(b) Every application for a marriage license shall contain a statement
to the following effect:
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS
(1) Every person has the right to adopt any name by which he or she
wishes to be known simply by using that name consistently and without
intent to defraud.
(2) A person's last name (surname) does not automatically change upon
marriage, and neither party to the marriage must change his or her last
name. Parties to a marriage need not have the same last name.
(3) One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname
by which he or she wishes to be known after the solemnization of the
marriage by entering the new name in the space below. Such entry shall
consist of one of the following surnames:
(i) the surname of the other spouse; or
(ii) any former surname of either spouse; or
(iii) a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the
premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse; or
(iv) a combination name separated by a hyphen or space, provided that
each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any
former surname, of each of the spouses.
(4) One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the middle
name by which he or she wishes to be known after the solemnization of
the marriage by entering the new name in the space below. Such entry
shall consist of one of the following options:
(i) the current surname of the spouse electing to change his or her
name; or
(ii) any former surname of the spouse electing to change his or her
name; or
(iii) the surname of the other spouse.
(5) The use of this option will have the effect of providing a record
of the change of name. The marriage certificate, containing the new
name, if any, constitutes proof that the use of the new name, or the
retention of the former name, is lawful.
(6) Neither the use of, nor the failure to use, this option of
selecting a new surname or middle name by means of this application
abrogates the right of each person to adopt a different name through
usage at some future date.
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Structure New York Laws
Article 3 - Solemnization, Proof and Effect of Marriage
10 - Marriage a Civil Contract.
11 - By Whom a Marriage Must Be Solemnized.
11-B - Registration of Persons Performing Marriage Ceremonies in the City of New York.
11-D - One-Day Marriage Officiant License.
12 - Marriage, How Solemnized.
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; Form.
14-A - Town and City Clerks to Issue Certificates of Marriage Registration; Form.
15 - Duty of Town and City Clerks.
15-A - Marriages of Minors Under Eighteen Years of Age.
16 - False Statements and Affidavits.
17 - Clergyman or Officer Violating Article; Penalty.
18 - Clergymen or Officer, When Protected.
19 - Records to Be Kept by Town and City Clerks.
19-A - Marriages on Vessels; Reports and Records.
20-A - Certified Transcripts of Records; State Commissioner of Health May Furnish.
20-B - Certification of Marriage; State Commissioner of Health May Furnish.
20-C - Certification of Marriage; New Certificate in Case of Subsequent Change of Name or Gender.
21 - Forms and Books to Be Furnished.
23 - Supervision of and Inspection of Town and City Clerks' Records by State Commissioner of Health.