Common-law marriage has diverse names, from "marriage in fact", "marriage by repute and habit", "informal…
Where to Apply
How do I get a marriage license in New Jersey?
You may apply for a New Jersey marriage license at a municipal clerk's office.
May I apply at a county clerk's office too?
County clerks do not issue marriage licenses. Go to a local registrar.
How do I get a civil union license?
Marriage and civil union license rules are the same.
Who should I ask to see?
City, town, borough, township, village, and municipal clerks are local registrars.
Do I have to make an appointment?
Your local registrar may need you to schedule an appointment due to limited resources.
Residency
Does residency affect where I apply?
You live in New Jersey?
If either lives in New Jersey, apply in either's city or town of residence.
Neither lives in New Jersey?
If neither lives in New Jersey, apply in the city or town where the marriage will occur.
Is U.S. citizenship required to get married?
New Jersey marriage law treats U.S. citizens and foreigners the same.
Do I have to show proof of New Jersey residency?
If you claim New Jersey residence, show proof, such as a utility or credit card bill.
Costs
How much does a marriage license cost?
A New Jersey marriage license costs $28.
How much does a marriage certificate cost?
A certified copy of a New Jersey marriage certificate costs $25. Each extra is $2.
Usage
Where may I use my marriage license?
Are you a resident?
If either lives in New Jersey, marry anywhere in the state.
Are you both nonresidents?
If neither lives in New Jersey, marry in the city or town of application.
Attendance
What if I cannot apply in person?
If you're a U.S. service member deployed overseas and cannot apply in person, an attorney-in-fact may apply on your behalf.
Are both of us able to apply absentee?
Only one party to a marriage may apply absentee by proxy.
Do I need to bring an application witness?
Bring one identifying witness aged 18 or over to vouch for both of you.
Will I, a proxy, or my witness have to take an oath?
Application participants must swear that what they convey is true. Untruths are perjury.
Application
What goes on the application?
The license application will ask the following questions:
- Choose license type
- Marriage, remarriage, civil union, reaffirmation of civil union
- Name
- First, middle, last
- Birth surname
- Current name (if different)
- i.e., recent new name does not match ID
- Age
- Must be 18+
- Sex
- Male, female, undesignated
- Birthplace
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- One for both
- Mailing address
- One for both
- Residential address
- No PO Box
- Street, municipality, county, state, zip code
- Related to each other
- If yes, how
- Social security number
- If you have one
- Is kept confidential
- For child support purposes
- Not disclosed on public records
- Marriages, civil unions, domestic partnerships
- Document each
- End date
- End place
- End reason
- Total marriages
- Total civil unions
- Name of recent spouse or partner
- Current civil union, domestic partnership
- Start date
- Start place
- Remarriage or reaffirm civil union
- Original date
- Original place
- Ceremony details
- Expected date
- Expected municipality
- Officiant's name and address
- Parents
- Birth names
- Places of birth
Age Requirements
How old must I be to marry?
You must be at least 18 years old to marry.
Did New Jersey ban child marriage?
On June 22, 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy signed S427, which bans child marriage in New Jersey.
Premarital Education
Is premarital education available?
New Jersey does not have a state-approved premarital education program.
Waiting Period
When will I get my marriage license?
You'll get your marriage license 72-hours after applying.
Is it possible to waive the waiting period?
The Superior Court may waive the 72-hour waiting period for emergencies.
Who's allowed to pick up my marriage license?
You may assign anyone to pick up your marriage license.
What if I don't pick up my license after 72 hours?
Your marriage license will remain available for pick up for six months.
Does the wait apply to remarriage or civil union reaffirmation?
The 72-hour wait does not apply to remarriage or civil union reaffirmation.
Expiration
When will my marriage license expire?
Your marriage license will expire 30 days after issuance.
Identification
Do I show ID?
Bring proof of identity, such as a driver's license, passport, or a state- or federal-issued ID card.
Do I show my birth certificate?
You need not bring your birth certificate.
Do I show my social security card?
You need not bring your social security card. Just recount the number.
Blood Test
Do I have to get a blood test or physical?
New Jersey abolished the syphilis blood test and physical exam rule in 1997.
Divorced
Must I show proof of divorce?
Bring certified proof of your last dissolved marriage or civil union.
How soon may I marry after divorce?
You may marry as long as your divorce is final.
Widowed
Must I show proof of being widowed?
You need not show a death certificate.
How soon may I marry after being widowed?
There is no waiting period between a spouse's death and remarrying.
Name Change
How do I change my name through marriage?
Include a certified copy of your marriage certificate with your name change forms.
Will I be able to choose a new name when I apply?
The marriage license application does not have spots to choose a new name.
When do I update my driver's license?
Tell NJ MVC of a name change within two weeks to avoid a fine.
