A New Jersey marriage license costs $28, takes 72 hours to issue after you apply, and is valid for 30 days once you receive it. Both partners have to apply together in person at a local registrar’s office, bring one adult witness, and present valid photo ID. There is no blood test, no counseling requirement, and no residency requirement for the ceremony itself.
Who Qualifies
Both applicants must be at least 18. New Jersey allows no exceptions, having eliminated the older provisions that let minors marry with parental or judicial consent.1Justia. New Jersey Code 37-1-6 – Prohibition of Issuance of Marriage, Civil Union License to Minor Same-sex and opposite-sex couples have full and equal access under state law.2Justia. New Jersey Code 37-1-1.1 – Findings, Declarations Regarding Same-Sex Marriage
Marriages between close relatives — parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews, whether by whole or half blood — are prohibited and automatically void.
What to Bring
Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, passport, or state or federal ID card. Documents must be originals or certified copies, and anything not in English needs a certified English translation. Some registrars also ask for a certified birth certificate to confirm parentage, so call your municipal office before your appointment.3New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage License
Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers on the application. You don’t have to bring the physical card, but the number is a mandatory field and the form will be rejected without it. The number stays confidential and can only be released for child support enforcement.4Justia. New Jersey Code 37-1-17 – Marriage or Civil Union License; Information Provided
If either of you was previously married, in a civil union, or in a domestic partnership, you’ll need the date and location where that relationship was legally dissolved. Some municipalities want a copy of the divorce decree or annulment order, so bring those documents even if the state doesn’t universally require them.
The form is titled “Application for License: Marriage, Remarriage, Civil Union, Reaffirmation of Civil Union” (REG-77), available from the Department of Health website or your local registrar.5New Jersey Department of Health. Application for License Marriage, Remarriage, Civil Union, Reaffirmation of Civil Union The names and addresses you enter must match your ID exactly. Small discrepancies delay processing and can create errors on the final certificate.
The Witness
One adult witness, age 18 or older, must appear with you at the registrar’s office, present their own government-issued photo ID, and sign the application under oath.3New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage License The witness doesn’t need to be a New Jersey resident. Some municipalities add local requirements, such as the witness having known both applicants for at least six months, so confirm before the appointment.
Where to File
The correct office depends on residency. If either applicant lives in New Jersey, you file with the registrar in that municipality, and the license is then valid anywhere in the state. If neither of you lives in New Jersey, you file in the municipality where the ceremony will take place, and the license is only good in that municipality.3New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage License Out-of-state couples planning a destination wedding should pick the venue first, because that decision determines where you have to apply.
Both applicants must appear together in person. Most offices require an appointment. The $28 fee is due at filing.6New Jersey Department of Health. Entering Into a Marriage or Civil Union in New Jersey Payment methods vary; some municipalities accept only checks or money orders.
The 72-Hour Wait
State law requires 72 hours between filing your application and picking up the license. The registrar cannot issue it any sooner.7Justia. New Jersey Code 37-1-4 – Issuance of Marriage or Civil Union License, Emergencies, Validity For a Saturday ceremony, filing by the previous Tuesday keeps you comfortably clear.
The Superior Court can waive all or part of the waiting period in a genuine emergency. You’d have to petition and show good cause, and the resulting order gets filed with the registrar along with your application. This isn’t a workaround for tight scheduling.
How Long the License Lasts
The application and the license run on different clocks, and this is where couples get caught out. Your application stays valid for six months from the date the registrar accepts it, so you have time to schedule the pickup. But once the license is actually issued, you have 30 days to hold the ceremony. Miss either deadline and you start over with a new application and another $28.6New Jersey Department of Health. Entering Into a Marriage or Civil Union in New Jersey3New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage License
If your wedding is more than six months out, ask the registrar about extending the application validity, which can be granted up to one year with prior approval.3New Jersey Department of Health. Marriage License
Who Can Officiate
New Jersey authorizes a wide range of officiants: current and retired judges (federal, Superior, Tax, and municipal), county surrogates, county clerks, mayors, deputy mayors authorized by the mayor, former mayors not currently on the governing body, township committee chairs, and village presidents. Any ordained clergy member of any religion can officiate, as can religious societies and organizations acting under their own rules. Civil celebrants certified by the Secretary of State after completing a training course are also authorized.8FindLaw. New Jersey Statutes Title 37 Marriages and Married Persons 37 1-13
Officiants don’t have to register with the state before performing the ceremony, but choosing someone not on the authorized list puts the legal validity of the marriage at risk.
After the Ceremony
The officiant signs the marriage certificate portion of the license and is responsible for returning the completed paperwork to the registrar. That filing creates the official state record. The document your officiant hands you at the ceremony has no legal weight on its own.
Certified copies come from the registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place. They carry a raised seal and are what you’ll use for name changes, insurance updates, and other post-wedding paperwork. Fees vary by municipality but are usually modest.
Changing Your Name
Marriage doesn’t automatically change your legal name in New Jersey. If you’re taking a spouse’s surname or hyphenating, start with the Social Security Administration, because most other agencies verify your new name against SSA records. You’ll need a certified marriage certificate, and the replacement card arrives by mail within five to ten business days.9Social Security Administration. Change Name With Social Security
Once Social Security is updated, bring your certified marriage certificate and your six-point ID documents to any Motor Vehicle Commission licensing center to update your driver’s license. Documents must be originals or certified copies, and anything not in English needs an approved translation. Name changes are walk-in.10NJ MVC. Name Change
If You’re Already Married
Couples who are already legally married can apply for a remarriage or reaffirmation license using the same REG-77 form and paying the same $28. There is no 72-hour wait for this license, so it can be picked up the day after applying. You’ll need proof of the existing marriage, and the ceremony still has to be performed by an authorized officiant.