Union City Marriage License Process

Union City handles marriage licenses through the registrar office at City Hall on Palisade Avenue. The city is in Hudson County and has about 72,000 residents. Union City sits on the cliffs above the Hudson River, just west of Weehawken and north of Jersey City Heights. Both people planning to marry must visit the Union City registrar in person during appointment hours. The registrar, Carlos H. Vallejo, and staff will help you fill out the forms, check your ID, and collect the state fee. Call 201-348-5731 to set up your visit.

Union City Marriage License Office

The Union City registrar office is inside City Hall at 3715 Palisade Avenue. This is the only place to apply for a marriage license in Union City. The building is on the main road through the city, close to bus stops and local shops. You must make an appointment before your visit since the office has limited hours for marriage license work.

Union City Hall has limited street parking along Palisade Avenue. NJ Transit buses run along the avenue with frequent service. The building is within walking distance of the Bergenline Avenue shopping area. Bring a photo ID when you go to the Union City registrar for your marriage license appointment.

Note: Union City is closed for marriage license appointments on Mondays. Wednesday has a split schedule with morning and afternoon slots.

How to Apply for a Union City Marriage License

Call the Union City registrar at 201-348-5731 to book your appointment. Both people must attend. Walk-ins may not be served since the office runs on a set schedule. Arrive on time with all your documents. The Union City staff will review your forms and collect the $28 fee at the window.

Each person needs a valid photo ID. A driver license, state ID card, or passport is accepted. You also need proof of your Social Security number. Bring the card itself or a tax form that shows the number. If you were born in another country, bring your passport or birth certificate with a certified translation if it is not in English.

If either person was married before, you must show proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce judgment or a death certificate for the former spouse is required. The Union City registrar cannot issue a marriage license until this is confirmed. Make sure you bring originals or certified copies, not photocopies.

The Union City website has general information about city services. The registrar office also has a marriage license application form available as a PDF on the site. You can print it, fill it out at home, and bring it to your appointment in Union City. This saves time at the window.

Union City Marriage License Requirements

Union City follows the same rules as every other city in New Jersey for marriage licenses. The NJ Department of Health sets these rules. The NJ Vital Statistics office oversees registrars like the one in Union City.

You must be at least 18. There is no blood test in New Jersey. You do not need to live in Union City to get a marriage license here. Any couple can apply as long as the marriage will happen in New Jersey. The Union City marriage license is valid for use at any location in the state within 30 days of the waiting period.

The 72-hour wait starts when you submit your completed forms and fee at the Union City registrar office. After three full days, you pick up the license. State law under Title 37 of the New Jersey code sets this waiting period. A judge can waive it in rare cases, but this takes a court order and is not common.

Note: The Union City registrar may ask for extra documents if there are questions about your identity or prior marriage history.

Marriage License Fees in Union City

The fee for a marriage license in Union City is $28. This is the same rate used across New Jersey. You pay at the registrar window during your appointment. Ask the Union City office what forms of payment they accept. Cash and money orders are standard.

After the wedding, you can get certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Union City registrar. The standard rate in New Jersey is $25 for the first certified copy and $10 for each extra copy when ordered at the same time. Rates can change, so confirm with the Union City office before you request copies.

You can also get copies from the Hudson County Clerk or the state health department in Trenton. Having a few certified copies on hand makes post-wedding tasks like name changes go faster. Each copy from Union City serves as full legal proof of the marriage.

After You Get Your Union City Marriage License

Once the 72-hour wait ends, your Union City marriage license is active. You have 30 days to hold the ceremony. The officiant and at least one witness must sign the license at the wedding. After the event, the officiant sends the signed license back to the Union City registrar.

The registrar then files the signed license and creates the official marriage record. This record is kept in Union City and also sent to the state health department. You can get certified copies of the record from either office. The Hudson County registrar directory lists all registrars in the county if you need copies from a different office.

The Hudson County marriage license guide has useful tips for couples in the area. While some details may be specific to other towns, the general process is the same across Hudson County. Union City couples can use this as a reference alongside the information from the registrar.

If you do not use the marriage license within 30 days, it expires. You would need to go back to Union City or another registrar, fill out new forms, and pay the $28 fee again. Plan your ceremony well within the 30-day window to avoid this.

Marriage Ceremony in Union City

With your Union City marriage license in hand, you can marry anywhere in New Jersey. Judges, mayors, and ordained ministers can all perform the ceremony. The mayor of Union City may be available to officiate by request. Contact City Hall to ask about this option.

New Jersey also allows self-uniting marriages. In this type of ceremony, the couple signs the license along with witnesses. No officiant is needed. The Union City registrar can explain how this works. Some couples choose this for a simple, personal ceremony without a formal officiant.

After the ceremony, the signed license must go back to the Union City registrar for filing. The officiant is responsible for returning it. Follow up within a week to make sure the Union City office received the signed document. Once filed, your marriage record is complete and you can order certified copies.

Hudson County Marriage License

Union City is in Hudson County. The county clerk handles marriage records for all cities and towns in the county. For more on county-level marriage license services, fee lists, and other vital records in Hudson County, visit the county page.

View Hudson County Marriage License