A marriage license in New Jersey costs $28, and the price is the same in every municipality in the state. The fee breaks into two parts set by statute: a $3 base charge that stays with the local registrar who processes your application1Justia. New Jersey Code 37:1-12 – Fees and a $25 surcharge the registrar forwards quarterly to the Department of Human Services.2Justia. New Jersey Code 37:1-12.1 – Additional Fee
Most registrar offices take cash, money orders, or checks. Call your local office before you go to confirm what they accept, because it varies.
What the $28 Buys You and When You’d Pay Again
The $28 covers the application and, once the waiting period clears, the issuance of the license itself. From the date the license is issued, you have 30 days to hold the ceremony. Miss that window and the license expires. There is no renewal: you file a new application and pay $28 again.3Justia. New Jersey Code 37:1-4 – Issuance of Marriage or Civil Union License, Emergencies, Validity
The application itself stays valid for six months from the date the registrar accepts it, and the registrar can extend that to a year with prior approval. The 30-day clock runs from issuance of the license, not from the application date.4New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Where You Pay and What to Bring
You pay the fee in person at the local registrar of vital statistics. If at least one of you lives in New Jersey, apply in the municipality where either applicant resides, and the license will be valid anywhere in the state. If neither of you is a New Jersey resident, you must apply in the municipality where the ceremony will take place, and the license will only be valid there.4New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Both applicants and one witness age 18 or older must appear together. You sign the application under oath in front of the registrar, so do not sign it ahead of time. Bring:
- Photo ID for each applicant (driver’s license, passport, or state or federal ID)
- Personal information for the form, including full legal names, addresses, dates and places of birth, and both parents’ full names and birthplaces
- Social Security number for each U.S. citizen applicant (kept confidential, not on the public record)
- Proof of New Jersey residency from the resident applicant, if applicable
- A certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment, or former spouse’s death certificate for any prior marriage or civil union
A valid passport works as photo ID for non-U.S. citizens. Any document in a foreign language needs a certified English translation.4New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses Both applicants must be at least 18. New Jersey allows no exceptions: no parental consent, no judicial approval.5Justia. New Jersey Code 37:1-6 – Prohibition of Issuance of Marriage, Civil Union License to Minor
Plan for the 72-Hour Wait
After the registrar accepts your application, the law requires a 72-hour wait before the license is issued.3Justia. New Jersey Code 37:1-4 – Issuance of Marriage or Civil Union License, Emergencies, Validity If your ceremony date is set, apply at least three days before. A Superior Court judge can waive part or all of the period in a genuine emergency.
The wait does not apply to remarriages. If you are already legally married and renewing or reaffirming, bring a certified copy of your existing marriage certificate and the registrar can issue the license immediately.4New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Costs That Come After the License
The $28 covers the license itself, not the certified marriage certificate you will actually use for name changes, insurance, and other paperwork. After the ceremony, the officiant has five days to file the completed license with the municipal registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place. That filing creates the record.
Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate
Once the completed license is on file, you can order certified copies. The initial search and first certified copy cost $25. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, cost $2 each.6New Jersey Department of Health. Fees at a Glance Order a few extra: the Social Security Administration, your bank, your employer, and insurers may each want their own.
Requesting a certified copy requires a completed application, proof of your identity, proof of your relationship to the person on the record, and the fee.7New Jersey Department of Health. Order a Vital Record
Name-Change Costs
If you are taking your spouse’s name, the Social Security Administration suggests waiting at least 30 days after the wedding before applying for an updated card, which gives the state time to process its records. The replacement card is free.8Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change Your Name?
Updating a passport depends on timing. If your current passport was issued within the last year, Form DS-5504 may let you correct the name at no charge. Otherwise you’ll likely renew with Form DS-82 or apply fresh with Form DS-11, both of which carry fees; a standard passport book renewal is $130.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees Update Social Security first, since the passport office may verify your new name against it.