriage
20–C
Certification of marriage
21
Forms and books to be furnished
22
Penalty for violation
23
Supervision of and inspection of town and city clerks’ records by state commissioner of health
24
Effect of marriage on legitimacy of children
25
License, when to be obtained

Accessed:
Apr. 13, 2024

Last modified:
Mar. 31, 2023

§ 12’s source at nysenate​.gov

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