Find Atlantic County Marriage and Divorce Records

Atlantic County Marriage License Requirements

Marriage licenses in New Jersey are not issued by a county courthouse or the County Clerk. They come from the local municipal registrar. The NJ Department of Health marriage license page sets out who qualifies and what documents are needed. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must not already be in a marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership recognized by New Jersey law.

Where you apply depends on where you live. Apply at the municipal registrar in the town where either party resides. If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, apply in the municipality where the ceremony will take place, and the license is only valid in that location. Both applicants must appear together and sign the application under oath before the issuing authority. Do not sign the form before you arrive at the registrar's office.

After you file the application, a 72-hour waiting period applies before the license is issued. One exception: remarriage when the applicant provides a certified copy of the existing marriage document. The license stays valid for six months. A registrar may extend it to one year on request. If the license expires before the ceremony, you must file a new application and pay another $28 fee.

The NJ Department of Health image below shows the official marriage license requirements page, which lists what documents to bring and the rules for residents and nonresidents alike.

Visit the NJ marriage license requirements page to confirm the current list of accepted identity documents and residency proofs before your appointment.

That page is the authoritative state source for what proof of identity, residency, and Social Security documentation you need to bring to your local registrar in Atlantic County or elsewhere in New Jersey.

Documents required at the registrar:

• Proof of identity for both applicants.
• Proof of residency by at least one applicant if either party is a New Jersey resident.
• Social Security number for U.S. citizens.
• One witness age 18 or older.
• $28 application fee.

How to Apply for an Atlantic County Marriage License

The steps below follow the process set out by the NJ Department of Health. Most applicants visit the registrar in the town where they live. If you are unsure which municipality has your registrar, check with Atlantic County or contact your town hall directly. Each registrar sets its own appointment or walk-in policy, so call ahead before you go.

1. Identify the correct municipal registrar. Use the town where you or your partner lives. If neither of you lives in New Jersey, use the town where the ceremony will happen.
2. Gather your documents. Both applicants need proof of identity. One applicant who is a New Jersey resident needs proof of residency. U.S. citizens need their Social Security number. If either applicant was previously married or in a civil union, bring documentation of how that relationship ended.
3. Bring one witness age 18 or older to the registrar's office. That witness must be present when the application is signed.
4. Both applicants appear in person together and sign the application under oath before the issuing authority. Do not sign it in advance.
5. Pay the $28 application fee at the time of filing.
6. Wait the required 72 hours. The license is not issued on the day you apply. Plan your ceremony date accordingly.
7. Pick up the license after the waiting period. Confirm the pickup process with your registrar because some offices mail it and others require a return visit.

Note: If a license expires before use, a new application must be filed and another $28 paid; the original filing does not carry over.

Marriage License Application Field Inventory

New Jersey uses Form REG-77 for marriage, remarriage, and civil union applications. The REG-77 form is filed with the local registrar, not with the County Clerk or a court. The table below shows the main fields the form collects for each applicant. Both parties complete the same set of fields.

Atlantic County Clerk Wedding Ceremonies

After you pick up your marriage license from the municipal registrar, the Atlantic County Clerk's office performs civil wedding ceremonies at no charge. Atlantic County Clerk Joseph J. Giralo's office has made this a popular service for couples who want a simple, official ceremony without the cost of a private officiant.

To use the service, call to set up an appointment. You and your partner bring the marriage license you obtained from the municipal registrar. Two witnesses must also be present. The Clerk provides the ceremony free of charge. Indoor ceremonies hold up to 30 guests. Outdoor ceremonies are unlimited in size if weather cooperates. Ceremonies run Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with other times available depending on the Clerk's schedule. Reach the Clerk's wedding coordinator at 609-625-7000 ext. 5338 or nolan_amanda@aclink.org.

The Clerk's wedding ceremonies page shown below gives the current contact details and ceremony rules for couples planning to marry at the county offices.

That page confirms the no-fee policy, the witness requirement, and the indoor guest limit, all of which apply to every ceremony booked through the Clerk's office in Mays Landing.

Atlantic County Marriage and Divorce Fees

The fees below are drawn from official NJ Department of Health and county sources. Marriage license fees are set by the state. Court filing fees for divorce are set by NJ Courts and can change; contact the Superior Court or check the NJ Courts fee schedule for the current amount. A fee waiver may be available if you cannot afford the filing fee. The Clerk's wedding ceremony is free.

For vital record copy fees at the state level, the NJ Department of Health maintains a current fee schedule. The image below shows that page.

Check the NJ vital records fees page for the current cost to order certified copies of marriage certificates or other vital records from the state office.

How to Look Up Atlantic County Marriage Records

Marriage records for ceremonies performed in New Jersey are maintained by the NJ Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration. The state holds the official copy; local registrars keep their own. Older records may be archived at the state level. For recent marriages, the local registrar where the license was issued may also be a starting point.

To order a certified copy of a marriage certificate, use the NJ Department of Health's vital records order process. The NJ vital records order page explains who may request a copy, what identification is required, and what forms to submit. You can order by mail or in person. Third parties requesting a record that is not their own may need to show a documented legal interest.

The order page shown below walks through the request steps for vital records statewide, including marriages that took place in Atlantic County.

That page is the state's official pathway for anyone ordering a marriage certificate or other vital document; use it rather than contacting the County Clerk, which does not hold marriage certificates.

