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City of Newark exact answer

Are witnesses required for a marriage in City of Newark?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In City of Newark, one identifying witness aged 18 or older must attend the application appointment with the couple. The witness swears an oath alongside the applicants and signs the application. If only one applicant files first to start the 72-hour clock, the same witness must return when the second applicant completes the application. This is a witness to the application, not to the ceremony — an unusual requirement that catches couples out. The witness must be able to read and write and to translate for the applicants in English. Neither the Marriage Bureau nor the state's marriage-license guidance publishes a required number of witnesses at the ceremony itself.

Published rule and conditions

Marriage ceremony witness rule
One identifying witness aged 18 or older must attend the application appointment with the couple. The witness swears an oath alongside the applicants and signs the application. If only one applicant files first to start the 72-hour clock, the same witness must return when the second applicant completes the application.

This is a witness to the application, not to the ceremony — an unusual requirement that catches couples out. The witness must be able to read and write and to translate for the applicants in English. Neither the Marriage Bureau nor the state's marriage-license guidance publishes a required number of witnesses at the ceremony itself.

Official requirement

- ONE WITNESS (18 YEARS OR OLDER)

Issuing office

City of Newark Office of the City Clerk, Marriage Bureau

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage License Requirements (City Clerk)City of Newark City Clerk - checked July 30, 2026

    THE COUPLE MUST BE PRESENT AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING: COST OF LICENSE IS $28.00 PAYABLE IN (CASH ONLY) AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION. ONE WITNESS (18 YEARS OR OLDER). APPLICANTS/WITNESS MUST BE ABLE TO READ, WRITE AND BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE TO THE APPLICANTS IN ENGLISH. ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOR PROOF OF IDENTITY: VALID PASSPORT, VALID NJ DMV DRIVERS LICENSE / VALID NJ DMV NON-DRIVERS I.D., MILITARY PHOTO ID, ESSEX COUNTY ID (HALL OF RECORDS). PLUS - SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. PROOF OF RESIDENCY MUST BE PRESENTED BY ONE APPLICANT AND BE LESS THAN 90 DAYS OLD. 72 HOUR WAITING PERIOD FROM TIME OF APPLICATION TO PICK UP LICENSE. THE MARRIAGE/CIVIL UNION LICENSE APPLICATION IS TO BE MADE IN THE NEW JERSEY MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH EITHER PARTY RESIDES AND THE LICENSE IS VALID THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. HOURS: BY "APPOINTMENT ONLY" MONDAY THRU FRIDAY, EXCEPT HOLIDAYS.

  • Vital Statistics: Marriage LicenseNew Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry - checked July 30, 2026

    Apply for the marriage license in the New Jersey municipality where either party resides. The license is valid throughout New Jersey. If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, submit the application in the municipality where the marriage ceremony will be performed. In this case, the license is only valid in the issuing municipality. Required documents when applying for a marriage license: Proof of identity by presenting your driver's license, passport or state/federal I.D.; Proof of residency by one applicant if a NJ resident; Social Security number; A witness, 18 years of age or older; The $28 application fee. There is a 72-hour waiting period before the license is issued. The waiting period begins when the application is filed with the Local Registrar. Be at least 18 years of age. You must sign the application, under oath, in the presence of the issuing authority.

  • Application for License — Marriage, Remarriage, Civil Union, Reaffirmation of Civil Union (REG-77)New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry - checked July 30, 2026

    NOTE 2. Both applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of application. NOTE TO REGISTRAR - Applicants and witness should be told that taking a false oath constitutes perjury. In any case where application is made by only one applicant to begin the waiting period, the same identifying witness must return when the second applicant completes the application. NOTE 4. If both applicants are nonresidents of New Jersey, the application must be made in the municipality where the ceremony will be performed. Registrar should mark the license accordingly.

Answer boundary

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