Changing Your Name or Address on a NJ Real Estate License

The short answer: New Jersey licensees must be licensed in their legal names. To change yours, you file the Commission's "Application for Reinstatement/Transfer/Name Change," sign it with your new name, and attach a marriage certificate, court order or divorce decree plus a $50 fee (NJREC FAQ, Q7). A new home address is simpler: send the Commission's one-page Change of Residence Address form (or a letter). There's no fee (NJREC form).

This is general information, not legal advice. For anything unusual, call the Commission's Licensing Services Bureau at (609) 292-7272.

Why does the name on your license matter?

It isn't just paperwork. The name on your license is the name you have to use in your advertising. Under N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1(b), every ad by a salesperson, broker-salesperson or referral agent must include "the name in which they are licensed" along with the brokerage's regular business name (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1). That covers business cards, signs, websites and social media.

So if you start going by a new last name but your license still shows the old one, your marketing and your license don't match. File the change first. Then update your cards, email signature and online profiles once the Commission's records show the new name.

How do you change your name on a NJ real estate license?

Here's the process, step by step, from the NJREC FAQ and the form itself:

  1. Get the right form. Salespersons and broker-salespersons use the Salesperson or Broker-Salesperson Application for Reinstatement/Transfer or Change of Name (PDF). Referral agents use the referral agent application (NJREC FAQ, Q7). Both are on the Commission's forms page.
  2. Check "Change of Name" at the top of the form and sign it using your new name.
  3. Attach proof of the legal change. That's a marriage certificate, a court document saying you may legally change your name, or your divorce decree bearing the County Clerk's seal. With a divorce decree, include the first page and the page that says you may resume your former name (NJREC FAQ, Q7). The form asks for a "complete, and legible, legal copy" (form, instruction 3).
  4. Have your broker complete the broker section. The form has a certification for your employing broker, broker of record or the holder of a power of attorney filed with the Commission, so plan on getting their signature.
  5. Pay $50. Make it payable to "The State Treasurer of New Jersey" by broker business check, cashier's or certified check, or money order. Personal checks, cash and credit cards aren't accepted. A dishonored payment can bring a $500 administrative penalty (form; NJREC fees).

What happens after the Commission processes it?

Once the change is entered in the licensing database, your new name shows up on the public Licensee Search. You can then print a new pocket card with your new legal name from the Commission's online system (NJREC FAQ, Q7).

Don't wait for anything in the mail. The Commission no longer mails licenses to individuals. You print or save your full license, pocket card or electronic license ID yourself through the Online Licensing Services portal, using "View, Print or Email My Individual License" (NJREC FAQ, Q8).

The licensing rules say applications are "normally processed within 15 business days" once a complete application with the correct fee arrives, and that times can vary during renewal season (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.13(c)). The rule speaks about license applications in general, so treat it as a rough guide for a name change, not a promise.

Can you change your name while doing something else?

Yes. The same form also covers reinstating an unrenewed license and transferring to a new broker within the license term, and you check every box that applies. Each item carries its own fee: $50 for the name change, $25 for a transfer, and $150 to reinstate an unrenewed salesperson license (form).

So if you're switching brokers after a wedding, you can do both on one application. If your license lapsed, our reinstatement guide covers the extra steps.

How do you update your home address?

For a new residence address, the Commission's FAQ says to send a letter with your new residence address, home telephone number and license reference number (NJREC FAQ, Q6). There's also a one-page Change of Residence Address form. It asks for your license reference number, name, new address, county, phone and email, says "No fee required," and can be mailed or faxed to the Licensing Services Bureau (PO Box 474, Trenton, NJ 08625-0474; fax (609) 292-0944) (NJREC form).

Your home address matters more than you might think. For example, when you leave a brokerage, your broker has to send a copy of the termination notice to your residence address (NJREC FAQ, Q10). If that address is old, the notice goes to the wrong place.

The sources above don't set a specific number of days for reporting a residence change. Send it as soon as you move.

What if your office address changes?

That's a different process, and it mostly falls on the brokerage. The Commission's FAQ says an office relocation requires a Change of Address form, the licenses returned, and the appropriate fee. Call (609) 292-7272 to request the form (NJREC FAQ, Q6). The licensing rules set the brokerage firm's deadline as "prior to or immediately upon move to new address" (N.J.A.C. 11:5-3.13(d)4).

As a salesperson, you work out of your broker's licensed office, so if the office moves, your broker handles the filing. Ask how and when your license record will be updated. Our sponsoring broker guide explains that relationship.

Does a name change affect your LLC or your CE?

  • LLC. If you're paid through a Commission-registered entity, see the registration rules in our guide to being paid through an LLC. Ask the Commission whether your entity's registration needs updating too. The sources checked for this page don't address it.
  • Continuing education. Your CE record is tied to your license. After the change, log in to the state's CE system and confirm that your completed courses still show up. If anything is missing, contact the Commission's Education Bureau. Our CE and renewal guide explains the requirements.

If you're not licensed yet, none of this applies until you are. When you apply, use your current legal name. Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course is the first step toward that license.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 28, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to change your name on a NJ real estate license?

$50, paid by broker business check, cashier's or certified check, or money order made payable to the State Treasurer of New Jersey (NJREC FAQ, Q7; NJREC fees).

What documents prove a name change?

A marriage certificate, a court order allowing the change, or a divorce decree with

Is there a fee to change your home address?

No. The Commission's Change of Residence Address form says "No fee required" (NJREC form).

Will the Commission mail me a new license?

No. It no longer mails licenses to individuals. Print or save your license and pocket card through the Online Licensing Services portal ([NJREC FAQ, Q8](https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/rec

Can I keep advertising under my old name?

Your ads must use the name in which you're licensed (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1(b)). Update your marketing once the change is on record.