City of Cape May

CITY CLERK AND REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS

Contact Person:  Diane L. Weldon - City Clerk or
                             Jean A. Davis - Deputy Clerk
Phone Number:     (609) 884-9530

The City Clerk's Office maintains records including all resolutions, ordinances, agendas, and minutes for the municipality. The Clerk is the registrar of voters for the municipality and administers local elections. All liquor licenses are filed on an annual basis with the City Clerk for approval by the governing body. The Clerk also has applications for special ABC permits and catering permits for off-premises events where liquor will be served. Insurance claims and Tort Claim notices are received in the Clerk's Office. Please call with any questions or for additional information.

Contact Person: Jennie McCaney
Phone Number: (609) 884-9599

The Office of the Registrar of Vital Statistics handles birth, marriage, and death records for events that occur in the City of Cape May starting in 1921. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. The fee for a certified copy of a vital record is $10.00, and $25.00 for a corrected copy of a vital record. Anyone interested in applying for a marriage license must make an appointment in advance. Information on planning a wedding are provided below.

If the bride is a resident of New Jersey, the marriage license must be obtained from the Registrar of Vital Statistics, in the municipality where she lives.

If she is a non-resident of New Jersey and the groom is a resident of New Jersey, the license must be obtained from the Registrar in the municipality in which the groom resides. (For marriage license purposes, soldiers are residents of the posts at which they are stationed) A license issued under either of the preceding circumstances is good for use anywhere in New Jersey.

If both bride and groom are non-residents of New Jersey, the license must be obtained from the Registrar of the municipality where the marriage is to be performed and is only good for use in that municipality.

Be sure to contact the Registrar well in advance of the wedding to find out on what days and during what hours the Registrar will be in the office. The license fee is $28.00.

According to state law, judges of a Federal District Court, United States Magistrates, Judges of a Municipal Court, Judges of the Superior Court, Judges of a Tax Court, Retired Judges of the Superior Court or Tax Court, or Judge of the Superior Court or Tax Court who has resigned in good standing, and any mayor/deputy mayor or chairman of any township committee, village president of New Jersey, County Clerks, and every minister of every religion may solemnize a marriage.

A local Registrar will not issue a marriage license sooner than 72 hours, after the application for a marriage license has been made, unless ordered to do so via an appropriate court order.

If the marriage is scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday, the application should be made no later than the preceding Tuesday. If the application is made on a Wednesday or Thursday, the 72 hours will end on Saturday or Sunday, but the Registrar will probably not be available on those days or any public holiday.

If both the bride and groom are unavailable to complete the application, at the same time, either applicant may complete his/her part of the application and start the waiting period. The other applicant must return with the same witness (who must be at least 18 years old) to complete his/her part of the application. The application must be completed by both parties before the license will be issued. Once the marriage license is issued, it is good for 30 days from the date of issuance.

A couple wishing to have both religious and civil ceremonies may be issued a license for both ceremonies on the basis of a single application. However, a couple wishing to have two religious ceremonies and wanting to have a public record of each, may not have two licenses issued, at the same time. They must apply for and use the first license. They must then return to the Registrar with the signed original certificate of the marriage and a witness to apply for a remarriage license.

What should you bring with you when you apply? 

A State issued original birth certificate or a certified copy with the raised seal is required for proof of age and parentage. 

If one or both of the applicants are divorced or widowed, you must bring a certified copy with the raised seal of the final divorce decree or death certificate for examination by the Registrar or a statement by the judge as to when the final decree was signed (not the date of the final hearing).

 All Documents Must Be In English. 

Consent of both parents is necessary if an applicant is under 18 years of age.  Both parental consents and judicial approval of such consents are necessary, if the applicant is younger than 16.  These consents should be on forms supplied by the Registrar.

The person performing a marriage ceremony must file the license and marriage certificate with the Registrar of the municipality in which the marriage was performed. Since failure to record the marriage may cause considerable inconvenience, at a later date when proof of marriage is needed, you should make sure that this has been done.