Camden Marriage License Info

Camden issues marriage licenses through the Vital Statistics office at City Hall. The office is at 520 Market Street in Camden, New Jersey. You must make an appointment before your visit. Camden is the county seat of Camden County, with a population near 73,000. The city sits on the Delaware River across from Philadelphia. Both partners need to appear in person at the Camden Vital Statistics office to apply for a marriage license. Staff will process your forms and collect the fee during your scheduled time slot.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Camden

The Camden Vital Statistics office handles all marriage license work for the city. It is on the first floor of Camden City Hall at 520 Market Street. You can reach the office by email at vitalstat@camdennj.gov to set up your visit. Walk-ins are not accepted. The Camden marriage license office has strict hours, so plan your trip well in advance.

Camden City Hall is close to the PATCO Speedline station at City Hall, which links Camden to Philadelphia. Bus routes also serve the area. Street parking is available on Market Street and side roads. Bring a valid photo ID when you go to the Camden marriage license office. The building has a security check at the front door.

Note: Marriage license hours in Camden are far more limited than the general office hours. You can only apply on Tuesday or Wednesday.

How to Apply for a Camden Marriage License

Both people who plan to marry must come to the Camden Vital Statistics office in person. You cannot send one person on behalf of the other. Each of you will fill out forms and sign them in front of a clerk. The Camden office has forms ready at the window, and some forms are also posted on the city website for you to print and fill out before your visit.

To get a marriage license in Camden, bring these items with you. Each person needs a valid form of photo ID such as a driver license or passport. You also need proof of your Social Security number. If you were born outside the United States, bring your birth certificate or a valid passport. If you had a prior marriage, bring proof that it ended. This can be a death certificate or a final divorce judgment.

The Camden city site has more details on what forms to bring. Once you submit your forms and pay the fee, the clerk starts the 72-hour wait period. This is a state law in New Jersey under Title 37 of the state code. After the wait, your Camden marriage license is valid for use.

You do not need to live in Camden to apply here. Any couple can get a marriage license in Camden as long as they apply in person. However, at least one person must be a New Jersey resident, or the marriage must take place in New Jersey. The Camden Vital Statistics office can tell you if you meet the rules for a license.

Camden Marriage License Fees

The fee for a marriage license in Camden is $28. You pay this when you apply at the Vital Statistics office. Ask the clerk which forms of payment they accept since some offices only take cash or money orders. The fee is the same for all couples, no matter where you live.

If you need a copy of a marriage certificate from Camden, the first certified copy costs $25. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $10. These are useful to have on hand for name changes, insurance updates, or other legal steps after the wedding. The Camden Vital Statistics page has the full fee list.

Fees in Camden may change over time. Call or email the office to check the current rates before your visit. The $28 marriage license fee has been in place for several years across New Jersey, but certificate costs can vary by city.

Marriage License Rules for Camden

New Jersey law sets the rules for marriage licenses in Camden and every other city in the state. The NJ Department of Health oversees the marriage license program. Local registrars like the one in Camden handle the day-to-day work of taking applications and issuing licenses.

The minimum age to get a marriage license in Camden is 18. No one under 18 can marry in New Jersey. Both people must be free to marry, which means not already married to someone else. There is no blood test needed in New Jersey. The 72-hour waiting period starts when the Camden clerk accepts your completed forms and fee.

Your Camden marriage license is good for 30 days after the waiting period ends. You must hold the ceremony within that window. If the 30 days pass, the license expires and you must apply again in Camden or at another registrar in New Jersey. The person who performs your ceremony will sign the license and return it to the Camden registrar for filing.

Note: A judge, mayor, or ordained minister can perform the marriage ceremony once you have your Camden marriage license in hand.

Marriage Records in Camden

After your wedding, the signed marriage license goes back to the Camden Vital Statistics office. The registrar files it and creates the official marriage record. This record stays on file in Camden and is also sent to the New Jersey Department of Health. You can request certified copies from either office.

To get a copy of a marriage record from Camden, contact the Vital Statistics office at City Hall. You will need to give the full names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. The City Clerk Department page has contact details. Older records may take more time to locate since they could be stored off site.

The Camden County Clerk also keeps marriage records for all cities in the county. If the city office cannot find your record, try the county. The state health department in Trenton has marriage records going back to 1848. Any of these three levels can issue a certified copy of a Camden marriage record.

Certified copies from Camden serve as legal proof of the marriage. You may need them for a name change at the Social Security office, the MVC, your bank, or your employer. Order a few extra copies when you first request them since each additional copy is cheaper than ordering one at a time later.

Planning Your Camden Marriage License Visit

Since Camden requires an appointment and only handles marriage licenses on two days per week, book your time slot early. Email the Vital Statistics office at vitalstat@camdennj.gov as soon as you know your planned wedding date. Slots can fill up, and the limited Tuesday and Wednesday hours in Camden mean there is less room for last-minute plans.

Arrive on time for your Camden appointment. Bring all required documents for both partners. If you are missing something, the clerk may turn you away and ask you to rebook. Have your forms filled out ahead of time if you printed them from the Vital Statistics forms page. This speeds up the process at the window.

After you leave the Camden office with your marriage license, count 72 hours from the time of issue. That is when the license becomes active. Plan your ceremony for any day after that point but before the 30-day mark. If you have questions about your Camden marriage license, call or email the office during general business hours.

Camden County Marriage License

Camden is the county seat of Camden County. The county clerk also handles marriage-related records for all towns in the county. For more on county-level marriage license services, fee details, and other resources in Camden County, visit the county page.

View Camden County Marriage License