Witnesses
Must I bring witnesses to my ceremony?
Two witnesses must be present during your marriage ceremony.
Must witnesses sign?
Both witnesses must sign your marriage license and print their addresses.
The Ceremony
Who may officiate our marriage?
A judge, magistrate, mayor, civil celebrant, clergy, or religious society may officiate your marriage.
May we officiate our own marriage?
You may not self-solemnize your marriage ceremony.
May we have a civil and religious ceremony?
You may ask for two marriage licenses if holding a civil and religious ceremony.
License Return
When must my marriage license go back?
Within five days after marriage, send your license to the local registrar in the municipality where the ceremony occurred.
Marriage Certificate
How do I get a copy of my marriage certificate?
Buy from local registrar?
Contact the local registrar in the municipality where your marriage occurred.
Buy from state vital records?
NJ vital statistics sells certified copies of birth, marriage, and civil union records.
How much are certified copies?
Certified copies of New Jersey vital records are $25. Extras are $2.
Proxy Marriage
Is marriage by proxy allowed?
You may marry by proxy if you apply by proxy.
May we both assign ceremony proxies?
Only one party to the marriage may assign a proxy.
When and how do I assign my ceremony proxy?
The proxy (AKA attorney-in-fact) who applies on your behalf must marry for you.
Prohibited Marriage
May I marry a cousin?
You may marry a first cousin.
May I marry a family relation?
You may not marry an ascendant, descendant, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew.
May I marry a half-blood relation?
For marriage, half blood and whole blood relations are equivalent.
May I marry a stepchild, -parent, or -sibling?
New Jersey law does not speak on marriage between current or former stepfamily.
Does prohibited family "mergers" apply to civil unions?
If you're barred from marrying a family member, a civil union is no recourse.
Common-law Marriage
Is common-law marriage legal?
New Jersey will only recognize a common-law marriage created before December 1, 1939.
Vow Renewal
May we renew our vows?
Choose "remarriage" on the application to renew your marriage vows.
May we reaffirm our civil union?
Choose "reaffirmation of civil union" on the application to reaffirm your civil union.
Must we show proof of our marriage or civil union?
For remarriage or reaffirming a civil union, show proof of its existence.
Does my foreign fiancée have to be in the states first to apply for our marriage license?
Hi Maurisna. An attorney-in-fact can apply on behalf of your fiance. It's basically applying by proxy.
Do both parties have to me present in order to get marriage license
Only one of you may apply absentee by sending an attorney-in-fact to act as your proxy.
(Hm), I think I can do this?
Must I be honest in consideration of the fact that I’d almost desire unto life, that I might be my own attorney-in-fact on the behalf of a service-member?
I need a proxy!
Please!
My fiance and I are having serious issues with this stuff. We were told marriage by proxy wasn't allowed, is this now no longer true?? And how would we go about getting an attorney-in-fact? Also, are there laws regarding a marriage by proxy?
It's reserved for members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed overseas.
Just name someone through a power of attorney to serve as your attorney-in-fact (a.k.a. proxy).
Yes, you can visit NJ's legislature website and review the state's statutes. Specially Title 37 (marriages and married persons).
If my mailing address is Westville but I really live in Deptford and I’m getting married in Deptford where should I be getting my license from?
Hi Teresa. It goes by residence, so Deptford. You may be asked to show proof of this address.
My partner and I met in New Brunswick and are both from the UK. Do we need to do anything different from the above in order to get married in New Brunswick? Thank you
There's no difference. The requirements to marry are the same for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.
We have been trying to communicate with the local registrar office and they've essentially gone radio silent. We live out of state, so we have to use this township and can't just go in person.
A marriage license application is good for 6 months (30 days once issued). We have been trying to figure out the guidelines for having the marriage license application extended beyond 6 months.
"The marriage license application is valid for six months from the date accepted, unless the Registrar has given prior approval to extend the validity of the application to a maximum of one year."
I have called the state level registrar a few times at this point. My understanding is that this decision rests at the local registrar's level and is at his or her discretion. Based on my conversation, it is also my understanding that the extension is simply marked as such on the application by the registrar as being valid for the pre-approved time frame (beyond the regular 6 months).
Any insight?
Which local register or township is it?
Delran, NJ, at this point I'm at a bit of a loss at to what I should do. I spoke with her on the phone twice, the 2nd time was on a Friday Sept 6th. She said she'd get me an answer that Monday or Tuesday (9-10th). I reached out at the end of the week. I've left 3-4 voicemails, and sent an email yesterday. This all began back in early September….
We both live out of state and have to use this Registrar as our venue is located In Delran, NJ…
Hi AE. Perhaps reach out to the municipal clerk's association for help or contact the court administrator's office to nudge the clerk, as they're located in the same building.
