Woodbridge Township Marriage License
Woodbridge Township sits in Middlesex County and is one of the oldest townships in New Jersey. The Woodbridge Department of Health and Human Services handles marriage license applications and other vital records. Woodbridge has a large population spread across several communities including Woodbridge proper, Iselin, Colonia, and Avenel. Couples who live in Woodbridge Township apply for their marriage license at the local registrar's office. Both people must appear at the Woodbridge office together to complete the marriage license application in person.
Woodbridge Township Marriage License Facts
Where to Get a Marriage License in Woodbridge Township
The Woodbridge Township Department of Health and Human Services processes marriage license applications. This Woodbridge department serves as the local registrar of vital statistics for the township. You can find marriage license forms and other resources on the Woodbridge Township forms page to help you prepare before your visit to the Woodbridge office.
Both people in the couple must come to the Woodbridge office at the same time for the marriage license. You cannot apply separately or send someone on your behalf to the Woodbridge office. The Woodbridge clerk will ask each of you to fill out the marriage license application, provide identification, and answer questions about your background. A witness who is at least 18 years old and speaks English must also be present when you apply for a marriage license in Woodbridge Township.
The marriage license fee in Woodbridge Township is $28. Ask the Woodbridge clerk about accepted payment methods when you call to confirm office hours. Bring all required documents with you on your first visit to the Woodbridge office to avoid a second trip for your marriage license.
Note: Check with the Woodbridge office for current hours before you visit, as schedules may change around holidays.
Woodbridge Township Marriage License Requirements
New Jersey state law sets the requirements for all marriage licenses, and the Woodbridge Township registrar follows these rules. Each person needs a valid photo ID for the marriage license application. Driver's licenses, state ID cards, and passports are all accepted at the Woodbridge office. If a passport is your only form of ID, you must also bring proof of your New Jersey address to the Woodbridge marriage license office. A recent utility bill, lease, or bank statement will work.
Your Social Security number is required on the Woodbridge marriage license application. You do not need to show the card itself. If either person was married before, you need certified proof that the prior marriage ended before the Woodbridge registrar can issue a new marriage license. A divorce decree or a death certificate must be shown at the Woodbridge office. These must be certified copies, not plain photocopies.
The marriage license requirements under Title 37 of the New Jersey Statutes apply in Woodbridge Township the same as everywhere else. You must be at least 18 to apply for a marriage license without parental consent. There are no blood test or medical exam requirements for a marriage license in New Jersey. The marriage license process is straightforward as long as you bring all the right documents to the Woodbridge Township office.
Marriage License Waiting Period in Woodbridge Township
After you submit your marriage license application in Woodbridge Township, a mandatory 72-hour waiting period starts. This waiting period applies to every marriage license in New Jersey. You cannot pick up your Woodbridge marriage license until the full three days have passed. There is no way to speed up or skip the marriage license waiting period.
Plan your visit to the Woodbridge Township registrar with your wedding date in mind. If the ceremony is on a Saturday, try to apply for the marriage license at the Woodbridge office no later than the Tuesday before. This gives you the 72 hours plus a small cushion. Many couples in Woodbridge Township apply for the marriage license a full week or two before the wedding to be safe.
Once you pick up the Woodbridge marriage license, it is valid for 30 days. The marriage ceremony must happen within that window. If 30 days pass and you have not used the Woodbridge marriage license, it expires and you must start over with a new application and a new $28 fee. After the ceremony, your officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the Woodbridge Township registrar for filing. This step creates the permanent marriage record.
Marriage Ceremony Options in Woodbridge Township
Your marriage license from Woodbridge Township can be used anywhere in New Jersey. The marriage ceremony does not have to take place in Woodbridge itself. You can get married at a venue, a house of worship, a park, or any other location in the state with your Woodbridge marriage license. The marriage license works the same no matter where the ceremony is held.
New Jersey allows a range of people to officiate a marriage. Judges, mayors, and ordained or licensed members of the clergy can all perform the marriage ceremony. Many Woodbridge couples ask a friend or family member to get ordained online so they can officiate. As long as the person is properly authorized, the marriage is valid. The officiant must sign the marriage license and return it to the Woodbridge Township registrar within the required time after the marriage ceremony.
Woodbridge Township is in Middlesex County, and the county seat is in New Brunswick. The Middlesex County Clerk, Nancy J. Pinkin, has an office at 75 Bayard Street in New Brunswick. The county clerk's office can answer questions about marriage license records at the county level. Some Woodbridge couples also contact the county clerk for marriage records from other Middlesex County municipalities.
Marriage Certificate Copies in Woodbridge Township
After the officiant returns the signed marriage license and the Woodbridge Township registrar files it, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Woodbridge office. Certified marriage certificate copies have an official seal that proves the document is authentic. You will need these marriage certificate copies for name changes, insurance updates, bank accounts, and other legal matters after your wedding.
The Woodbridge Township registrar issues marriage certificate copies for marriages filed in the township. If your marriage was recorded elsewhere, contact the registrar in that town or the county clerk's office. For marriages in other Middlesex County towns, contact the Middlesex County registrar. The New Jersey Department of Health in Trenton can also provide copies of marriage records from anywhere in the state.
Always ask for certified copies when you order marriage certificates from the Woodbridge office. Plain copies without the official seal may not be accepted by government offices, banks, or other institutions. Order several certified marriage certificate copies at once from Woodbridge. Having extra copies means you will not need to go back to the Woodbridge Township office every time you need proof of your marriage.
Note: Processing times for mailed marriage certificate requests may take longer than in-person visits to the Woodbridge Township registrar.
Woodbridge Township Municipal Building
The Woodbridge Township Municipal Building houses the offices where you apply for a marriage license in Woodbridge. The building is in the center of Woodbridge and is easy to reach by car or public transit. Parking is available on site and on nearby streets. When you arrive at the Woodbridge building, look for signs directing you to the Health and Human Services department or the vital records window for marriage license services.
The Woodbridge municipal building is also where you pick up your marriage license after the 72-hour waiting period and where you order marriage certificate copies later on. Having everything in one Woodbridge location makes the marriage license process more convenient. Call the Woodbridge office before your visit to confirm which floor or room handles marriage license applications.
Middlesex County Marriage License Records
Woodbridge Township is in Middlesex County. The county clerk's office in New Brunswick handles marriage license records at the county level and issues copies for marriages filed in any Middlesex County municipality. For more about county marriage license offices, fees, and resources, visit the county page.