In Order to Get Married in New Jersey, the Bride and Groom Must Apply for and Obtain A

Marriage Questions & Answers

In order to get married in New Jersey, the bride and groom must apply for and obtain a marriage license. In Sandyston, marriage licenses are handled by the Registrar of Vital Statistics. This page outlines everything you’ll need to know about applying for a marriage license.

Apply for a marriage license in Sandyston if…..

*either the bride or groom resides in Sandyston or

*neither the bride nor groom is a resident of New Jersey but the marriage ceremony will be performed in Sandyston

*licenses are only valid in the State of New Jersey

Please call ahead for an appointment. The registrar may be reached by calling 973 948-3520 x 200 or the deputy at ext. 201, Monday through Friday.

Age Requirement

Applicants must both be at least 18 years old, with one exception:

*applicants under 18 may marry if both parents consent to the marriage. The consent must be given under oath in front of two witnesses.

*both parental consents and judicial approval of such consents are necessary if the applicant is younger than 16.

How much does it cost?

The application fee is $28.00 payable by check, cash, or money order.

Who can perform the marriage ceremony?

*any federal, state, municipal judge or magistrate (even if they are retired)

*any county clerk

*any county surrogate

*any mayor or deputy mayor of a town

*any religious minister

When should you apply for a marriage license?

Marriage license will not be issued sooner than 72 hours after the application has been made, unless ordered to do so via an appropriate court order. If the marriage is scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday, the application should be made no later than the preceding Tuesday.

What to bring with you when you come to fill out the application?

Both bride and groom must appear in person to apply for the license. You will need to bring (1)copies of your birth certificates, (2)driver’s licenses or passports, (3)know your social security numbers (4)provide proof of residency such as a lease or utility bill etc., (5) bring a witness also at least (18) eighteen years of age who knows both the bride and groom. The witness must appear with the applicants and swear to the completeness and accuracy of the answers supplied by the applicants, (6)

If either party has been in a marriage, domestic partnership or civil union before, a copy of a death certificate, divorce decree, dissolution of civil union or termination of domestic partnership must be submitted with the application.

How long is the license valid?

Marriage licenses are valid for thirty days from the date they are issued.

Obtaining Vital Statistics Records

All births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships occurring within the township are recorded by the Registrar of Vital Statistics thus, copies of any of the aforementioned documents may be obtained through this office.

In addition to authenticating your relationship to the subject of the vital record, you must submit proof of your identity. Acceptable forms of identification are as follows:

*a valid photo driver’s license or

*a valid non-photo license plus an alternate form of ID with address or

*two alternate forms of ID with address

Alternate forms of identification:

*vehicle registration *green card

*insurance card *countyID

*voter registration *school ID

*passport *utility bill

How do I request a certified copy of a vital record?

A request may be made by mail or in person. Bring two forms of identification listed above or mail photocopies and a check or money order made payable to SandystonTownship. The cost is $5.00 for each certified copy.

Records whether birth or death, occurring over 50 years ago may not be available. You can always request a record on line through Vitalchek.com.