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Marriage Laws United States New Jersey Ocean 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 Ocean 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 Ocean County

Barnegat Light Borough 10 West 10th Street Barnegat Light, NJ 08006 609.494.9196	Barnegat Township Municipal Hall 900 West Bay Avenue Barnegat, NJ 08005 609.698.0080 ext.190	Bay Head Borough Borough Hall 81 Bridge Avenue Bay Head, NJ 08742 732.892.0574
Beach Haven Borough Borough Hall 300 Engleside Avenue Beach Haven, NJ 08008 609.492.01111 ext.16	Beachwood Borough Borough Hall 1600 Pinewald Road Beachwood, NJ 08722 732.286.6000 ext.212	Berkeley Township Municipal Building 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road Bayville, NJ 08721 732.244.7400 ext.15 or 14
Brick Township 401 Chamber Bridge Road Town Hall Brick, NJ 08723 732.262.1004 or 1002	Eagleswood Township 146 Division Street West Creek, NJ 08092 609.296.3040	Harvey Cedars Borough Borough Hall 7606 Long Beach Blvd Harvey Cedars, NJ 08008.0337 609.494.2843
Island Heights Borough Borough Complex East End & Van Sant Avenues Island Heights, NJ 08732 732.270.6415	Jackson Township Municipal Building 95 West Veterans Hwy Jackson, NJ 08527 732.928.1200 ext 202	Lacey Township Municipal Building 818 Lacey Rd. Forked River, NJ 08731 609.693.1100 ext 247 or 251
Lakehurst Borough Borough Hall 5 Union Avenue Lakehurst, NJ 08733 # unavailable	Lakewood Township Municipal Building 231 3rd Street Lakewood, NJ 08701 732.364.2500 x 5236	Lavallette Borough Borough Hall 1306 Grand Central Avenue Lavallette, NJ 08735 732.793.7477
Little Egg Harbor Township Municipal Building 665 Radio Road Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087 609.296.7241 ext.233	Long Beach Township Municipal Building 6805 Long Beach Boulevard Brant Beach, NJ 08008 609.361.1000 ext.217	Manchester Township Town Hall 1 Colonial Drive Manchester, NJ 08759 732.657.8121 ext.243
Mantoloking Borough Borough Hall 202 Downer Avenue Mantoloking, NJ 08738 732.899.6600	Ocean Gate Borough 801 Ocean Gate Ave Ocean Gate, NJ 08740 732.269.3166	Ocean Township 50 Railroad Avenue Waretown, NJ 08758 609.693.3302 ext.233
Pine Beach Borough Borough Hall 599 Pennsylvania Avenue Pine Beach, NJ 08741 732.349.6425	Plumsted Township Municipal Complex 121 Evergreen Road New Egypt, NJ 08533 609.758.2241 ext.101	Point Pleasant Beach Boroug Borough Hall 416 New Jersey Avenue Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 732.892.1118 ext.211
Point Pleasant Borough 2233 Bridge Avenue Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 732.892.4183	Seaside Heights Borough Borough Hall 901 Boulevard Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 732.793.9100	Seaside Park Borough 1701 N. Ocean Avenue Seaside Park, NJ 08752 732.793.3700
Ship Bottom Borough Borough Hall 1621 Long Beach Blvd. Ship Bottom, NJ 08008 609.494.2171 ext.116	South Toms River Borough 144 Mill Street South Toms River, NJ 08757 732.349.0403	Stafford Township Municipal Building 260 East Bay Avenue Manahawkin, NJ 08050.3498 609.597.1000 ext.8526
Surf City Borough Borough Hall 813 Long Beach Boulevard Surf City, NJ 08008 609.494.3064	Toms River Township 33 Washington Street Toms River, NJ 08753 732.341.1000 ext.8403	Tuckerton Borough Borough Hall 140 E. Main Street Tuckerton, NJ 08087 609.296.2701

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