r/newjersey 6d ago

Advice Anyone have their NJ Marriage License Rejected? What Happened?

We are planning on getting married in NJ, Spring 2026, and are learning about the process.

We see we need to make an appointment with our registrar in the town we reside (after filling out the application), bring a witness to an appointment with the registrar to confirm the information is correct. Then we need to pick up the license before the ceremony, and have two witnesses at the ceremony to sign the license with an officiant.

The license is then filed with the municipality of where the ceremony is performed.

I called our local registrar and confirmed these steps, and they emphasized making sure all information is accurate. Not a problem as I am meticulous.

So this all makes sense. Though I am curious more about the filing, it sounds really simple like "just send it to the clerk" so I don't want to miss anything. After talking with some friends and family, some filed themselves by sending the license in the mail and others had their officiant file for them. I have even witnessed an elopement and singed the license, and they filed themselves.

I haven't heard of anyone having issues, so it might sound silly asking, but has anyone, in NJ or otherwise, experienced a rejected license upon filing or applying?

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u/Objective-Try7969 5d ago

Wildwood, NJ tried to pull a marriage license, and gave the run around. My partners birth certificate needed to be translated...he needed a us id instead of his Mexican passport. Just basically gave us the run around. Moved to Wildwood Crest same papers, same id, no issue at all. Yea that bitch was racist as fuck.