Vital Statistics and Registry

The Registrar of Vital Statistics in Fair Lawn is located in the Health Department of Borough Hall. Vital Statistics consists of records for births, deaths, marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships that have occurred in Fair Lawn from 1924 to present.

ORDERING A VITAL RECORD

*Death certificates may have been initially processed in Fair Lawn if the funeral home that handled the arrangements or the cemetery is located in Fair Lawn. However, after the funeral the death certificate will be permanently filed in the town that the descendent physically passed away in.

• A completed application. (Mail to: Borough of Fair Lawn, 8-01 Fair Lawn Avenue, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410)
  
  

For all orders, the following must be sent with your application:

• all required copies of ID for proof of identity (see below)
• the correct fees ($10 per copy)
• copies of documents proving your relationship to the person named on the record, if requesting a certified copy

**You must be able to fully identify the record by providing all of the information listed on the application form. Your request cannot be accepted unless the information matches. 

• Full name(s) on the record
• City where the event occurred
• Exact date of the event (month, day and year)
• Parents names at birth (maiden name) if listed on the record.
• **For Marriage, Civil Union or Domestic Partnership - Instead of parents’ names, you must provide the name of the spouse/partner.

You must provide acceptable ID in order to get a copy of any vital record. Copies of vital records must be mailed to the address listed on your identification.

The following are acceptable forms of ID:

• A current, valid photo driver's license or photo non-driver's license with current address
OR
• A current, valid driver’s license without photo and one alternate form of ID with current address
OR
• Two alternate forms of ID, one of which must have current address.

***IMPORTANT: The address on your drivers license is your legal address and the one that must be written on the application or your license must be accompanied by a change of address letter or email from the Motor Vehicle Division. No exceptions. NJ DMV Online Change of Address.

Alternate forms of ID are:

• Vehicle registration
• Vehicle insurance card
• Voter registration
• US/Foreign Passport
• Immigrant Visa
• Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
• Federal/State ID
• School ID
• Bank Statement (within previous 90 days)
• Utility bill(within the previous 90 days)
• W-2 for current/previous tax year

Please do not mail original documents. Legible copies are acceptable.

• The correct fee ($10 per copy)

• Proof of your relationship to the person listed on the vital record you are requesting (If it is not yourself). To get a certified copy of a person’s vital record, you must provide proof of your relationship to the person listed on the record and the proof must establish you are one of the following:

• The subject of the record
• The subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative
• The subject’s spouse/civil union partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
• A state or federal agency for official purposes
• Pursuant to court order

Proof of Relationship (Required if ordering a certified copy of a vital record.)

To get a certified copy of a person’s vital record, you must provide proof of your relationship to the person listed on the record and the proof must establish you are one of the following:

• The subject of the record
• The subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative
• The subject’s spouse/civil union partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
• A state or federal agency for official purposes
• Pursuant to court order

**Failure to provide proof of relationship is the number one reason certified copy applications must be rejected.

How to prove relationship for non-genealogical records:

If you are looking for a certified copy of…

• your own birth certificate and you have assumed your spouse’s/civil union partner’s surname you must provide a copy of the certified copy of your marriage/civil union certificate to link the name on your current ID to the name on your birth certificate.

your child’s birth certificate
• you don’t need any additional documents (if your current last name is different than the maiden name or other parents last name then you must provide a copy of the certified copy of your marriage/civil union certificate to link the name on your current ID to the name on your birth certificate.)

your spouse’s/civil union partner’s birth certificate
• you must provide a copy of your marriage/civil union certificate.

your parent’s or sibling’s vital record
• you must provide a copy of your birth certificate showing parents’ names. If you have assumed your spouse's/civil union partner's last name you must also provide a copy of your marriage/civil union certificate to link the name on your current ID to the name on your birth certificate.

your grandparent’s vital record
• you must establish that you are the person’s grandchild by providing proof that links the name on your ID to the name of the grandparent.

**For example, if you changed your last name after marriage/civil union and want a grandparent’s vital record, you must:

• Provide your marriage/civil union certificate to show your name at birth,
• provide your birth certificate to identify your parent, and
• provide the parent’s birth certificate to identify the grandparent.

Legal Representatives

• If you are the executor of an estate you must supply proof of appointment as the executor.

• If you are an attorney who is the legal representative of the executor of an estate you must supply proof of legal retainer by the executor and proof of the appointment of the individual as the executor.

• If you are an attorney who is the legal representative of an individual that is eligible to receive a certified copy of a vital record you must supply proof of legal retainer by the eligible individual and their proof of relationship.

• If you are an attorney who needs a certified copy of a vital record and you are not the legal representative of an eligible person you must obtain a court order directing the Registrar to issue a certified copy of the record. A subpoena is not sufficient to issue a copy of a vital record.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

You must call the Registrar to make an appointment for a marriage license, no walk-ins can be processed. 201-794-5327 or 201-794-5333 or via email HHS@fairlawn.org *Please contact the Mayor's Office if you would like to arrange a ceremony at Borough Hall, 201-794-5344.

