To elope in New Jersey, you and your partner apply in person for a marriage license at a local registrar’s office, wait 72 hours, then hold a brief ceremony with an authorized officiant and two adult witnesses who all sign the license. The license itself costs $28. There’s no blood test, no residency requirement, and no required ceremony format, which is why New Jersey works well for a quick, legal marriage.
Who Can Marry in New Jersey
Both of you must be at least 18. New Jersey does not issue marriage licenses to anyone under 18, and there is no exception for parental consent or a judge’s approval.1Justia. New Jersey Code 37:1-6 – Prohibition of Issuance of Marriage, Civil Union License to Minor Neither of you can already be in a marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership that New Jersey recognizes.2New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
If either of you was married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree, annulment order, or the former spouse’s death certificate when you apply.
New Jersey does not recognize common-law marriage. Living together, no matter how long, does not make you legally married here. If you established a valid common-law marriage in a state that does recognize it before moving, New Jersey will honor that union, but you can’t create one by eloping informally.
Already married and planning a vow renewal? New Jersey has a separate “remarriage” process that follows the same application steps but skips the 72-hour wait. You bring a certified copy of your existing marriage certificate instead of divorce or death paperwork.2New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Getting the Marriage License
Apply at the local registrar’s office in the municipality where either of you lives. If neither of you is a New Jersey resident, you apply in the municipality where the ceremony will happen, and that license is only valid in that specific municipality. For residents, the license works anywhere in the state.2New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Both of you must appear in person and sign the application under oath. Bring:
- Photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID
- Your Social Security number, required by law for U.S. citizens and kept confidential
- Proof of residency if at least one of you lives in New Jersey
- A witness who is at least 18 and comes with you to the registrar’s office
The application asks for full names, addresses, parents’ names, and places of birth.2New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses If either of you is not a U.S. citizen and doesn’t have a Social Security number, call the registrar’s office ahead of time. State guidance only lists the SSN requirement for U.S. citizens, so the office can explain what substitutes they’ll accept.
The application fee is $28.
The 72-Hour Wait and License Validity
A 72-hour waiting period begins the moment the registrar accepts your application. You cannot pick up the license or hold the ceremony until those three days have passed. The only built-in exception is for couples renewing vows through the remarriage process.2New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Once issued, the license is valid for six months. The registrar can extend validity up to one year with prior approval, so a shifting elopement timeline isn’t fatal to your paperwork.2New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage Licenses
Choosing an Officiant
New Jersey authorizes a broad list of people to perform marriages, including federal and state judges, municipal court judges, administrative law judges, certain retired or resigned judges in good standing, county surrogates and clerks, mayors, deputy mayors authorized by the mayor, township committee chairpersons, village presidents, every member of the clergy of every religion, and civil celebrants certified by the Secretary of State.3Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 37:1-13 – Authorization to Solemnize Marriages and Civil Unions
The clergy provision is deliberately broad. The statute does not specify how a member of the clergy must be ordained, which is why ministers ordained through online organizations have performed legally recognized marriages in New Jersey. If you’re going this route for your elopement, call the registrar in advance to confirm they’ll accept the credentials, since individual offices sometimes raise questions about online ordinations.
Religious societies and organizations can also join couples in marriage according to their own customs.3Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 37:1-13 – Authorization to Solemnize Marriages and Civil Unions
Holding the Ceremony
The ceremony can happen almost anywhere: a park, a beach, a backyard, a living room. New Jersey does not prescribe specific words, vows, readings, or rituals. The legal requirements are simply that an authorized officiant performs the ceremony and that at least two witnesses, each 18 or older, are present.
After the vows, the officiant, both spouses, and both witnesses sign the marriage license. That’s the signature set that turns the license into proof of a completed marriage. Even if your elopement runs ten minutes, you still need two adults willing to sign.
Filing the License and Ordering Copies
The officiant files the signed license with the local registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place, which isn’t necessarily the registrar that issued the license.4Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 37:1-17.1 – License, Transmittal, Copies of Certificate Follow up with your officiant and confirm the paperwork actually went in. A delayed or lost filing can create real problems later when you need to prove the marriage.
Once the registrar processes the license, one copy stays on file, one goes to the officiant, and one goes to you. For additional certified copies, contact the same registrar’s office. Fees for certified copies vary by municipality.5New Jersey Department of Health. Fees at a Glance Order two or three right away. You’ll need them for name changes, insurance, taxes, and other legal updates, and ordering extras up front is cheaper than requesting them one at a time.
Changing Your Name After the Elopement
If either of you is taking a new last name, the order of updates matters. Start with Social Security, then your driver’s license, then your passport. Doing it out of order creates database mismatches that slow everything down.
Social Security Card
Fill out Form SS-5 with your new name and take it to your local SSA office along with your certified marriage certificate and proof of identity like a driver’s license or passport. The SSA accepts only originals or certified documents, not photocopies. A new card typically arrives in 10 to 14 business days, and the SSA automatically notifies the IRS. Wait at least 48 hours after your SSA visit before going to the MVC so the Social Security database has time to update.
New Jersey Driver’s License
Bring your certified marriage certificate to any MVC Licensing Center as a walk-in. You’ll also need to meet the standard 6-point ID verification, so bring enough supporting documents to hit six points.6New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Name Change Everything must be an original or a certified copy with proper seals. Documents in a language other than English need an approved translation.
Passport
Which form you use depends on when your current passport was issued and whether it has expired. The State Department offers three options: DS-5504, DS-82, and DS-11. The fee calculator on the State Department’s website identifies which form applies and what you’ll owe.7U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees If your passport was issued within the last year, a name change through DS-5504 may be free. Otherwise, expect the standard renewal or new application fee. Processing runs roughly two to six weeks without expedited service.