State guide
New Jersey
New Jersey marriage licenses are issued locally through municipal vital records offices, not by county clerks or judges. The state has a fixed $28 application fee, a 72-hour wait for most first marriages, and a separate state-certified civil celebrant system for private civil officiants.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who issues licenses
- Local registrar of vital statistics in the issuing municipality
- Waiting period
- 72 hours
- License valid for
- 6 months
- Witnesses
- 2 required
- License fee
- $28 statewide
- Friend or one-day officiant
- New Jersey uses a state-certified civil celebrant program; no official one-day or temporary officiant designation was found on the official sources reviewed.
Official resources in New Jersey
NJ Department of Health - Marriage License
Official statewide rules on where to apply, documents, waiting period, and validity.
NJ Department of Health - Fees at a Glance
Official fee list showing the statewide marriage/civil union license application fee.
NJ Department of Health - Entering into a Marriage or Civil Union in New Jersey
Official brochure with application location, timing, and ceremony guidance.
NJ Department of State - Certified Civil Celebrants
Official page for New Jersey's civil celebrant certification program.
Key facts for New Jersey
- Apply with the local registrar in the municipality where either applicant resides; nonresidents apply where the ceremony will occur.
- There is a 72-hour waiting period before issuance; remarriage to the same spouse has no 72-hour wait.
- The application is valid for 6 months from acceptance, with possible registrar-approved extension up to 1 year.
- The state application fee is $28.
- At least two witnesses must be present for the ceremony; one adult witness is also needed when applying.
- Official NJ sources reviewed did not show a self-uniting option; NJ instead authorizes clergy, judges, and certified civil celebrants.
Courthouse ceremonies in New Jersey
| County | Details |
|---|---|
| Somerset County | County Clerk officiates wedding ceremonies at the County Administration Building by appointment. |
| Mercer County | Official county page for arranging wedding ceremonies with the County Clerk. |
| Middlesex County | County site says the County Clerk performs wedding ceremonies; this office page is the official starting point. |
| Ocean County | County Clerk page directs couples to schedule courthouse wedding ceremonies through Judge Hodgson's chambers. |
What to do next
- Call the municipal registrar before applying, because NJ licenses are handled by local municipality offices, not county government.
- Bring one adult witness to the application appointment and plan your ceremony at least 72 hours after filing.
- If you want a private nonreligious officiant, check the NJ certified civil celebrant program early rather than assuming a one-day designation exists.
Helpful guides
- How to get married at the courthouse
- What to bring when you apply for a marriage license
- Marriage license waiting periods and expiration dates
- Do you need witnesses for a courthouse wedding?
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