NJ Wedding Ceremonies, NJ Civil Unions, NJ Commitment Ceremonies, Wedding Vow Renwals

New Jersey Civil Unions, NJ Civil Unions

Civil Unions became available in New Jersey for same-sex couples on February 19th, 2007. In October 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that barring same-sex couples from marriage violated the New Jersey constitution's promise of equality for all citizens. The court gave the New Jersey Legislature 180 days to decide how to deal with the inequity. The Legislature chose to create a separate status of civil unions for gay and lesbian couples.

New Jersey law states that civil unions grant "All of the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under the law, whether they derive from stature, administrative or court rule, public policy, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage." Some of these rights include:

• inheritance rights
• family leave benefits
• state and local tax benefits
• rights relating to health insurance and pension benefits
• not having to testify against a partner in a court of law
• wrongful death rights and worker's compensation rights
• liability for partner's debts

Getting a civil union is much the same as getting a marriage license in New Jersey. You must get a license from a county clerk or registrar.   You must wait 72 hours between applying for the license and receiving the civil union license. You must have a ceremony within 30 days of applying for the license.

Link to find your local registrar’s office:

 http://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/regbycnty.shtml

What is the difference between a marriage, a civil union, a domestic partnership? What is Marriage?
When people marry, they tend to do so for reasons of love and commitment. But marriage is also a legal status, which comes with rights and responsibilities. Marriage establishes a legal kinship between you and your spouse. It is a relationship that is recognized across cultures, countries and religions. A couple who enters into a civil union is eligible for all the state rights that a married couple has.

What is a Civil Union?
Civil Unions exist in only a handful of places: Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut. California and Oregon have domestic partnership laws that offer many of the same rights as civil unions.

What about Domestic partnership?
Some states and municipalities have domestic partnership registries, but no domestic partnership law is the same. Some, like the recently passed California domestic partnership law comes with many rights and responsibilities. Others, like the one in Washington, offer very few benefits to the couple.

NJ Beautiful Weddings has been bringing together gay couples in commitment ceremonies for years and are now joining couples through Civil Union ceremonies! The exact same care and creativity go into each ceremony and we won’t rest until you are 100% satisfied.

For more information, go to How To Apply For A Civil Union License located on the New Jersey State web site from the department of Health & Senior Services, Vital Statistics.

NJ Wedding Officiants, New Jersey Civil Unions, NJ Weddings, Wedding Officiants in NJ

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New Jersey Beautiful Weddings will help create a beautiful wedding ceremony for your special day!

To learn more about our New Jersey wedding services, including wedding ceremonies, civil unions, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals, please click on the links below:

• About New Jersey Beautiful Weddings
• About Our New Jersey Wedding Officiants
• New Jersey Wedding Ceremonies (includes tri-state area also)
• New Jersey Civil Unions
• Photo Gallery - NJ Weddings
• How to Obtain a New Jersey Marriage License