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.
Be sure to contact the Belvidere 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.
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.
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.
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.
List of Registrars for Essex County
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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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