ENTERING INTO A MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION IN NEW JERSEY
If you are entering into a Marriage or Civil Union in New Jersey, you will find information here which will be helpful to you. Read it carefully, if you have any questions, please contact your local Registrar of Vital Statistics. A list of local Registrars is available at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/regbycnty.shtml
WHERE SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION LICENSE?The marriage or civil union license must be obtained from the registrar in the New Jersey municipality in which either applicant resides, if one or both is resident of New Jersey. (For these purposes, soldiers are residents of the posts at which they are stationed). A license issued under the preceding circumstances is good for use anywhere in the State of New Jersey.
If both parties are not residents of New Jersey, the license must be obtained from the Registrar of the municipality where the ceremony is to be performed and is ONLY good for use in that municipality.
A New Jersey marriage or civil union license must never be used outside of the State of New Jersey and a license issued in another state may never be used within the State of New Jersey.
Be sure to contact the Registrar well in advance of the ceremony to find out on what days and during what hours the Registrar will be in the office. The marriage or civil union license fee is $28.00
WHO CAN PERFORM A MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION CEREMONY?Each judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, each judge of a federal district court, United States magistrate, judge of a municipal court, judge of the Superior Court, judge of a tax court, retired judge of the Superior Court or Tax Court, or judge of the Superior Court or Tax court, the former County Court, the former County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, or the former County District Court who has resigned in good standing, surrogates of any county, county clerk and any mayor or the deputy mayor when authorized by the mayor, or chairman of any township committee or village president of this State, and ever minister of every religion, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages or civil union; and every religious society, institution or organization in this State may join together in marriage or civil union such persons according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization. (Title 37:1-13)
WHEN SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION LICENSE?A local Registrar will not issue a marriage or civil union license sooner than 72 hours after the application for a license has been made, unless ordered to do so via a Superior Court order. If the ceremony is scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday, the application should be made no later than the preceding Tuesday. If the application is made on a Wednesday or Thursday, the 72 hours will end on Saturday or Sunday, but the Registrar will probably not be available on those days or any public holiday. If both parties are unavailable to complete the application at the same time, either applicant may complete his/her part of the application and start the waiting period. The other applicant must return with the same witness (who must be at least 18 years old) to completed his/her part of the application.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING WITH YOU WHEN YOU APPLY?Required documents when applying for a marriage license:
1. Proof of identity by presenting your driver's license, passport or state/federal ID.2. Proof of your residency.3. You social security card or social security number. *4. A witness, 18 years of age or older.5. The $28 application fee.* Social security number is required by law for US citizens and will be kept confidential.Requested additional documents (these documents are helpful but not required):
1. A copy of your birth certificate to establish your parents' names and related birth information.2. If you are divorced, have had a previous civil union dissolved, domestic partnership terminated or have had a civil unionannulled, please bring the decree(s) or the civil union annulment documents.3. If your former spouse/civil union or domestic partner is deceased, please bring the death certificate.Each applicant must supply valid identification that established name, age, date of birth and proof of residence. This may be supplied by one or more documents issued by a government agency, such as a certified copy of a birth certificate, driver's license, military identification, passport or state/county identification card.
WHERE SHOULD THE MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION RECORD BE FILED?The person performing the ceremony must file the license and certificate with the Registrar of the municipality in which the ceremony was performed. Since failure to record the certificate may cause considerable inconvenience at a later date when proof of certificate in needed, you should make sure that this has been done.
Certified copies of the marriage or civil union event may be obtained from the local Registrar in the municipality where the ceremony occurred or from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration.
Chaplain Patrick
Reverend Yvonne
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