What you need to search or order a marriage record:

• Full names of both parties as they appear on the record.
• Approximate date and municipality of the marriage.
• Your relationship to the parties or documented legal interest if you are a third party.
• Valid government-issued photo ID for in-person or mail requests.

Atlantic County Divorce Records in Superior Court

Divorce in New Jersey is called a dissolution case. All dissolution cases are filed and heard in the Family Division of the Superior Court at the county level. For Atlantic County, that means the filing goes through the Superior Court Family Division in the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage. The primary contact is the NJ Courts Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage at 609-402-0100.

Dissolution docket numbers follow a standard NJ Courts format. The example FM-01-07500-00 breaks down as FM for a family/matrimonial dissolution case, 01 for Atlantic County, 07500 for the case sequence, and 00 for the year 2000. Use the exact prefix, county code, sequence, and year when searching or requesting a copy. The NJ Courts copies of court records page explains the dissolution file structure and how to request records from the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

Closed cases do not stay at the county courthouse. When an Atlantic County dissolution case closes, the file is eventually transferred to the Superior Court Clerk's Office archive in Trenton. How long that takes varies. For a case that closed years ago, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office with the docket number, the county where the case was filed, the parties' names, and the approximate year. The Clerk can prepare a Certificate of Divorce in many cases for a nominal fee. That certificate shows the county of venue, docket number, party names, final judgment date, and the Superior Court seal. For most legal purposes, the Certificate of Divorce is sufficient proof of the dissolution.

Dissolution

New Jersey's term for a divorce case filed in the Family Division of Superior Court.

Certificate of Divorce

A document prepared by the Superior Court Clerk confirming the county, docket number, parties, and final judgment date; often sufficient for legal purposes without ordering the full file.

Family Division

The part of Superior Court that handles divorce, custody, support, adoption, and juvenile matters.

Docket number

The unique case identifier assigned by the court; use its exact format, including the prefix, when requesting copies or calling the court.

How to File for Divorce in Atlantic County

Filing a dissolution case in Atlantic County means filing in the Superior Court Family Division for the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage. NJ Courts provides self-help divorce forms for both contested and uncontested cases. The steps below reflect the process outlined in NJ Courts resources and research for this county. Anyone with children, substantial assets, or contested issues should consult an attorney before filing. South Jersey Legal Services in Atlantic City, reachable at 609-348-4200, and the Atlantic County Bar Association referral line at 609-344-3444 can help if you need assistance finding counsel or a legal aid program.

1. Confirm New Jersey residency and grounds for dissolution. At least one party must meet the residency requirement. New Jersey recognizes no-fault grounds as well as fault grounds.
2. Download the correct divorce complaint form from the NJ Courts self-help divorce pages. Use the uncontested packet if both parties agree on all issues, or the contested packet if there are disputes about property, support, or custody.
3. File the complaint at the Superior Court Family Division for Atlantic County. Bring the completed forms, required copies, and payment for the filing fee. Ask about a fee waiver if cost is a concern.
4. Serve the other party with a copy of the complaint according to NJ court rules. Proper service is required before the case can proceed.
5. Complete the Case Information Statement and any required parenting plan or support documents if children or shared finances are involved.
6. Attend any required early settlement panels, mediation sessions, or court hearings as scheduled by the Family Division.
7. After the final judgment of divorce is entered, request copies through the court or the Superior Court Clerk's Office. A Certificate of Divorce may be ordered through the Clerk for a nominal fee and is typically sufficient for most purposes.

Note: Court staff can explain procedures and forms, but they cannot give legal advice about which grounds to use or how to negotiate a settlement.

Getting Certified Copies of Atlantic County Vital Records

Certified copies carry legal weight that plain copies do not. Banks, courts, immigration offices, insurance carriers, and many government agencies require certified copies rather than photocopies or uncertified printouts. Where you request a certified copy depends on what you need.

For a marriage certificate, contact the NJ Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration. The state holds official marriage records. Local registrars may have copies of recent licenses, but the state office issues certified certificates. Use the NJ vital records order process and follow the identification and fee instructions posted there.

For a divorce record, contact the Superior Court or the Superior Court Clerk's Office. A Certificate of Divorce is often the fastest option. It shows the county of venue, docket number, party names, final judgment date, and the Superior Court seal. The NJ Courts court records self-help page explains how to request records from the Judiciary. For older files that have been transferred to the Trenton archive, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office directly. Turnaround time depends on how old the file is and whether it requires retrieval from storage.

New Jersey Vital Records Office

The NJ Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration, is the statewide custodian for birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership certificates registered in New Jersey. Atlantic County marriages are included in the state's vital records database. The state office processes orders by mail or in person and also works with VitalChek for online requests. Check the current fee schedule on the NJ vital records website before you submit an order because fees can change.

For fees, the NJ vital records fees page lists current charges for certified copies of marriage certificates and other vital documents. Confirm the fee before mailing a check or submitting an online payment.

Related Atlantic County Records

Marriage and divorce records connect to several other record types in Atlantic County. Estate matters that follow a death, including the probate of a will or administration of an estate, are handled by the Atlantic County Surrogate's Court. The Surrogate's Office also handles guardianship and minor trust funds, which sometimes arise in family law situations. For broader government records, the Atlantic County public records page covers OPRA requests and the types of county records available outside the court system. The Atlantic County Clerk handles recording, property instruments, and the wedding ceremony service described above; the Clerk does not hold court case files. For the full picture of how Superior Court cases are searched and requested, see the Atlantic County court records page.