FAQ / What is the difference between a "short" and "extended" marriage certificate?

Today, upon receipt of a properly completed marriage license by the Office of the City Clerk a Certificate of Marriage Registration or marriage certificate which is printed on light blue colored safety paper is issued to the couple. That is a product of the computerized age. Prior to that, certificates were typed out. Under law a completed photo-copy of the marriage license certified by the City Clerk is also a legal marriage certificate. So a marriage certificate can take two forms. Typically, marriages occurring between 1995 to present are in our computerized data base and a request for such record will result in a marriage certificate of the kind first described above. Other certificates may take that form or will be photo-copied completed licenses certified by the City Clerk. In addition, the law provides that, unless otherwise stated, upon request a basic marriage certificate will be provided to a proper party. Upon request in writing, the man or woman can request a so-called extended version, which contains additional facts such as parents' and marriage officiant's name, place of ceremony, etc. Typically an extended certificate is used by foreign jurisdictions in connection with adoptions, passports, dual citizenships and the like.

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