Requirements for entering into a Marriage:
1.The marriage license application is to be completed in the NJ town where either of the applicants live and the license is only valid in the State of New Jersey.
2. If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, the application is to be completed in the town where the marriage ceremony will be performed, the license is only valid in the town which issues the license.
3. You are able to submit the marriage license application up to SIX MONTHS prior to your wedding date and up to ONE YEAR with prior approval from the Registrar.

Are you being married in the State of NJ?
Yes- Continue
No- You must contact the state you are being married in.

Are either of the applicants Fair Lawn residents?
Yes- Is your Fair Lawn Address reflected on your identification?
Yes it is (continue)
No it is not (See #2 below for more information)
No- (I live out of State but I am being married in Fair Lawn)- Continue.
No- (Both residents of another NJ town)- Please contact the town in which you live.

When will you be getting married and who will be performing the ceremony?
If you do not have a date or person to perform ceremony- You should have this information prior to doing the application but it is not required. If an applicant is a Fair Lawn resident you can arrange this with the Mayor’s office: 201-794-5344.

IF ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION APPLIES:

In order to do the marriage application, I will need to see the Bride(s), Groom(s) or Partners (the “Applicants”) and one Witness. The witness must be over the age of 18, have valid ID of their own, speak and understand English (this is a legal document that they will be signing).

You will need to bring/provide:
1. Valid, non-expired government issued photo ID; Drivers License, Passport, Permanent Resident Card (an “International” Driver’s License is not acceptable)
2. Proof of Address (Vehicle registration, Vehicle insurance card, Federal/State ID, Bank Statement (within previous 90 days), Utility bill (within the previous 90 days).

a. **A valid, non-expired driver’s license is sufficient as photo AND address proof. IMPORTANT: The address on your drivers license is your legal address and the one that must be written on the marriage application or your license must be accompanied by a change of address letter or email from the Motor Vehicle Division. No exceptions. NJ DMV Online Change of Address.

3. Your social security number (you do not need to bring your card if you know your number. For non-US residents this is not required. A "TIN number" is acceptable if you have one.)
4. If an applicant has been previously married they will need to provide the date and location of divorce or date of death if widowed. The physical paperwork is not required (but it is helpful). The applicant will need to provide most recent spouses names/maiden names.
5. The applicants will need to provide their parents full names, including parents’s  names at birth/maiden names and state or country of their birth (city is not required).
6. Please provide the name, address & phone number of the person performing the ceremony.
7. The application fee is $28 which is $25 and a separate $3. This can be paid by cash, check or a combination of both. We cannot accept credit or debit cards. Exact change is appreciated.

After the application is completed, there will be a 72 hour waiting period before the license is issued.
** Please ensure that the 72 hour waiting period does not end on a non-business day!
The application is good for 6 months or up to a year with approval at the time of application.

Appointments are scheduled:
Monday- Friday, 8:45am to 4:00pm
(During Summer Hours, July-August) Monday-Thursday, 8:15am to 5:00pm
Call or Email to schedule an appointment: 201-794-5333 or HHS@fairlawn.org

Any documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation. If either of the applicants do not speak English you must bring a translator.

The following documents are helpful but not required:

• A copy of your birth certificate to establish your parents’ names and related birth information.
• If you are divorced, have had a previous civil union dissolved, domestic partnership terminated or have had a civil union annulled, please bring the decree(s) or the civil annulment documents.
• If your former spouse/civil union or domestic partner is deceased, please bring the death certificate.

It is recommended to make the appointment no less than 2-4 weeks prior to the ceremony. You can apply up to 6 months in advance of your wedding. 

Only one marriage license may be granted from a marriage application. If the license expires before being used, a new application must be made and another $28 fee remitted.

REMARRIAGE:

For individuals who are currently in a marriage in New Jersey, in another state or country there exists the option to reaffirm your relationship/vows by registering a Remarriage.

In order to apply for a Remarriage the couple must provide proof of their existing marriage, meet the requirements for entering into a marriage in New Jersey and follow the guidelines above to completing the license application. Any documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

The process for a Remarriage License are the same as for the Marriage License, except that the Remarriage License must be accompanied by the proof of existing marriage and once the application is filed there is no 72 hour waiting period before the license is issued.

You are permitted to fill out Page 1 of the Marriage Application. You must sign the application (Page 2), while under oath, in the presence of the issuing authority. You are welcome to print and fill out the Marriage License Application before your appointment.

English “Entering into a Marriage or Civil Union in New Jersey” Brochure
Spanish “Entrar en un Casamiento o Union Civil en Nueva Jersey” Brochure
Russian “ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ БРАКА ИЛИ ГРАЖДАНСКОГО СОЮЗА В НЬЮ-ДЖЕРСИ” Brochure
Korean “MARRIAGE & CIVIL UNION” Brochure

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