37:1-8 Testimony under oath by applicants as to legality of proposed marriage or civil union; witnesses; perjury.

37:1-8. Testimony under oath by applicants as to legality of proposed marriage or civil union; witnesses; perjury.

A licensing officer shall, before issuing a marriage or civil union license, require the contracting parties or, in the case of persons who intend to be married or to enter into a civil union pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2011, c.179 (C.37:1-17.3), one of the contracting parties and the attorney-in-fact for the other party, to appear before him and subscribe and swear to an oath attesting the truth of the facts respecting the legality of the proposed marriage or civil union as set forth in the form supplied by the State registrar. Said testimony shall be verified by a witness of legal age. A licensing officer shall issue a license only if it is thus made to appear before him that no legal impediment to the marriage or civil union exists. Every licensing officer may administer oaths to the contracting parties or, in the case of persons who intend to be married or to enter into a civil union pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2011, c.179 (C.37:1-17.3), to one of the contracting parties and to the attorney-in-fact for the other contracting party and their identifying witness.

Any identifying witness, applicant applying for a marriage or civil union license or attorney-in-fact who shall knowingly make false answers to any of the inquiries asked by the licensing officer shall be guilty of perjury.

amended 1946, c.185, s.4; 2006, c.103, s.12; 2011, c.179, s.4.