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Marriage Laws United States New Jersey Essex Registrars

How to Apply for a Marriage License in New Jersey State

How to Register for a Civil Union in New Jersey State

How to Register for a Certificate of Domestic Partnership in NJ

Marriage license laws in the state of New Jersey, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the New Jersey marriage laws before you apply for a New Jersey marriage license.

Requirements may vary as each borough/city/township in New Jersey could have their own requirements. It is important to verify current requirements with the county/city/town clerk where you plan to get married. The application for a Marriage License can be obtained from any Local Registrar's Office. You can download a pdf version of the New Jersey marriage license application here!.

Be sure to contact the Essex Registrar well in advance of the wedding to find out on what days and during what hours the Registrar will be in the office. Some locales will require an appointment.

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New Jersey Residency Requirement:

You do not have to be a resident of New Jersey.

You must apply at the Registrar at the municipal office where the bride resides. If not a resident of New Jersey, then apply in the groom's town of residence.

If both are non-residents, then apply in the town where you will be having the wedding ceremony. You will need to show proof of your residency be providing one of the following: Drivers license, utility bill, apartment lease, or tax bill.

Note: For marriage license purposes, military personnel are residents of the posts where they are stationed.

Covenant Marriage:

No.

ID Requirements in New Jersey:

Picture id such as Drivers License, and certified copies of birth certificates, or naturalization certificates, or valid passports or alien cards. US citizens also need to know their Social Security numbers.

Under 18:

If you are under 18 years of age, you will need both parents to give consent in front of two witnesses in order for you to receive a marriage license. Those under 16 need judicial approval. In the case of pregnancy or the birth of a child, special provisions may apply.

Fees:

$28 - cash only in some locales.

Cousin Marriages:

Yes.

Common Law Marriages:

No.

Previous Marriages:

You will need to show documentation to prove a previous marriage has been dissolved either through death or divorce. Acceptable documents include a certified copy of the final decree of divorce or a certified copy of the death certificate for your former spouse.

Renewal of Vows:

Re-marriage licenses are available in New Jersey. There is no waiting period for a re-marriage license.

Waiting Period:

New Jersey has a three (3) day waiting period. For weekend weddings, you will need to apply the Tuesday before to satisfy the three days (72 hours) by Friday. If you have special circumstances such as emergency, illness, military leave, etc., a Superior Court Judge can sign a waiver that would waive the waiting period. After you apply for the license, and have a Judge sign the waiver, you can have the License issued immediately.

Proxy Marriages

No.

Domestic Partnership Registration:

Although couples have more rights by having a Civil Union in New Jersey, the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership can be obtained from a Local Registrar of Vital Statistics in any municipality in New Jersey. Some locales will require an appointment.

Couples must be either same sex couples over the age of 18 or opposite sex couples who are both 62 years of age or older.

You will need to show proof of residence and of joint financial responsibility by providing:

• Joint deed, mortgage agreement or lease.


• Joint bank account.


• Joint ownership of motor vehicle.


• Designation of one of the persons as primary beneficiary in the other person's will, insurance policy, or retirement plan.

Renewal of Vows or Getting Remarried:

You can get remarried in New Jersey without having to wait three days. It is required that proof of the previous marriage or civil union be submitted. Consent of parents if required for the remarriage of a minor previously joined in a marriage. Marriage Application Form

Same Sex Marriages / Civil Unions

As of February 19, 2007, same sex couples can apply for a civil union. Civil unions in New Jersey grant most of the benefits of marriage to gay couples. These benefits include adoption, medical decision-making, inheritance, health insurance opportunities, hospital visitation, and the ability to not testify against a partner. The rights are not extended to federal benefits or courts.

Additionally, gay couples legally married or joined in a civil union in other locales will automatically be considered to be in a civil union in New Jersey.

The application for a Civil Union can be obtained from any Local Registrar's Office. Click here to download a copy of the application.

Witnesses:

You will need a witness who is over 18 years of age with you when you apply for the marriage license.

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 state laws state that once the marriage license is issued it is valid only for thirty (30) days in New Jersey.

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

List of Registrars for Essex County

Belleville Township Municipal Building 152 Washington Avenue Belleville, NJ 07109 973.450.3400 ext.3401	Bloomfield Township 1 Municipal Plaza Room #111 Bloomfield, NJ 07003 973.680.4029	Caldwell Borough 1 Provost Square Caldwell, NJ 07006 973.403.4623
Cedar Grove Township Municipal Building 525 Pompton Avenue Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 973.239.1410 ext.224	East Orange City 143 New Street Room 100A East Orange, NJ 07017 973.266.5450	Essex Fells Borough FBorough Hall 255 Roseland Ave Essex Fells, NJ 07021 973.226.3400 or 228.8575
Fairfield Township 230 Fairfield Road Fairfield, NJ 07004 973.882.2701	Glen Ridge Borough Municipal Building 825 Bloomfield Avenue Glen Ridge, NJ 07028 973.748.8400	Irvington Township Municipal Building Civic Square Irvington, NJ 07111 973.399.6644
Livingston Township Township Hall 204 Hillside Avenue Livingston, NJ 07039 973.535.7961 ext.222	Maplewood Township Municipal Building 574 Valley Street Maplewood, NJ 07040 973.762.8120	Millburn Township Township Hall 375 Millburn Avenue Millburn, NJ 07041 973.564.7087
Montclair Township 205 Claremont Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 973.509.4973	Newark City 920 Broad Street Room 111 Newark, NJ 07102 973.733.6511	Newark City (2) City Clerk's Office 920 Broad St City Hall Room B9 Newark, NJ 07102 973.733.6574
North Caldwell Borough Borough Hall 141 Gould Avenue North Caldwell, NJ 07006 973.228.6410 ext.100	Nutley Township Town Hall 149 Chestnut Street Nutley, NJ 07110 973.284.4976	Orange City City Hall 29 North Day Street Orange, NJ 07050 973.266.4068 or 4072
Roseland Borough Borough Hall 19 Harrison Avenue Roseland, NJ 07068 973.226.8080	South Orange Village Towns Village Hall 101 South Orange Avenue South Orange, NJ 07079 973.378.7715 ext.7522	Verona Township 880 Bloomfield Avenue Verona, NJ 07044 973.857.4800
West Caldwell Township Municipal Building 30 Clinton Road West Caldwell, NJ 07006 973.226.2300	West Orange Township Department of Health 66 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052 973.325.4121

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