N.J. Stat. tit. 41, ch. 1

N.J. Stat. tit. 41, ch. 1
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-1 Oath of allegiance; form

Every person who is or shall be required by law to give assurance of fidelity and attachment to the Government of this State shall take the following oath of allegiance: "I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the Governments established in the United States and in this State, under the authority of the people So help me God." Amended by L.1949, c. 21, p. 67, s. 1, eff. April 12, 1949; L.1971, c. 217, s. 6.

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-2 § 41:1-2

The governor for the time being of this state, and every person who shall be appointed or elected to any office, legislative, executive or judicial, under the authority of this state, or to any office in the militia thereof, and every counselor, solicitor and attorney at law, shall, before he enters upon the execution of his trust, office or duty, take and subscribe the oath of allegiance prescribed by section 41:1-1 of this title.

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-3 Oath of allegiance; persons required to take; form

Every person who shall be elected, or appointed to any public office in this State or in any county, municipality or special district other than a municipality therein, or in any department, board, commission, agency or instrumentality of any thereof, and is required to take and subscribe an oath of office shall, before he enters upon the execution of his said office take and subscribe the oath of allegiance set forth in R.S. 41:1-1 and, in addition, (a) any specially prescribed official oath, or (b) if no text is specially prescribed for such oath of office, the following official oath of office: "I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully, impartially and justly perform all the duties of the office of according to the best of my ability. So help me God." Amended by L.1949, c. 22, p. 68, s. 1; L.1962, c. 202, s. 1, eff. Dec. 18, 1962; L.1971, c. 217, s. 7.

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-4 § 41:1-4

It shall not be necessary to the solemnity or obligation of an oath administered in any court of justice or any legal proceeding, civil or criminal, in this state, for the person taking the oath to kiss the holy scriptures, but the taking of such oath, while the hand shall be held upon the book, shall answer all the purposes and requirements of the law, any usage or custom to the contrary heretofore notwithstanding. If any persons so sworn shall swear falsely they shall be guilty of perjury as though the book had been kissed.

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-5 Swearing with uplifted hand instead of kissing and touching book; when authorized

Every person who shall be permitted or required to take an oath in any case, where, by law, an oath is allowed or required, may take the same with the ceremony of lifting up the hand and swearing by the ever-living God, instead of that of touching and kissing the book of the gospels; and every person who is or shall be empowered and required to tender and administer an oath in the usual form, shall be and is empowered and required, on request of the party to be sworn, to administer the same in the manner herein prescribed. An oath, which shall be administered and taken agreeably to the mode prescribed in this section shall be as good and effectual as if the same had been administered and taken in the usual form of laying the hand on and kissing the gospels.

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-6 Affirmations and declarations; when authorized; forms; legal effect

Every person, permitted or required to take an oath in any case, where, by law, an oath is allowed or required, and who shall allege that he is conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, shall, instead of an oath, be permitted to make solemn affirmation or declaration in one of the following forms, to wit: "I, , do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm": or, "I, , do declare, in the presence of Almighty God, the witness of the truth of what I say": Either of which forms shall be as good and effectual in law, as an oath taken in the usual form. In the affirmation or declaration, the words "so help me God" , at the close of the usual oath, shall be omitted. Every person empowered and required to tender and administer an oath in the usual form, is empowered and required to tender and administer the affirmation or declaration prescribed by this section, when requested so to do by any such scrupulous person.

N.J. Stat. § 41:1-7 § 41:1-7

It shall not be necessary to the validity or sufficiency of any oath, affirmation or affidavit, made or taken before any of the persons named in section 41:2-1 of this title, that the same shall be certified under the official seal of the officer before whom made.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026