Detailed New Jersey Wedding Law Notes
These notes summarize state marriage-license, ceremony, witness, and officiant guidance for the new map experience.
Requirements for the Couple
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Residency: Not required.
- Kinship Restrictions: No closer than first cousins.
- Marriage Equality: Yes.
- Documents Required: Varies by county.
- Relevant Office of Registration: Local registrar.
- Special Notes: Ministers ordained by Ministries of Love are legally recognized as religious actors.
- Type of Ceremony: Religious for Ministries of Love officiants.
- Mandatory Waiting Period: 72 hours.
- License Validity: 30 days.
- Submission Deadline: Within 5 days of the ceremony.
New Jersey prohibits marriage for individuals under 18, regardless of circumstances. Additionally, marriages between close relatives (ancestors, descendants, siblings, aunts/uncles, and nieces/nephews) are forbidden.
Marriage License Requirements
- Witness Age Minimum: None specified.
- Photo ID: Required for the couple.
- Additional Documents: None (no divorce documents or blood tests required).
- Application Fee: $28.
- Title on License: Minister.
- Church/Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love.
- Address of Church: Minister’s home address.
- The marriage license is completed with the couple’s information and signatures.
- Two witnesses sign and include their residences.
- The officiant’s details (name, title, ordaining body, and address) are accurately filled in.
- Marriage by Proxy: Not allowed.
- Minister Presence: Required.
- Witnesses: At least two required.
- Couple’s Consent: Required.
- Pronouncement: Required.
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Residency: Not required.
- Kinship Restrictions: No closer than first cousins.
- Marriage Equality: Yes.
- Documents Required: Varies by county.
- Relevant Office of Registration: Local registrar.
- Special Notes: Ministers ordained by Ministries of Love are legally recognized as religious actors.
Couples must apply for the marriage license in person, accompanied by an adult witness. Non-residents must apply in the municipality where the wedding will take place.
Marriage License Facts
- Type of Ceremony: Religious for Ministries of Love officiants.
- Mandatory Waiting Period: 72 hours.
- License Validity: 30 days.
- Submission Deadline: Within 5 days of the ceremony.
- Witness Age Minimum: None specified.
- Photo ID: Required for the couple.
- Additional Documents: None (no divorce documents or blood tests required).
- Application Fee: $28.
- Title on License: Minister.
- Church/Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love.
- Address of Church: Minister’s home address.
- The marriage license is completed with the couple’s information and signatures.
- Two witnesses sign and include their residences.
- The officiant’s details (name, title, ordaining body, and address) are accurately filled in.
- Marriage by Proxy: Not allowed.
- Minister Presence: Required.
- Witnesses: At least two required.
- Couple’s Consent: Required.
- Pronouncement: Required.
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Residency: Not required.
- Kinship Restrictions: No closer than first cousins.
- Marriage Equality: Yes.
Marriage licenses must include detailed information about the couple and their parents. Ministers must return the completed license and certificate to the issuing registrar within five days of the ceremony.
Requirements for the Minister
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Residency: Not required.
- Documents Required: Varies by county.
- Relevant Office of Registration: Local registrar.
- Special Notes: Ministers ordained by Ministries of Love are legally recognized as religious actors.
- Type of Ceremony: Religious for Ministries of Love officiants.
- Mandatory Waiting Period: 72 hours.
- License Validity: 30 days.
- Submission Deadline: Within 5 days of the ceremony.
- Witness Age Minimum: None specified.
- Photo ID: Required for the couple.
- Additional Documents: None (no divorce documents or blood tests required).
- Application Fee: $28.
- Title on License: Minister.
- Church/Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love.
- Address of Church: Minister’s home address.
- The marriage license is completed with the couple’s information and signatures.
- Two witnesses sign and include their residences.
- The officiant’s details (name, title, ordaining body, and address) are accurately filled in.
Ministers may be asked to produce ordination credentials when returning the marriage license. Ministers officiating in New Jersey often carry ordination documents to ensure they meet county-specific requirements.
Wedding Ceremony Requirements
- Marriage by Proxy: Not allowed.
- Minister Presence: Required.
- Witnesses: At least two required.
- Couple’s Consent: Required.
- Pronouncement: Required.
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Residency: Not required.
- Kinship Restrictions: No closer than first cousins.
- Marriage Equality: Yes.
- Documents Required: Varies by county.
- Relevant Office of Registration: Local registrar.
- Special Notes: Ministers ordained by Ministries of Love are legally recognized as religious actors.
- Type of Ceremony: Religious for Ministries of Love officiants.
- Mandatory Waiting Period: 72 hours.
- License Validity: 30 days.
- Submission Deadline: Within 5 days of the ceremony.
- Witness Age Minimum: None specified.
- Photo ID: Required for the couple.
- Additional Documents: None (no divorce documents or blood tests required).
- Application Fee: $28.
Couples can customize their ceremony to suit their traditions, spiritual needs, or unique preferences. However, both members must be physically present, formally consent to marriage in the presence of at least two witnesses and the officiating minister, and be pronounced married by the officiant to solemnize the union.
Final Steps
- Title on License: Minister.
- Church/Ordaining Body: Ministries of Love.
- Address of Church: Minister’s home address.
- The marriage license is completed with the couple’s information and signatures.
- Two witnesses sign and include their residences.
- The officiant’s details (name, title, ordaining body, and address) are accurately filled in.
- Marriage by Proxy: Not allowed.
- Minister Presence: Required.
- Witnesses: At least two required.
- Couple’s Consent: Required.
- Pronouncement: Required.
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Residency: Not required.
- Kinship Restrictions: No closer than first cousins.
- Marriage Equality: Yes.
- Documents Required: Varies by county.
- Relevant Office of Registration: Local registrar.
- Special Notes: Ministers ordained by Ministries of Love are legally recognized as religious actors.
- Type of Ceremony: Religious for Ministries of Love officiants.
- Mandatory Waiting Period: 72 hours.
- License Validity: 30 days.
- Submission Deadline: Within 5 days of the ceremony.
- Witness Age Minimum: None specified.
- Photo ID: Required for the couple.
- Additional Documents: None (no divorce documents or blood tests required).
- Application Fee: $28.
for the Officiant: After the ceremony, the officiant must ensure: The completed license must be returned to the issuing registrar within five days of the ceremony. Failure to comply may result in legal penalties.