Marriage license · Free to use

New Jersey marriage license: fee, waiting period and how to apply

What New Jersey's official pages say about getting married there: the fee, the waiting period, how long the license lasts, witnesses, officiants, ID and where to apply. Each rule links its source.

By Wedding RemedyPublished October 30, 2026

Editorial standards

New Jersey marriage license at a glance

Fee: $28 application fee, paid to the local registrar. A new application and another $28 are needed if the license expires unused. Waiting period: 72 hours after the application is filed with the local registrar, before the license is issued. No waiting period for a remarriage of an existing marriage. How long it is valid: Once issued, the license is good for 30 days. The application itself is valid for six months from the date filed.

New Jersey marriage license rules

The rules below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked October 30, 2026. Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice: confirm with the clerk where you apply before you rely on a rule.

Fee: $28 application fee, paid to the local registrar. A new application and another $28 are needed if the license expires unused. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Premarital education discount: None stated on the official pages we read. Check with your county clerk. Official page
Waiting period: 72 hours after the application is filed with the local registrar, before the license is issued. No waiting period for a remarriage of an existing marriage. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
How long the license is valid: Once issued, the license is good for 30 days. The application itself is valid for six months from the date filed. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where the license can be used: If either partner lives in New Jersey, apply in that municipality and the license is valid throughout the state. If neither does, it is valid only in the issuing municipality. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Witnesses: One witness aged 18 or older must come to the license application. The page does not state a witness rule for the ceremony itself. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Who may officiate: Judges, magistrates, surrogates, county clerks, mayors and other listed officials, plus every minister of every religion and religious organizations under their own rules. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Officiants ordained online: Not stated here. Ask the county clerk before you rely on an online ordination. Official page
Age: Both partners must be at least 18 and not party to another marriage, civil union or domestic partnership recognized in New Jersey. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
ID and documents to bring: Photo ID (driver license, passport or state or federal ID), proof of residency by one NJ-resident applicant, Social Security number, and a witness. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where to apply: In the New Jersey municipality where either partner lives, in person before the local registrar. If neither is a NJ resident, apply where the ceremony will be held. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Online application: Check with your county clerk. Official page
Certified copy of the marriage certificate: Order from the local registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place, or from the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. (Source: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026)

Common questions

How much is a marriage license in New Jersey?

$28 application fee, paid to the local registrar. A new application and another $28 are needed if the license expires unused.

Is there a waiting period to get married in New Jersey?

72 hours after the application is filed with the local registrar, before the license is issued. No waiting period for a remarriage of an existing marriage.

How long is a New Jersey marriage license valid?

Once issued, the license is good for 30 days. The application itself is valid for six months from the date filed.

Do you need witnesses to get married in New Jersey?

One witness aged 18 or older must come to the license application. The page does not state a witness rule for the ceremony itself.

Who can officiate a wedding in New Jersey?

Judges, magistrates, surrogates, county clerks, mayors and other listed officials, plus every minister of every religion and religious organizations under their own rules.

How do you get a certified copy of a New Jersey marriage certificate?

Order from the local registrar in the municipality where the ceremony took place, or from the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.

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