New Jersey Marriage Records

New Jersey marriage records provide official documentation of marriages in the state. These documents prove that spouses are legally married and have been issued a marriage license. Historically, churches were the primary institutions responsible for recording marriages before civil authorities took over.

Some of the information that may be contained in a marriage record includes:

• Names of spouses, specifying the bride and groom
• Place and date of marriage
• Names of witnesses
• Full names of parents
• Birth dates for both parties

Marriage records typically include detailed marriage information such as the marriage dates, names of the bride and groom, and other relevant details.

Marriage records and other New Jersey family court records are important for many reasons. Couples often require such records when engaged in transactions that require proof of marriage. For instance, a certified copy of a marriage record may be necessary when obtaining a mortgage or applying for spousal benefits for social security or healthcare.

What Types Of Marriage Records Are Available In New Jersey?

Government agencies maintain different types of marriage records, the most common of which include marriage certificates and licenses. Civil records are official government documents that record life events such as marriage, while personal records, such as family bibles or journals, may also serve as evidence of marriage in some cases. These records are created or issued for various reasons.

New Jersey Marriage Certificate

New Jersey marriage certificates serve as official proof of marriage. Marriage certificates are obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, which issues certificates containing general abstract information about marriages. Once a marriage is performed, it is officially recorded by the appropriate authority, ensuring the event is documented in state or local registers. Requesters can also obtain more detailed certified copies of a certified marriage record from the state or local registrar. However, only eligible parties can obtain such records. Certified documents are only issued to spouses and direct relatives, such as parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren.

New Jersey Marriage License

Marriage licenses are legal documents that authorize the named parties to enter a marriage. The county clerk or local clerk is responsible for issuing and recording marriage licenses, and these records are maintained at the county level. Applications are filed and issued by the local registrar. To obtain a marriage license, intending spouses must meet the state requirements, namely, both parties must be at least 18 years old and not party to any other marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership recognized by the state. Once approved, marriage licenses remain valid for six months from acceptance. Both parties must marry within this window or reapply, and applicants must pay the required fees to the county clerk.

Are New Jersey Marriage Records Public?

New Jersey marriage records are generally open to the public and serve as important evidence for legal and genealogical purposes. Residents can obtain copies of a marriage record by applying to the Office of Vital Statistics & Registry, which maintains records of all marriages from 1918 until now. Digital images of marriage records may be available for certain years, providing visual documentation of historical and official records. The department charges a fixed $25 fee for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy. Payment can be made by money order, and the money order must be payable to the appropriate authority. Mastercard is accepted for in-person payments. Older records can be found by searching through the state archives.

You may need to provide a valid government-issued I.D. to obtain marriage records in New Jersey. You may also be required to indicate your relationship to the record owners and state the purpose or use of the marriage records if the records were created within the last 50 years. If both spouses are deceased, a death certificate may be required to obtain the marriage record.

How to Find Marriage Records in New Jersey

Residents who want marriage records can do so with the following steps:

Step 1. Determine the Type of Record

The first step to finding marriage records in New Jersey is deciding the record type. If you’re trying to obtain records created between 1848 and 1900 or records from 1931 to 1948, you’ll need to contact the New Jersey State Archives. On the other hand, if you wish to obtain marriage records for an event between 1931 and the present, you’ll need to apply to the New Jersey Vital Statistics and Registry Office. In some cases, the person seeking the record may need to visit the appropriate city or borough office in person to access certain records.

Step 2. Collect the Information

To process your search, you must provide details about the marriage event. The official website provides detailed instructions and forms for requesting marriage records. Some of the information that can assist with finding marriage records in New Jersey includes:

• Name of the married parties (as listed on the record)
• Date of the marriage
• City or town where the marriage occurred

Step 3. Confirm your Eligibility for the Record.

Although marriage records are generally open to the public, some are restricted to select parties. For instance, only persons named on the record (or direct relatives, such as the subject’s parent, sibling, child, or grandchild) may obtain certified copies of a marriage record that can be used for official purposes. The person requesting the record must provide proof of eligibility. Other applicants are issued certificates that cannot be used for legal purposes.

