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 exte