I'm not sure what happened to my response, it was pending moderation and then never posted… Delran Township.
Both are visible now.
I need help in can I get i married in Ocean City, NJ when I live in Somers Point NJ, cause I want a beach wedding nothing more please email or call..email… [email removed]..phone number [phone removed]
I just need help on license in different ways they view there batch stringing wedding…an how long I have to get married after I file…[phone removed]
I don't know what you're asking here.
You have 30 days to get married after receiving your marriage license.
Hi Krystle. Your email and phone number were removed, as this is a public-facing website and disclosing such personal details isn't a good idea. If you live in Somers Point, that's where you must apply. Afterward, you can get married anywhere in New Jersey.
My spouse to be and I want to get married in the Lake Shawnee area this winter. We will be visiting relatives. We are residents of Nevada.
Can we apply for a marriage license in the Jefferson Township area of NJ? We will be brining our Passports. Can we get married at a Justice of the Peace in the Jefferson Township area? Thanks for your help!
Yes, that's where you can and should apply.
No, justice of the peace doesn't exist in New Jersey.
Thanks for your help. Just to clarify…we can get a marriage license. Where do we get this and how/how much? What's the procedure? Then where is the most affordable option to get married quickly please? Thanks so much! :)
Also we don't have to be residents of NJ?
HI Margaret. You needn't be residents of NJ to marry in the state. However, nonresidents are restricted to marrying in the city or town where the ceremony will take place.
Get it from the city or town your ceremony will occur.
$28.
The procedure is the same for residents and nonresidents. Please review the contents of this page for a rundown.
You can phone the city or town clerk ahead of time to see if they have referrals available. Prices aren't set by the state, so it varies. It's whatever the officiant decides to charge for their services. Make sure you schedule this well in advance.
How long do you have to wait to get married once the license has been obtained.
Hi Sonia. You'll pick up your marriage license 72 hours after applying. You can get married immediately once you have it in hand.
My partner was born in another country but is a naturalized US citizen. Does he need a birth certificate to apply for the marriage license?
His birth certificate isn't required.
Hi, I have a expired foreign passport, but I do have a Maryland driver license (for undocumented/not federal ID). My fiancé is a US citizen. Can I use either of those documents to get married in NJ which is my fiancés hometown.
Hi Lym. Your driver's license would work fine.
Hi. We are getting married in Princeton NJ on April 23 2022. When should we obtain the license? Also we live in Cranford NJ, is it okay to get the license in Cranford instead of Princeton?
Yes, that's fine, since you live there. Your license can be used statewide.
Hi. We are currently interested in getting a marriage license in Plumsted Township, NJ. Do all the same rules still apply since COVID? Are you open on Friday November 26th? Thank you.
The Plumsted, NJ clerk's website doesn't reference COVID, so you'll have to contact them to inquire.
They're open on Fridays.
Hi, I live in New Zealand and I am coming to the USA to marry a women from New Jersey.
I have found the following rules in law, but am interested to know is there anything I need to do, or any evidence I need to provide from New Zealand?
https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2013/title-37/
Could you please provide a brief summary or check list for my situation?
Thank you!
Daniel
Hi Daniel. The requirements on this page are the same for U.S. citizens and foreigners. Bring photo ID (such as your passport) and if you're divorced bring a certified copy of your decree of dissolution. Be mindful of the residency requirements too.
Hello! Are we allowed to apply for the marriage license after we have our religious wedding ceremony?
That's fine as long as the ceremony is informal. It wouldn't be considered your date of marriage.
I live in New Jersey. My fiance is in Tucson, AZ. He's currently incarcerated. Can we do a marriage by proxy? If so how can we go about doing it?
Hi Cheryl. Your fiancé must contact the superintendent where's he's incarcerated to make arrangements. You may not even have to marry through a proxy.
Can the officiant/minister fill out the name and address of the witnesses so all the witnesses needs to do it sign? What happens is a witness's name and address are illegible?
That's fine.
AFAIK, NJ statutes do not touch on this.
I know about the marriage by proxy part. But what if say one of you is from the UK and the other incarcerated in Wrights Town. How can it all be applied for?
Hi J. Whoever is incarcerated must make arrangements with the prison superintendent to apply for the marriage license and schedule the marriage ceremony.
Hi, My officiant made a mistake on the license and crossed out the mistake. What do I need to do? I have been trying to find information online and no one has touched on this. Also, we are beyond the five days after the ceremony now, what will happen? Thanks!
Hi Tim. You could contact the city or town clerk where you obtained your marriage license about having them record a delayed marriage license. In many states, the office that issues and records marriage licenses will accept the license after the "return by" date.
You can also ask them about the crossed out mistake (minor or egregious?) and if that'll be a problem.