Step 4. Make a Request and Pay the Fee

Record seekers who wish to obtain copies of a New Jersey marriage record must submit a request to the state or local registrar. Making requests usually involves filling out a form with all the related details, such as the couple’s name and the marriage date. If the applicant is unable to access the online form, requests can be submitted in writing. Marriage records can be ordered by phone or mail.

Note: Applicants can also apply to confirm that no records were found during a search. For such requests, the state will issue documentation stating the fact. A No Record of Marriage statement is sometimes used to establish that the subject is free to marry.

How to Get a Marriage License in New Jersey

Couples who wish to get married can obtain a license in New Jersey by following several quick steps:

Step 1. Meet The Eligibility Criteria

Marriage licenses are only issued to applicants who satisfy the state's eligibility requirements. To become married in New Jersey, you must meet the following:

• Intending spouses must be at least 18 years old
• Intending spouses must not be a party to another marriage, domestic partnership, or civil union recognized in the state.

Step 2. Collect Required Documents

As part of the license application, you must provide several documents. One of these is proof of residency to show you reside in the state. You'll also be required to provide a document proving your identity, such as a state I.D., passport, military I.D., or driver's license. Finally, you'll be expected to apply with a witness. Witnesses must be at least 18 years old.

Step 3. Complete The Marriage License Application Form

Obtain and complete the application form. Both parties must fill out application forms and provide the following information:

• Full name of both parties
• Current legal address
• Birthplace
• Sex
• Domestic status (single, widowed, divorced, annulled, etc.)
• Number of times every married
• Parent's full name
• Birthplace

Step 4. Submit The Application & Pay The Fee

The county's Local Register processes marriage license applications. While some Registers are open to walk-in applications during business hours, others may require appointments. Applicants must also pay the $28 fee. Marriage licenses are generally issued 72 hours after the application is filed and remain valid for the next six months. A fresh application with a new fee must be made if a license expires before the marriage is solemnized.

Who Can Obtain Marriage Records in New Jersey?

Anyone can obtain uncertified informational copies of a marriage record in New Jersey. However, certified copies of a record are only issued to applicants with an established relationship, namely the subject of the record, parents, legal guardians, siblings, children, or partners.

Applicants who wish to obtain certified records must provide documents supporting their relationship (e.g., a birth certificate to identify parents). Requesters must also prove their identity by submitting a valid government-issued I.D., such as:

• A valid driver's license with a photo
• US or foreign passport
• Federal or state I.D.
• Bank statement (printed within the last 90 days)
• Utility bill (within the last 90 days)
• Permanent resident card
• Voter registration

Can You Lookup Online Marriage Records For Free in New Jersey?

The New Jersey State Archive provides free access to a searchable online database. With it, record seekers can look up complete records of marriages filed with the state from 1848 to 1900. Residents can also request marriage records online from the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. However, this service comes with a fee. Third-party platforms may offer a solution for some records. Such sites allow users to search through an extensive collection of data aggregated from multiple jurisdictions around the country, including New Jersey. However, the accuracy and volume of information available may vary.

Is New Jersey a Common Law State for Marriage?

New Jersey is not a common-law marriage state, as common-law marriages were eliminated in 1939. As of 2024, couples who meet the general requirements for a common law marriage (such as living together for more than seven years) are still not considered married. To be legally married, couples must meet the state requirements, including obtaining a marriage license and having an officiated ceremony.

Couples who wish to establish some legal rights over an informal union may be able to do so by registering a domestic partnership or entering into a legal cohabitation agreement. New Jersey provides several requirements for registering a domestic partnership, some of which include the following:

• Couples must be same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples.
• Couples must share a common residence.
• Both parties must agree to be jointly responsible for each other's basic living expenses during the domestic partnership.

Parties who meet all the requirements may obtain an affidavit of domestic partnership form from a local registrar of vital statistics in any municipality in the State of New Jersey.

Note: Cohabitation agreements offer a third alternative to marriage or domestic agreements. Such contracts must ideally be in writing and signed by both parties.