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Paterson Marriage License Information

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Marriage License Information

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 Passaic County

 

Bloomingdale Borough
101 Hamburg Turnpike
Bloomingdale, NJ 07403
973.838.0778

 
Clifton City
City Hall
900 Clifton Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07013
973.470.5824 ext.5825
Haledon Borough
510 Belmont Avenue
Haledon, NJ 07508
973.595.7766 ext.103

 
Hawthorne Borough
Municipal Building
445 Lafayette Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
973.427.4011
Little Falls Township
Municipal Building
225 Main Street
Little Falls, NJ 07424
973.256.0170
North Haledon Borough
Municipal Building
103 Overlook Avenue
North Haledon, NJ 07508
973.427.7793
Passaic City
City Hall
330 Passaic Street
Passaic, NJ 07055
973.365.5601 or 5602
Paterson City
Department of Health
176 Broadway
Paterson, NJ 07505
973.321.1277
Pompton Lakes Borough
25 Lenox Avenue
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
973.835.0143 ext.228

 
Prospect Park Borough
106 Brown Avenue
Prospect Park, NJ 07508
973.790.7902 ext.516

 
Ringwood Borough
Borough Hall
60 Margaret King Avenue
Ringwood, NJ 07456
973.962.7079
Totowa Borough
537 Totowa Road
Totowa, NJ 07512
973.956.1000

 
Wanaque Borough
Municipal Building
579 Ringwood Avenue
Wanaque, NJ 07465
973.839.3000 ext.7122
Wayne Township
Wayne Health Department
475 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
973.694.1800 ext.3243
West Milford Township
Town Hall
1480 Union Valley Road
West Milford, NJ 07480
973.728.2720
Woodland Park Borough
Municipal Building
5 Brophy Lane
West Paterson, NJ 07424
973.345.8106 or 8100


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