You will need to make an in-person appointment with Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission to apply for your Marriage License if:

You or your future spouse live in one of the following towns:

• ​Allendale
• Emerson
• Midland Park
• Waldwick
• Saddle River

You AND your future spouse BOTH live outside of NJ and are planning to get married in one of the following NJ towns:​

• ​Allendale
• Emerson
• Midland Park
• Waldwick
• Saddle River

If you DO NOT live in one of the above-listed towns or you live outside of NJ and are planning to get married in a NJ town not listed above, please find your Local Registrar here.

Additionally, if you live in New Jersey but are getting married outside New Jersey, you will apply for a marriage license in the location where you will be married. New Jersey Marriage Licenses are valid only in New Jersey.

What should you bring with you when you apply?

The following documents are required when you come in for your appointment:

✔️ Completed Marriage License application: You will receive the application via email after scheduling your appointment and must complete it before your in-person visit.

✔️ Proof of identity: A valid driver’s license, passport, or state/federal ID. See Acceptable Forms of ID below.

✔️ Proof of residency (NJ residents only): Proof that at least one applicant lives in the town where you are applying. If the address on your driver’s license is different from your current address, additional proof of residency will be required. See Acceptable Forms of ID.

✔️ Social Security number: Required by law for U.S. citizens and will be kept confidential. Your Social Security card is not required.

✔️ One witness (age 18 or older): The witness must attend the appointment and provide valid photo ID.

✔️ All ceremony information, including the ceremony date, location, and officiant’s name and address.

✔️ Payment: $28 marriage license fee: Cash only. We do not accept other forms of payment. Exact change is appreciated.

Additional Requirements & Important Information

✔️ Age requirement: Both applicants must be at least 18 years old.

✔️ If previously married – divorced, you must provide:

• Your former spouse’s maiden name
• The date the marriage ended
• The location of the divorce (divorce decree is not required).

✔️ If previously married – widowed, you must provide:

• The decedent’s maiden name
• The date of death
• The location of death

✔️ Address verification: If the address on your driver’s license is different from your current address, please bring two additional proofs of address (such as a bank statement or utility bill).

✔️ Parents’ information: You will need your parents’ full names at birth and their places of birth. Please confirm spelling in advance.

✔️ Foreign-language documents: Any documents in a language other than English must include a certified English translation.

✔️ Appointment length: Appointments typically take 15–30 minutes.

After You Apply for Your Marriage License: 72-Hour Waiting Period

After applying for your marriage license in our office, New Jersey law requires a minimum 72-hour waiting period before the license can be issued. The waiting period begins the day you apply, and the license cannot be issued during that time.

You will schedule a return appointment to pick up your license once the waiting period has passed. After issuance, the license is valid for 30 days. If the license expires without being used, a new application is required.

Marriage License Process: Step by Step

Apply (Pre-Marriage Appointment #1) for your marriage license in our office
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Wait at least 72 hours (the waiting period starts the day you apply)
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Return (Pre-Marriage Appointment #2) to pick up your license
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Get married (use the license within 30 days)

After the Ceremony: What Happens Next

After you are married, the signed marriage license is filed in the town where the ceremony took place.

Please note: the copy provided by your officiant is not an official or legal document.

To change your name or handle other legal matters, you must request and pay for a Certified Copy of your marriage record. A Certified Copy is an official legal document printed on certified state paper and includes a raised seal.

Requesting a Certified Copy is a separate process and requires its own application and fee. Please visit our page Requesting Certified Copies for more information.

After You Get Married: Step by Step

Officiant provides you one copy of the signed document (not a legal document)
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The Officiant will return two copies to the town where you physically got married
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The license is officially filed in that town (one copy is sent to the State of NJ)
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You will request a Certified Copy from the filing town (separate appointment and fee)
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Use the Certified Copy for name changes and other legal matters

Please complete the FRONT page of this form only, and email to info@nwbrhc.net once completed, using the following information in the subject line (beginning with “Marriage License Application”):

• Your current last name and your future spouse’s current last name
• Municipality
• Appointment date

Example:
Subject line: Marriage License Application – Snow & Smith – Waldwick – June 10, 2025

** You will complete the second page of the application at your scheduled appointment, in the presence of your witness and our Registrar staff.