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Marriage Laws United States New Jersey NJ Wedding Officiants

How to Apply for a Marriage License in New Jersey State

How to Register for a Civil Union in New Jersey State

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What are the basic steps to register a Domestic Partnership?

The applicants must obtain an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership from a Local Registrar of Vital Statistics. The Affidavit must be completed and signed by both applicants at the same time, in the presence of a notary public, and notarized. The applicants must appear together to file with a Local Registrar of Vital Statistics and the required $28 fee remitted. Domestic Partnerships are not considered registered until the Affidavit has been filed with a Local Registrar's Office and the Certificate of Domestic Partnership has been issued.

What are the requirements to register a Domestic Partnership?

Couples wishing to register a Domestic Partnership must be couples who are both 62 years of age or older. Couples must meet the following requirements:

1) Share a common residence in New Jersey or in any other jurisdiction provided that at least one of the applicants is a member of a New Jersey State-administered retirement system;

2) Both persons are jointly responsible for each other's common welfare as evidenced by joint financial arrangements or joint ownership of real or personal property;

3) Both persons agree to be jointly responsible for each other's basic living expenses during the domestic partnership;

4) Neither applicant is in a marriage recognized by New Jersey law or a member of another domestic partnership;

5) Neither person is related to the other by blood or affinity up to and including the fourth degree of consanguinity;

6) Both persons have chosen to share each other's lives in a committed relationship of mutual caring;

7) Neither applicant has terminated another domestic partnership within the last 180 days. (This prohibition shall not apply when the previous partnership ended due to the death of the other partner.)

Where can you obtain an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership?

The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership form must be obtained from a Local Registrar of Vital Statistics in any municipality in the State of New Jersey. The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership does not have to be obtained (or filed) in the municipality in which the domestic partners reside.

The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership must be completed and signed by both applicants at the same time, in the presence of a notary public, and notarized. Many Local Registrar Offices have notaries on staff; please call to verify this information with the Local Registrar.

What should you bring when completing the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership with a notary public?

Each applicant must supply valid identification that establishes name, age, date of birth and proof of residency. 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 or state/county identification card.

Where should the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership be filed?

The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership must be filed and registered with the Local Registrar of Vital Statistics in any municipality in the State of New Jersey. The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership does not have to be filed or registered in the municipality in which the domestic partners reside.

What should you bring when filing the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership with a Local Registrar?

1) Applicants must appear together and each must supply valid identification that establishes name, age and date of birth. 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 or state/county identification card.

2) Applicants must bring with them proof of residence. If the residence is outside the State of New Jersey, at least one of the applicants must provide proof of membership in a New Jersey State-administered Retirement System by providing one of the following documents issued by the Division of Pension and Benefits:

• a. Personal Benefits Statement from the current or previous year
• b. 1099R from the current or previous year, or
• c. Certificate of Pension Membership

3) Applicants must provide proof of joint financial responsibility, evidenced by at least one of the following documents:

• a. Joint deed, mortgage agreement or lease;
• b. Joint bank account;
• c. Designation of one of the persons as primary beneficiary in the other person's will;
• d. Designation of one of the persons as primary beneficiary in the other person's insurance policy or retirement plan; or:
• e. Joint ownership of a motor vehicle.

4) Payment in the amount of $28.00.

What is a Certificate of Domestic Partnership?

A Certificate of Domestic Partnership is the document that is prepared by the Local Registrar after you have filed your signed and notarized Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. Each partner is presented with an informational copy of the Certificate at the time it is prepared. This informational copy is only issued as your receipt that your Domestic Partnership has been registered; it serves no legal purpose. Each partner will also receive a copy of the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and a copy of the Notice of Rights and Obligation for Domestic Partners.

What do you need to prove your Domestic Partnership has been registered?

To show proof of a Registered Domestic Partnership, you must obtain a certified copy of the Certificate of Domestic Partnership. A certified copy can be obtained from the Local Registrar of Vital Statistics where the Partnership was registered or at the State Registrar's Office of Vital Statistics. To obtain the certificate, you must identify the date and location of the filing for the Domestic Partnership, and provide identification to establish yourself as one of the partners listed on the document. Fees for certified copies vary by municipality.

Terminating a Domestic Partnership:

In order to end a Domestic Partnership, you must file a request for termination with the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey. Following termination, you are responsible for notifying any entity that you had originally notified when you entered into the Domestic Partnership.

Officiants:

Judges of a Federal District Court, United States magistrates, Judges of a Municipal Court, Judges of the Superior Court, Judges of a Tax Court, Retired judges of the Superior Court, Judge or the Superior or Tax Court who has resigned in good standing, any Mayor/Deputy Mayor or Chairman of any Township Committee, Village President of New Jersey, County Clerks, and every minister of every religion. At the time you apply for your marriage license you will have to provide the name of who is going to marry you, where, and when, and an address and phone number for the officiant.

Miscellaneous:

The Marriage License application is valid for six months from the date accepted, unless the Registrar has granted prior approval to extend the validity of the application to a maximum of one year.

The New Jersey Marriage license is valid for thirty (30) days from date of issuance.

A couple wishing to have both religious and civil ceremonies may be issued a license for both ceremonies on the basis of a single application. However, a couple wishing to have two religious ceremonies, and wanting to have a public record of each, may not have two licenses issued at the same time. They must apply for and use the first license. They must then return to the Registrar with the signed original certificate of the marriage and a witness to apply for a remarriage license.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage:

New Jersey Department for Public Health
New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0307
Phone: (609) 292-4087

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. Check with your local registrar license office or borough/city/county clerk before you leave home to apply for your marriage license. To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com.

To find a Local Registrar in your area, click on the county name below.

Atlantic  Bergen  Burlington  Camden  Cape May  Cumberland  Essex

Gloucester  Hudson  Hunterdon  Mercer  Middlesex  Monmouth  Morris

Ocean  Passaic  Salem  Somerset  Sussex  Union  Warren

New Jersey City Registrar's Office

Belvidere Town Clerk Belvidere, NJ 908.475.5331	Borough of Somerville Somerville, NJ 908.704.6980	City Of Bridgeton Bridgeton, NJ 856.455.3230
City of Burlington Burlington NJ 609.267.0170	City of Camden Camden, NJ 856.757.7085	City of Elizabeth Elizabeth, NJ 908.820.4082
City Of Hackensack Hackensack, NJ 201.646.3965	City of Newark Newark, NJ 973.733.3825	City of Passaic Passaic, NJ 973.365.5500
City of Woodbury Woodbury, NJ 856.845.1300	Dover Township Dover, NJ 732.341.1000	Elmwood Park Borough Elmwood Park, NJ 201.796.1457
Fairfield Township Fairfield, NJ 973.882.2700	Flemington Borough Flemington, NJ 908.782.8840	Freehold Township Freehold, NJ 732.294.2010
Hamilton Township Hamilton, NJ 609.890.3826	Jersey City Jersey City, NJ 201.547.5150	Morristown Township Morristown, NJ 973.292.6638
New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ 732.745.5040	Town Of Newton Newton, NJ 973.383.3523	Salem City Salem, NJ 856.935.0373

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