Frequently Asked Questions

The application must be filed in the New Jersey municipality in which either applicant resides and the license is valid throughout the State. If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, the application must be filed in the municipality where the ceremony will occur and the license is valid ONLY in the issuing municipality.

No. Domestic partners who wish to enter into a civil union with the same partner do not need to terminate their domestic partnership.  Once they have entered into the civil union, their domestic partnership automatically terminates, if it was originally registered in New Jersey.  If it was registered outside New Jersey, the laws of that state would determine the validity of the domestic partnership following the civil union.

Yes. If the domestic partnership with a different partner was not legally terminated, or was not terminated by the death of the previous partner, you must terminate the domestic partnership before entering into a civil union with someone else.

If your civil union meets the requirements of the state in which you registered, then it is recognized by the State of New Jersey.

No. You are not required to enter into a civil union in New Jersey. If your civil union or same-sex marriage meets the requirements of the state or country in which you registered, then it is recognized by the State of New Jersey as a civil union. However, if you wish, you may also elect to enter into a civil union in New Jersey.  In that case, you would file for a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License in New Jersey.

Yes. There is a 72-hour waiting period before the license can be issued. The waiting period begins once the application has been filed by one or both applicants.  A Superior Court judge can waive all or part of the 72-hour waiting period.

No. For a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License, there is no waiting period, the license can be issued immediately after the complete application has been filed.

Yes. It is recommended you check the Internet website for the particular Internet ministry to verify that their ministers are authorized to perform civil union ceremonies.

 Public officials who are authorized to perform marriages are authorized to perform civil unions.  Public officials may choose whether or not to exercise this authority.  However, if a public official agrees to perform marriages, he or she must agree to perform civil unions.  If an official elects not to perform civil unions, he or she cannot perform marriages either. Public officials do have the right to exercise their authority only for residents of their municipality.

No. Members of the clergy are not covered by the Law Against Discrimination and have the right to decline to perform civil unions.

Yes. The Registrar is required by law to accept for filing an application for a civil union license so long as the application is provided to the Registrar of the municipality in which either of the applicant’s reside or, if out of State residents, in the municipality in which the ceremony will occur.

Yes. However, please note that the federal government does not recognize civil unions.  You may choose to consult an attorney to legally establish a name change.

Yes. You can create or edit vows.  In your vows, you may refer to each other using any terms you prefer, including wife, spouse, lover, or life mate, and you may refer to the ceremony as a marriage.  However, when the ceremony is completed, you are legally entered into a civil union and considered a civil union couple.