Office of Vital Statistics

Vital Statistics

The Office of Vital Statistics is responsible for issuing Marriage/Civil Union Licenses, recording and maintaining records of Vital Statistics Events and issuing Certified Copies of Vital Records.

In the State of New Jersey, Vital Records are maintained BOTH at the Municipality where the event occurred AND at the State.

Vital Records document the following events:

  • Birth
  • Marriage
  • Death
  • Domestic Partnership
  • Civil Unions
  • Adoptions
  • Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth

The Kenilworth Office of Vital Statistics is open 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

PLEASE NOTE:  ALL VITAL RECORD REQUESTS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.


Marriage/Civil Union Licenses

Applications for Marriage /Civil Union / Domestic Partnership are done by appointment only. Please call 908-276-2740. Applicants must show valid photo identification (such as driver's license or passport) and proof of Kenilworth address (if it is not on their driver's license).  Suggested additional documents include birth certificates (passport can be used as substitute) and, if either applicant has been married or in a Civil Union previously, they should bring divorce/dissolution papers or a death certificate to prove the termination of the prior marriage/civil union. Please be advised, there is a 72-hour waiting period between the time of application and the time the license can be issued. Applications can be taken up to six months before the ceremony date. To save time, applicants can bring the completed application with them to the appointment.  Please see links below to download an application.

The Borough of Kenilworth issues licenses for couples where:

  • At least one of the applicants is a resident of Kenilworth
  • Neither applicant resides in New Jersey but the ceremony will take place in Kenilworth

Apply for a Marriage License or Civil Union License

Marriage Application - English

Marriage Application - Spanish

Certified Copies of Vital Records

The Kenilworth Office of Vital Statistics maintains records of Births, Deaths, Marriages, Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships for events that occurred in Kenilworth only. Legal copies of Vital Records (Birth Certificate, Marriage License, Death Certificate) are known as Certified Copies and can be requested from ether the Local Registrar in the Municipality or the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.

Certified copies of these may be obtained in person during regular business hours, by mail or ordered through the State of New Jersey Vital Statistics website.  

To get a copy of a vital record, you must submit:

  • A completed application
  • A copy of the proof(s) of your identity
  • The correct fee
  • Proof of your relationship to the person listed on the vital record you are requesting (Only required for certified copies)
  • Marriage Certificate, if name was changed due to marriage

Certified copies are $10 each, checks are to be made out to the "Borough of Kenilworth".

If you wish to place an online order, please visit the NJ Office of Vital Statistics and Registry website at;  https://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/.

Please Note: New Jersey law protects and restricts the release of vital records. Vital records are NOT public records and cannot be searched online.

Request a Certified Copy of a Vital Record

Vital Record Application - English

Vital Record Application - Spanish


Certified Copies Requiring an Apostille Seal

If the copies are being presented to a foreign country that is part of the Hague Treaty, the copies need an Apostille Seal from the New Jersey Secretary of State. The Apostille Seal can only be applied to certified copies of vital records issued from the New Jersey State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.

For more information on the Apostille Seal and Requesting a Certified Copy from the State of New Jersey, visit their website at: NJ Office of Vital Statistics