Sponsored by:
Assemblyman EDWARD H. THOMSON
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Removes 72-hour waiting period for marriage or civil union licenses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning marriage licenses and amending R.S.37:1-4.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.37:1-4 is amended to read as follows:
37:1-4. Issuance of marriage or civil union license, emergencies, validity.
The marriage or civil union license shall [not] be issued by a licensing officer [sooner than 72 hours] as soon as practicable after the application [therefor] for the license has been [made; provided, however, that the Superior Court may, by order, waive all or any part of said 72-hour period in cases of emergency, upon satisfactory proof being shown to it. Said order shall be filed with the licensing officer and attached to the application for the license] properly completed.
A marriage or civil union license, when properly issued as provided in this article, shall be good and valid only for 30 days after the date [of] the [issuance thereof] license is issued.
(cf: P.L.2018, c.42, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill removes the waiting period for marriage or civil union licenses.
Currently, a marriage or civil union license is not permitted to be issued to applicants until 72 hours has elapsed, after which time the license may be issued.
Under this bill, the 72-hour waiting period is removed and a marriage or civil union license will be issued as soon as practicable after the proper completion of an application.