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Marriage Laws United States New Jersey Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex County

Andover Borough 137 Main Street Andover, NJ 07821 973.786.6688	Andover Township 134 Newton.Sparta Road Newton, NJ 07860 973.383.4280 ext.223 or 234	Branchville Borough 5 Main Street Branchville, NJ 07826 973.948.4626
Byram Township Municipal Building 10 Mansfield Dr. Stanhope, NJ 07874 973.347.6503	Frankford Township Town Hall 151 US Highway 206 Augusta, NJ 07822 973.948.5566	Franklin Borough 46 Main Street Franklin, NJ 07416 973.827.9280
Fredon Township 443 Route 94 Newton, NJ 07860 973.383.7025	Green Township 150 Kennedy Road Tranquility, NJ 07879 908.852.9333	Hamburg Borough 6 Wallkill Avenue Hamburg, NJ 07419 973.827.9230 ext.12
Hampton Township 1 Municipal Complex Road Newton, NJ 07860 973.383.5570	Hardyston Township 149 Wheatsworth Road Suite A Hardyston, NJ 07419 973.823.7020	Hopatcong Borough Municipal Building 111 River Styx Road Hopatcong, NJ 07843 973.770.1200
Lafayette Township Municipal Building 33 Morris Farm Road Lafayette, NJ 07848 973.383.1817	Montague Township 277 Clove Road Montague, NJ 07827 973.293.7300	Newton Town 39 Trinity Street Newton, NJ 07860 973.383.3521 ext.232
Ogdensburg Borough 14 Highland Avenue Ogdensburg, NJ 07439 973.827.3444	Sandyston Township 133 Route 645 Sandyston, NJ 07826 973.948.3520	Sparta Township 65 Main Street Sparta, NJ 07871 973.729.6174
Stanhope Borough 77 Main Street Stanhope, NJ 07874 973.347.0159 ext.16	Stillwater Township Town Hall 964 Stillwater Road Newton, NJ 07860 973.383.9484	Sussex Borough 2 Main Street Sussex, NJ 07461 973.875.4831
Vernon Township Municipal Building 21 Church Street Vernon, NJ 07462 973.764.4055	Walpack Township 8 Jager Rd Layton, NJ 07851 973.948.4872	Wantage Township Wantage Township 888 Route 23 Wantage, NJ 07461 973.875.7192

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