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Marriage Laws United States New Jersey Somerset 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 Somerset 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 Somerset County

Bedminster Township Municipal Building 1 Miller Lane Bedminister, NJ 07921.1003 908.212.7000	Bernards Township 262 S. Finley Avenue Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908.204.3067	Bernardsville Borough Borough Hall 166 Minebrook Road Bernardsville, NJ 07924 908.766.3000 x110
Bound Brook Borough 230 Hamilton Street Bound Brook, NJ 08805 732.356.0833	Branchburg Township 34 Kenbury Road Branchburg, NJ 08876 908.526.1300 x183	Bridgewater Township 100 Commons Way Bridgewater, NJ 08807 908.725.5750
Far Hills Borough 6 Prospect St. Far Hills, NJ 07931 908.234.0611	Franklin Township 475 DeMott Lane Somerset, NJ 08873 732.873.2500 ext.376	Green Brook Township 111 Greenbrook Road Green Brook, NJ 08812 732.968.1023 ext.6602
HillsBorough Township Municipal Building 379 S. Branch Road Hillsborough, NJ 08844 908.369.5652	Manville Borough 325 North Main Street Manville, NJ 08835 908.725.9478 ext.114	Millstone Borough 1353 Main Street Millstone, NJ 08844 908.281.6893
Montgomery Township Municipal Building 2261 Route 206 Belle Mead, NJ 08502 908.359.8211	North Plainfield Borough Borough Hall 263 Somerset Street North Plainfield, NJ 07060 908.769.2907	Peapack and Gladstone Boro Municipal Complex 1 School Street Peapack, NJ 07977 908.234.2250
Raritan Borough 22 1st Street Raritan, NJ 08869 908.231.1300 ext.20	Rocky Hill Borough 94 Crescent Avenue Rocky Hill, NJ 08553 609.924.7445	Somerville Borough 25 West End Avenue Somerville, NJ 08876 908.725.2300 ext.1980
South Bound Brook Borough 12 Main Street South Bound Brook, NJ 08880 732.356.0258 ext.13	Warren Township Municipal Building 46 Mountain Boulevard Warren, NJ 07059 908.753.8000 ext.239	Watchung Borough 15 Mountain Boulevard Borough Hall Watchung, NJ 07069. 908.756.0080

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