NJ Lawmakers Move to End Marriage Waiting Period

A bill that would end the state’s waiting period for couples looking to wed has cleared the New Jersey Legislature. Currently, the state imposes a 72-hour waiting period for couples seeking a marriage license.

But the Assembly and the state Senate passed a measure Monday — the last day of the legislative session — to eliminate the waiting period and streamline residency requirements.

The measure’s sponsors, Assemblyman Louis Greenwald and state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, say the law was antiquated — it dates back to 1934 — and getting rid of it will give New Jersey a competitive edge in the wedding tourism market.

Other nearby states, like New York and Delaware, only have 24-hour waiting periods.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)