N.Y. Laws » CHAPTER Domestic Relations / ARTICLE Solemnization, Proof and Effect of Marriage
New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Domestic Relations Law § 20 (2026)

Records to be kept by the state department of health and the city clerk of the city of New York

✓ text as retrieved May 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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§ 20. Records to be kept by the state department of health and the
city clerk of the city of New York. All original affidavits, statements,
consents and licenses with certificates attached, and also all written
contracts of marriages outside of the city of New York shall be kept on
file and properly indexed by the state department of health, and such
similar evidences of marriage in the city of New York shall be kept on
file and properly indexed by the city clerk of the city of New York.
They shall be carefully examined, and if any such are incomplete or
unsatisfactory the state commissioner of health and in the city of New
York the city clerk shall require such further information to be
supplied as may be necessary to make the record complete and
satisfactory. Whenever it is claimed that a mistake has been made
through inadvertence in any of the statements, affidavits or other
papers required by this section to be filed with the state department of
health, and in the city of New York with the city clerk's office, the
state commissioner of health and in the city of New York the city clerk
may file with the same, affidavits upon the part of the person claiming
to be aggrieved by such mistake, showing the true facts and the reason
for the mistake and may make a note upon such original paper, statement
or affidavit showing that a mistake is claimed to have been made and the
nature thereof.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1986–2020 · leading case: Matter of Hepps v. New York State Dept. of Health, 183 A.D.3d 283 (N.Y. App. Div. 3d Dep't 2020).
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Matter of Hepps v. New York State Dept. of Health, 183 A.D.3d 283 (N.Y. App. Div. 3d Dep't 2020). “license and certificate" (Domestic Relations Law § 19 [1]) and, upon receipt by respondent of such records, the originals "shall be kept on file and properly indexed by [respondent]" (Domestic Relations Law § 20).”
Slattery v. City of New York, 179 Misc. 2d 740 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1999). “The town or city clerk records and indexes information pertaining to the marriage license (Domestic Relations Law § 19 [1]), or else preserves the information according to one of the alternative methods described in Domestic Relations Law § 19 (2) (a). The State Department of…”
In re Orfali, 123 A.D.2d 275 (N.Y. App. Div. 1st Dep't 1986). “) Domestic Relations Law § 20 provides that respondent City Clerk "may” take action to correct documents relating to contracts of marriage where "it is claimed that a mistake has been made through inadver *276 tence in any of the statements, affidavits or other papers required…”
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