Step by Step instructions.
This article by VGP Editor Liz Bradbury
was published in the Valley Gay Press August 2007 Edition
So you want to get a New Jersey Civil Union? - Here’s One Way How.
If you live in PA you can get a NJ civil union (CU). Though there’s no question that civil union rights are not equal to civil marriage rights, it’s the most legal recognition we can get in Pennsylvania right now. You will get no rights from PA, but if one of you works in NJ, it could mean spousal health benefits.
PDN Photo Project couple Melissa Emes and Lillian Bailey just got a CU in New Jersey. They wanted me to pass along this information because they were so pleased with the municipal offices and the minister they found.
#1 Getting the license:
Melissa and Lillian first tried to get information in Lambertville, NJ. You’d think that would be easy, huh? ...right over the river from New Hope. But according to Melissa and Lillian, they got little response. After many attempts, they decided to go north. They called the Township of Kingwood Municipal Building in Baptistown (don’t let the name scare you).
Township of Kingwood Clerk Mary MacConnell and Deputy Clerk Cindy Brown gave them all the information and help they needed to get the license. I called them for this article as well and had a great conversation with them, they are obviously willing to be supportive.
#2 Having the legal ceremony performed:
Melissa and Lillian choose to call Rev. Bob Janis Dillon of the First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County in Baptistown to do the ceremony (you can have a mayor, deputy mayor, judge or any qualified religious official do the CU ceremony). Melissa and Lillian say that Rev, Dillon was very supportive. They couldn’t have been happier with his performance of the ceremony.
What you need:
Civil Unions are only open to same-sex couples.
**For the license: The license costs $28. You each must have two IDs. Photo IDs and birth certificates are best. You must have a witness with you who is over 18 and has known you for more than 6 months. The witness should have ID as well. If you have been legally married or civil unioned before - you must have proof of divorce or civil union dissolution.
**After you have the license you have to wait at least 72 hours to have the actual ceremony. Call the official (Rev., Judge, Mayor, etc.) beforehand to set up a date and time and to learn his or her fee. The marriage certificate will have to be filed at the municipal office after the ceremony. You should get a copy of it from the municipal office for your records. There may be a small fee for that copy.
Remember that a civil union is a very serious legal contract with many legal responsibilities. It could mean that you are taking on some of the financial responsibilities of your partner. If you break up, you cannot get a civil union or get married to anyone else unless you go through divorce proceedings which are much more complicated than getting the CU in the first place.
If one of you is a not a US citizen, do not get a civil union unless you speak with an immigration attorney acquainted with GLBT issues, first.
License Contact Information:
Township Clerk Mary E. MacConnell
Township Deputy Clerk Cindy Brown
Township of Kingwood Municipal Building
Corner of Route 519 and Oak Grove Rd. (PO Box 199)
Baptistown, NJ 08803-0199
Phone: 908-996-4276 Fax: 908-996-7753
Ceremony Contact Information:
Rev. Bob Janis Dillon
First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County
(Old Stone Church)
Corner of Route 519 and Oak Summit Rd.
Baptistown, NJ 08803
908-996-3964
http://hunterdonuu.org/wordpress/
Note: The day after the August issue of the Valley Gay Press went to press
I got a call from Rev. Bob Janis Dillon. He too was very supportive and said that people wanting him to do the CU ceremony should call him to work out the details. His information is above.
If you have more questions, feel free to call me at the PA Diversity Network offices at 610-432-5449.