Trenton Marriage License Office

Trenton is the capital of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. The city's Office of Vital Statistics handles marriage license applications for Trenton residents and couples who plan to wed in the city. Because Trenton is the state capital, the New Jersey Department of Health walk-in center is also located here at 140 East Front Street. This gives Trenton residents a unique advantage for same-day vital record services. Marriage records from 1951 onward are on file at the state level, and local records go back even further in some cases.

Trenton Marriage License Office Location

The Trenton Office of Vital Statistics and Marriage Applications is the place to apply for a marriage license in the city. Both parties must appear in person. The office is inside Trenton City Hall. You do not need to live in Trenton to apply, but the marriage ceremony must take place in Trenton if you apply here.

Trenton City Hall is in the downtown area near the State House. There is metered street parking and paid lots close by. NJ Transit trains stop at Trenton Transit Center, which is a short walk from City Hall. Bring your photo ID and all required documents when you go to the Trenton marriage license office.

Marriage License Requirements in Trenton

New Jersey law governs all marriage license requirements. Trenton follows these state rules. Both applicants must be 18 or older. No blood test is required. Both people must go to the Trenton clerk office at the same time with valid identification.

You need to bring one of these forms of ID to the Trenton marriage license office: a valid driver's license, a state-issued ID card, or a passport. If you were born outside the United States, bring your birth certificate with a certified English translation. Social Security numbers are also required on the application form in Trenton.

The Trenton Vital Statistics page has the full list of what to bring for your marriage license visit.

If either person was married before, you must show proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate of the former spouse is needed. The Trenton clerk will not process a marriage license until all prior marriages are accounted for. Bring originals or certified copies. Plain photocopies are not accepted at the Trenton office.

Note: Witnesses are not required at the time of application in Trenton, but you will need one witness at the ceremony.

State Vital Records Office in Trenton

Trenton has a unique resource that other New Jersey cities do not. The New Jersey Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics is at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. This walk-in center offers same-day service for many vital record requests. You can get certified copies of marriage certificates here if the record is on file at the state level.

The state office keeps marriage records from 1951 to the present. If you need a marriage certificate from before 1951, you may need to check with the local registrar or the New Jersey State Archives at 225 West State Street in Trenton. The Archives hold older vital records and are a key resource for genealogy research.

You can also order marriage certificates by mail from the state. The non-genealogical records page explains how to request copies for legal use. The fee is $25 for the first copy. Extra copies ordered at the same time are $2 each. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625.

How to Get a Marriage License in Trenton

Start by visiting the Trenton Office of Vital Statistics with your partner. Fill out the marriage license application and provide all required ID and documents. Pay the $28 fee. The Trenton clerk will review your application and check all your papers.

After you apply, there is a 72-hour waiting period required by New Jersey law. This means you cannot pick up your Trenton marriage license until three full days after you submit the application. A Superior Court judge can waive this waiting period if there is good cause. Once issued, the marriage license is valid for six months in Trenton.

After the ceremony, the officiant fills in the bottom part of the marriage license. The officiant and one witness sign the form. The signed marriage license must be sent back to the Trenton registrar within five days of the wedding. The Trenton clerk then files the marriage record and sends a copy to the state. You can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from Trenton after it is on file.

Visit the City of Trenton website for directions and parking information near City Hall.

Trenton Marriage License Laws

All marriage license rules in Trenton come from New Jersey Title 37. This part of the state code covers marriage and civil unions. It sets the fee at $28, requires the 72-hour waiting period, and defines who can officiate a wedding. The Trenton clerk must follow these rules for every marriage license issued.

Under state law, a marriage license issued in Trenton is valid anywhere in New Jersey. You apply in the town where the ceremony will take place. If you plan to marry in Trenton, you apply at the Trenton clerk office. If you live in Trenton but plan to wed in another town, you apply in that other town instead.

The NJ Department of Health marriage license page has the full state guidelines. The Mercer County registrar list shows all offices that can issue a marriage license in the county, including the Trenton office.

Certified Copies of Trenton Marriage Records

Once your marriage is on file, you can get certified copies from the Trenton registrar. A certified copy has a raised seal and the registrar's signature. Most legal uses require a certified copy. Banks, courts, insurance companies, and the Social Security office all ask for certified copies when you need to prove your marriage.

To get a certified copy from Trenton, visit the Office of Vital Statistics in person or mail a written request. Include the names of both spouses and the date of the marriage. The fee for the first certified copy is $25. Each extra copy ordered at the same time is $2. The Trenton clerk can also tell you if your record is on file locally or if you need to contact the state.

The NJ non-genealogical records page explains how to order copies by mail from the state office right in Trenton.

Note: If the marriage took place in Trenton before 1951, the local registrar is the best source. State records start at 1951.

Mercer County Marriage Records

Trenton is the county seat of Mercer County. All marriage records filed in Trenton are also held at the county level. The Mercer County clerk provides certified copies and maintains records for every town in the county. For more on county-level marriage records, fees, and other vital record resources, visit the Mercer County page.

View Mercer County Marriage Records