More on marriage licenses...

mhande

Can someone tell me if I understand this whole process correctly?1. Apply for marriage license no more than 30 days before wedding (me, FI and witness)2. Pick up marriage license at least 3 days before wedding3. Have pastor return license after wedding (?)4. Pick up marriage certificate several days laterNo. 2 is what I'm particularly concerned about. My FI and I live out of state, one or two hours away (depends on traffic) from where we need to apply for the license. It's fine that we have to go down there to apply. But I have to make yet another trip just to pick it up? Is there any way around that? Can they mail it?Thanks in advance.

30may09bride

You have the steps correct.  To be honest, you may have to call the town you are applying in and ask them if you can have someone else pick it up, or if they will mail it.  I hope they are willing to work something out for you. 

MrsnotMS

You have can apply for the license any time but it is a mandatory 3 day waiting period before you can pick up the license. Once you pick up the license, you have up until 30 days to use it.  You apply for the license in the town where the bride lives, but it gets filed in the town where the wedding takes place. The officiant has 5 days after the ceremony, to send the license to the town registrar's office where  they have up to 12 days to file it with the state. If the bride lives out of state, you apply where the groom lives. If neither of you lives in the state, you therefore apply for the license where the marriage will take place. Most registrar offices will mail you the certified copy (raised seal) with proper identification. 

Heater020780

I was able to pick up my license 72 hours after I applied for it.  

caketime

My town said our witness could pick it up as long as she had the receipt.  Perhaps you can do that depending on who your witness is.Double-check on the pick-up of your marriage certificate.  I had to fill out a form and mail in a check and then it was mailed to me.

melissamchiu

1.We applied for our license in June - so about 4 months out.2.My town also said our witness could pick up the license (within 30 days of the wedding).Agree with pp; best bet is to call.

mrs.spunky1508

You can apply up to 6 months in advance. This is especially good if you live out of state and are not in the area within a month of the wedding. There is a 3 day waiting period (72 hours) before you can pick it up. When you pick it up, it is stamped, and thus validated. It is valid for 30 days. So if you're getting married in December (let's say 12/1) you can apply now, but the earliest you can pick it up is 11/1. The officiant mails it in to the municipality where it took place, you get copies either in person or, in some towns, via mail. You apply - if at least 1 lives in NJ - in the town where you live. If neither party lives in NJ, you apply in the town you're getting married in.

mhande

Thanks to those of you who addressed the picking up of the license. That's interesting that a witness was allowed to pick it up, with the receipt. We were going to use a witness who lives up here near me and FI, but maybe instead we'll choose someone who lives in that part of New Jersey so that they can pick it up for us. But I'll call the clerk first, of course. I appreciate the advice!