How to Get a Marriage License in New Jersey (Without the Town Hall Headache)

Oct 14

Not an NJ marriage license. But if your paperwork moment looks this calm, I’ve done my job. Photo by Fotógrafo Samuel Cruz on Unsplash+

To get legally married in New Jersey, you and your partner apply together, in person, at a local registrar’s office. Bring photo ID, proof of address, your Social Security numbers, one adult witness, and the fee (usually $28). Then you wait 72 hours for the license, and you have 30 days to use it.

That’s the short version. Here’s the version I’d give you over coffee.

As an officiant, I’m the person holding your license at the end of the ceremony, pen in hand, making sure every line is signed and that it gets filed on time. So I’ve had a front-row seat to where couples get tripped up. Almost every time, it comes down to two things: timing, and one forgotten piece of paper.

First, license vs. certificate: what’s the difference?

These two get mixed up constantly, and it matters which one you’re asking for.

The marriage license is your permission slip. You get it before the wedding.
The marriage certificate is your proof. It exists after the wedding, once your officiant files the signed license with the town.

If you’re changing your name, the certificate is the one you need. More on that below.

Where do we apply for a marriage license in NJ?

It depends on where you live, not where you’re getting married.

At least one of you lives in New Jersey: apply in the town where either of you lives. That license works anywhere in the state.
Neither of you lives in New Jersey: apply in the town where your ceremony will take place. That license is only good in that one town.

If you’re coming from out of state, double-check which municipality your venue is actually in. A venue’s mailing address doesn’t always match the town it officially sits in, and that’s the town that counts.

Before you go, call the registrar (sometimes called the town clerk or vital statistics office) and ask three things:

Do we need an appointment?
What forms of payment do you take?
Is there anything specific to your office?

Every town runs this a little differently, and some only take cash. You can look up your town here to find the registrar’s contact info.

Who can get married in New Jersey?

Any two adults, of any gender, as long as you’re both:

At least 18 years old
Not currently in another marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership

What do we bring to the appointment?

You both need to show up in person. Bring:

Valid photo ID for each of you (driver’s license, passport, or other government ID)
Proof of New Jersey residency for whichever of you lives here (if either of you does)
Social Security numbers (for U.S. citizens; they’re kept confidential)
One witness, 18 or older (they will need their ID as well)
The fee, usually $28, in whatever form of payment that office accepts

Yes, you need a witness just to apply. This is the one couples forget most. Pick someone who’s free on a weekday and will actually show up: a parent, a sibling, your best friend, whoever.

A few extras aren’t required but can save you a second trip:

Your birth certificates, to confirm parents’ names
If you’ve been divorced or had an annulment, the final judgment
If you’re widowed, your late spouse’s death certificate

Any document that isn’t in English needs a certified English translation.

One more thing: you can download the application ahead of time or pick one up at the office. But don’t sign it at home. You sign it under oath, in front of the registrar.

How far ahead should we apply?

This is where I see the most stress, so here’s the math:

There’s a 72-hour waiting period after you apply before your license is issued.
Once it’s issued, it’s good for 30 days.

So applying the week of your wedding is cutting it close, and applying two months out means it expires first. My sweet spot is two to three weeks before the wedding. That leaves room for a closed office, a holiday, or a witness who cancels, without risking an expired license.

Keep in mind the office still has its regular hours. A license that’s “ready” on a Saturday may not be in your hands until Monday.

What happens to the license on the wedding day?

Bring it! You’d be surprised how often it’s sitting in someone’s glove compartment. Give it to your coordinator or officiant ahead of time so it’s one less thing in your pocket.

After the ceremony, the license gets signed by:

Your officiant
Two witnesses, each 18 or older (they don’t have to be the same person who witnessed your application)

Then your officiant has five business days to file it with the town where the ceremony took place. Not the town that issued it. The ceremony town.

When I’m your officiant, that filing is on me. You go enjoy being newlyweds. If a friend or family member is officiating, make sure they know this rule, because it’s the step that’s easiest to forget once the party starts.

You can choose whomever you want to sign the day of.

Two witnesses sign on the wedding day, and they don’t have to be the same person who came with you to apply.

When do we get our marriage certificate?

Give it about two weeks after the wedding, then contact the town where your license was filed and ask for certified copies. Each town sets its own price, so ask when you call.

My advice: order more than one. If you’re changing your name, you may need a certified copy for Social Security, the MVC, your passport, your bank, and work, and waiting on a second order is no fun.

Who can officiate a wedding in New Jersey?

New Jersey allows:

Judges (federal, state, and municipal)
Mayors, deputy mayors, county clerks, and surrogates
Ministers and clergy of any religion
Ministers ordained online

So yes, your friend or cousin can marry you if they’re ordained, even through an online ministry. New Jersey doesn’t require officiants to register with the state. Just have them confirm their ministry recognizes them as able to perform legal marriages, and get ordained well before the wedding.

If you’d rather have someone who does this every season, here’s how I approach officiating. And if you’re building the ceremony itself, start with the 9 essential parts of a wedding ceremony.

Already married and want to do it again?

If you’re already legally married to each other and want to renew your commitment with a legal ceremony, New Jersey offers a remarriage license. You bring proof of your current marriage, and there’s no 72-hour wait. Everything else works the same way.

Quick answers

Do we both have to be there to apply? Yes. Both of you, in person, plus your witness.

Can a friend officiate in New Jersey? Yes, as long as they’re ordained before the ceremony. Online ordination counts.

What if our wedding date moves past 30 days? Your license expires, and you’ll need to apply again. Call your registrar as soon as you know.

Where do we file the license after the wedding? You don’t. Your officiant files it with the town where the ceremony happened, within five business days.

One less thing on your list

A marriage license is one appointment. But it’s one appointment on top of a hundred other little things: the timeline, the vendors, who has the rings, who’s holding the license. That’s what I do. My question for every couple is the same: what can we take off your plate?

If you’re planning a New Jersey wedding and want someone handling the details so you can be present for it, take a look at my day-of coordination, or book a Vibe Check and let’s talk.