Passaic City Marriage License
Passaic issues marriage licenses at City Hall on Passaic Street. The registrar office serves this city of about 72,000 people in Passaic County. Passaic sits along the Passaic River in northern New Jersey, close to Clifton and Paterson. Both people who want to marry must visit the Passaic registrar office in person. The staff will help you fill out the forms, verify your documents, and collect the fee. You can reach the Passaic registrar by phone at 973-365-5584 to ask about hours and what to bring for your marriage license visit.
Passaic Quick Facts
Passaic Marriage License Office
The registrar for the City of Passaic handles marriage licenses. The registrar is Weatherly Frias. The office is at Passaic City Hall, 330 Passaic Street. This is where you go to apply for a marriage license in Passaic. The building is in the heart of the city, near shops and transit along Main Avenue.
| Registrar | Weatherly Frias |
|---|---|
| Address | 330 Passaic Street Passaic, NJ 07055 |
| Phone | (973) 365-5584 / (973) 365-5602 |
| Fax | (973) 365-0115 |
| Website | cityofpassaic.com |
Passaic City Hall has parking in a lot behind the building. Street parking is also an option on nearby blocks. NJ Transit buses run through the area with stops on Main Avenue and Broadway. The Passaic registrar office is on the main floor of City Hall. Bring a valid photo ID to enter the building.
Note: Call the Passaic registrar at 973-365-5584 before your visit to confirm current hours and whether you need to book an appointment.
How to Apply for a Passaic Marriage License
Both people must go to the Passaic City Hall registrar office together. You cannot send one person alone. Each of you needs to bring a valid photo ID such as a driver license, state ID card, or passport. You also need your Social Security number. A Social Security card, W-2 form, or pay stub with the number on it will work.
If either person had a prior marriage, bring proof that it ended. A certified copy of the final divorce judgment or a death certificate for the former spouse is what the Passaic registrar needs to see. Without this proof, the clerk cannot issue a marriage license in Passaic.
The Passaic city website has details on city departments. You can also find Passaic marriage license requirements listed on third-party reference sites. These can give you a good idea of what to expect, though you should always confirm with the Passaic registrar directly.
Once you hand in your forms and pay the $28 fee, the Passaic clerk starts the 72-hour waiting period. This wait is required by state law. After three full days, you can pick up your marriage license from the Passaic registrar. The license is then good for 30 days.
Marriage License Rules in New Jersey
Passaic follows the same marriage license rules as every other city in the state. The NJ Department of Health sets these rules. The NJ Vital Statistics program oversees registrars like the one in Passaic.
You must be at least 18 to get a marriage license in Passaic. There is no blood test. You do not have to live in Passaic or in New Jersey to apply here, but you must plan to marry somewhere in the state. The Passaic marriage license is valid for any ceremony held in New Jersey within the 30-day window.
State law under Title 37 of the New Jersey code covers marriage in detail. It lists who can perform a ceremony, what the license must contain, and how it gets filed after the wedding. The Passaic registrar follows all of these rules when processing your marriage license.
Marriage Ceremony and Record Filing in Passaic
After you pick up your Passaic marriage license, you can hold the ceremony. A judge, mayor, minister, rabbi, imam, or other authorized person can perform the marriage. You need at least one witness at the ceremony. The officiant and witness sign the marriage license at the event.
The officiant must send the signed license back to the Passaic registrar. This is how the city creates the official marriage record. Once filed, the record stays in Passaic and a copy goes to the state health department. You can get certified copies of your marriage record from the Passaic registrar, the county, or the state.
The Passaic County registrar directory lists all registrars in the county. If you need copies of a marriage record from Passaic later on, you can contact any of these offices. The city registrar in Passaic is usually the fastest option for records filed in the city.
Certified copies of your marriage record from Passaic work as legal proof of the marriage. Use them for name changes at the Social Security office, the Motor Vehicle Commission, banks, and other places. Order more than one copy so you have extras on hand.
Note: If the officiant fails to return the signed license to the Passaic registrar, your marriage record may not be created. Follow up with your officiant to make sure they send it in.
Passaic Marriage License Cost
The fee for a marriage license in Passaic is $28. You pay this at the registrar window when you apply. Ask the Passaic office which payment methods they take. Some offices only accept cash or money orders.
Certified copies of a marriage certificate from Passaic cost $25 for the first one and $10 for each extra copy when ordered together. These rates are set by New Jersey law. Fees may change from time to time, so call 973-365-5584 to check current rates at the Passaic registrar office before you go.
Planning Your Passaic Marriage License Trip
Give yourself enough time before the wedding to handle the 72-hour wait and any delays. Apply at least two weeks before your ceremony date. This way, if the Passaic office is busy or you need to fix a document issue, you still have time to get your marriage license.
Bring all documents for both people in one visit. If something is missing, the Passaic registrar may ask you to come back. Double-check that you have photo IDs, Social Security proof, and any divorce or death records before you leave for City Hall. Being prepared saves a second trip to the Passaic marriage license office.
After the ceremony, make sure your officiant returns the signed license to the Passaic registrar right away. Then order your certified copies of the marriage record. These will be your proof of marriage for legal and personal use going forward.
Passaic County Marriage License
Passaic is in Passaic County. The county clerk handles marriage records for all towns and cities in the county. For more about county-level marriage license services, fees, and other vital records in Passaic County, visit the county page.