Officiating a wedding in New Jersey
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: nj.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
New Jersey sets no registration for clergy, and the state Department of Health answers the online-ordination question directly and in the affirmative, recommending that you check the ministry’s own site to verify its ministers are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies. That is agency guidance rather than settled case law. For non-clergy the state runs a certified civil-celebrant track through the Secretary of State, which asks for a course of not less than six months from a registered charitable organization and certification before you solemnize. The couple applies to the Local Registrar of Vital Statistics, and the license is not issued sooner than 72 hours after the application.
Who returns the license, and by when
The person or religious organization solemnizing transmits the certificate and the license to the local registrar of the registration district in which the marriage occurs, within 5 days, under the state’s vital-statistics law. Where the ceremony is in a different municipality from the issuing one, that registrar forwards it to the issuing registrar. Confirm the window with the Local Registrar of Vital Statistics.
Suggested return window: about 5 days after the ceremony. Confirm the current deadline with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Jersey accept an online ordination?
The Department of Health’s vital-statistics guidance answers yes, and recommends checking the ministry’s own website to verify that its ministers are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies. That is agency guidance rather than settled case law.
How does a non-clergy officiant qualify in New Jersey?
Through the certified civil-celebrant track: 18 or older, a high-school graduate, a course of not less than six months from a registered charitable organization, an application charge, and Secretary of State certification before solemnizing.
When is a New Jersey marriage license due back?
The state’s vital-statistics law gives the person solemnizing 5 days to transmit the certificate and license to the local registrar of the district where the marriage occurred. Confirm the date with that registrar.
Never miss a return deadline
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Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:nj.gov.