How to Get Married in New Jersey: A Step-by-Step Guide

Congratulations on your engagement! Once the excitement of "yes" settles in, most Northern New Jersey couples find themselves with the same question: okay, but how does this actually become legal? Between venue tours, cake tastings, and guest lists, the legal side of getting married can feel like an afterthought — but it's the one part of your wedding day that's non-negotiable.

The good news: New Jersey's process is straightforward once you know the steps. Here's everything you need, in order, so you can check it off the list and get back to the fun stuff.

Step 1: Confirm You Meet New Jersey's Marriage Requirements

Before you apply for anything, make sure you and your partner meet these basics:

• Age: Both applicants must be 18 or older to marry without parental consent. New Jersey does not permit marriage under 18, even with parental consent.

• No blood test required: New Jersey eliminated the blood test requirement years ago, so this is one less appointment to make.

• Prior marriages: If either of you was previously married, you'll need to know the details of how that marriage ended (divorce, annulment, or death of a spouse) — more on the paperwork below.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

When you go to apply for your license, bring:

• A valid driver's license, passport, or state/federal ID for proof of identity

• Proof of residency (required for the NJ-resident applicant — a utility bill or bank statement works if your ID doesn't show your current address)

• Your Social Security number (the card itself typically isn't required, just the number)

• If either of you was previously married: the month, year, and county/state where a divorce was finalized, or a certified copy of a former spouse's death certificate if widowed

• Certified English translations for any documents not in English

Step 3: Apply for Your Marriage License at the Local Registrar

This is the step couples are most often surprised by: you must apply in person, together, in New Jersey — and many municipalities require you to schedule this by appointment.

A few key rules:

• Apply in the municipality where either of you lives. If you're both out-of-state residents, you'll apply in the municipality where the ceremony will take place.

• The application fee is $28 in most towns (cash is often required — check with your specific registrar).

• A witness age 18 or older must be present when you sign the application. Note: in many towns, your officiant cannot serve as this witness.

• You do not need to sign the application before your appointment — in fact, you shouldn't. It must be signed under oath in front of the registrar.

For couples in Passaic, Bergen, Essex, and Morris counties, appointment availability can book up quickly around peak wedding season (spring and fall), so this is worth handling 3–4 months out if your date allows it.

Step 4: Wait Out the 72-Hour Period

New Jersey law requires a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the day you apply and the day the license can be issued. This waiting period doesn't apply if you're having a remarriage or vow reaffirmation ceremony with a prior marriage on record.

Plan around this carefully — if you're applying close to your wedding date, weekends and holidays (when registrar offices are closed) can push your issue date later than you'd expect.

Step 5: Know Your License's Window

Once issued, your license is valid for 30 days — so don't apply too early. Since applications themselves stay valid for six months from filing, most couples apply roughly 4–8 weeks before the wedding to give a comfortable buffer between the 72-hour wait and the 30-day expiration.

Step 6: Choose an Officiant

Any ordained officiant can legally perform your ceremony in New Jersey — this includes clergy as well as individuals ordained through organizations like the Universal Life Church. This is where I come in: at Pride & Promise NJ, I officiate ceremonies across Northern New Jersey with a focus on personal, meaningful services — whether that's a traditional wedding, a vow renewal, or an elopement.

Your officiant's role doesn't end at "I now pronounce you." They're also responsible for making sure your signed license gets filed correctly (see Step 8) — so it's worth choosing someone who's done this before.

View my Ceremony Options and Wedding Packages at www.prideandpromiseNJ.com 

Step 7: Have Your Ceremony — With Your License in Hand

Bring the physical marriage license to your ceremony. Your officiant and at least one witness will sign it immediately following the vows. Without a signed license, your ceremony — however beautiful — isn't legally recognized.

Step 8: File the Signed License

After the ceremony, the signed license must be filed with the registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place. This is typically handled by the officiant, often within five days of the wedding. Once filed, a copy is sent to the State of New Jersey, and your marriage becomes part of the permanent record.

Step 9: Request Certified Copies

The document your officiant hands you after the ceremony is a keepsake — it is not the legal certified copy you'll need for a name change, updating your Social Security card, or adding a spouse to health insurance. For that, you'll need to request a Certified Copy of your marriage certificate from the municipality where you filed, which involves a separate application and fee. Plan to order a few copies, since many institutions want an original with a raised seal.

Quick Reference Timeline

4–8 weeks before Apply for your marriage license in person

72 hours after applying License is issued (pick up or receive per your registrar's process)

Within 30 days of issue Hold your ceremony

Within 5 days after Officiant files signed license with the municipality

After filing Request certified copies for legal/name-change use

A Note From Pride & Promise NJ

Every couple I work with in Northern New Jersey asks some version of these questions, and it's easy to see why — the state's process isn't complicated, but it is specific, and small timing mistakes can create real stress right before your wedding. If you're planning a ceremony anywhere from Passaic and Bergen County to the greater Northern NJ area, I'm happy to help you navigate both the legal requirements and the ceremony itself, so your day feels seamless from the paperwork to the "I do."

Ready to start planning your ceremony? Reach out to Pride & Promise NJ to talk through your date, your vision, and everything in between.

This article is intended as general guidance. Requirements can vary slightly by municipality, so always confirm specifics with your local registrar's office before applying.