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Getting a Marriage License In New Jersey
Compliments Of
The Rev. Wayne L.
Owens, Minister
If you are getting married in New Jersey, you will
find information below which will be helpful to you
and your future spouse in planning your New Jersey
wedding. Read it carefully, if you have any
questions, please contact your
local Registrar of
Vital Statistics.
Where should you apply for a marriage license?
If the bride is a resident of New Jersey, the
marriage license must be obtained from the Registrar
of Vital Statistics in the municipality where she
lives.
If she is a non-resident of New Jersey and the groom
is a resident of New Jersey, the license must be
obtained from the Registrar in the municipality in
which the groom resides. (For marriage license
purposes, soldiers are residents of the posts at
which they are stationed.) A license issued under
either of the preceding circumstances is good for
use anywhere in New Jersey.
If both bride and groom are non-residents of New
Jersey, the license must be obtained from the
Registrar of the municipality where the marriage is
to be performed and is only good for use in that
municipality.
A license may never be used outside of New Jersey
and a license issued in another state may never be
used in New Jersey.
Be sure to contact the Registrar well in advance of
the wedding to find out on what days and during what
hours the Registrar will be in the office. The
license fee is $28.00.
Who can perform a marriage ceremony?
According to state law, judges of a Federal District
Court, United States magistrates, judges of a
Municipal Court, judges of the Superior Court,
judges of a Tax Court, retired judges of the
Superior Court or Tax Court, of judge of the
Superior Court or Tax Court who has retired in good
standing and any mayor/deputy mayor or chairman of
any township committee, village president of New
Jersey, County Clerks, and every minister of every
religion may solemnize a marriage.
When should you apply for a marriage license?
A local Registrar will not issue a marriage license
sooner than 72 hours after the application for a
marriage license has been made, unless ordered to do
so via appropriate court order.
If the marriage if scheduled for a Saturday of
Sunday, the application should be made no later than
the preceding Tuesday. If the application is made on
a Wednesday or Thursday, the 72 hours will end on
Saturday or Sunday, but the Registrar will probably
not be available on those days of any public
holiday.
If both the bride and groom are unavailable to
complete the application at the same time, either
applicant may complete his/her part of the
application and start the waiting period. The other
applicant must return with the same witness (who
must be at least 18 years old) to complete his/her
part of the application. The application must be
completed by both parties before the license will be
issued. Once the marriage license is issued, it is
good for 30 days from the date of issuance.
A couple wishing to have both religious and civil
ceremonies may be issued a license for both
ceremonies on the basis of a single application.
However, a couple wishing to have two religious
ceremonies, and wanting to have a public record of
each, may not have two licenses issued at the same
time. They must apply for and use the first license.
They must return to the Registrar with the signed
original certificate of the marriage and a witness
to apply for a remarriage license.
What should you bring with you when you apply?
Photo identification, social security cards, and
original birth certificates for you and your fiancé.
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