ORDERING A VITAL RECORD

If a birth, marriage, civil union, domestic partnership, or death did not occur in Leonia, New Jersey, you can find the contact information for the registrar in the respective town on the NJ State Vital Statistics website.

To order a record from the State of NJ, please use the online website.  

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

To request a certified copy of a record, you must submit:

The following must be sent (uploaded) with your application:

** You must provide complete and accurate information as listed on the application form in order to obtain the requested record.  Failure to provide all the required information exactly as listed will result in your request being rejected. 

Valid identification is required to obtain a copy of any vital record. Copies of vital records will be sent to the address listed on your identification, unless a notarized letter with your updated address is provided.

The following are acceptable forms of ID:

Alternate forms of ID are:

Please do not mail original documents.

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:

**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 - State Guidelines:

If you are looking for a certified copy of:

• 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 provide a copy of your birth certificate showing parents’ names along with the same for your parent that is the child of your grandparent.  
  • 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. 

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

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

Legal Representatives:

Please see the NJ State Vital Records office FAQ’S Section for more information on ordering Vital Records.

Correcting a Vital Record

If there is an error on your record please visit the State website for information about getting it corrected and fill out this Reg15 Application. 

Are you being married in the State of New Jersey?

Are you or your fiancé a Leonia resident?

• Yes- Please fill out an application:  Here   (Does your id reflect your Leonia address? If not, please update prior to coming in.) - NJMVC Chane of Address
• No- (We both live out of State, but we are being married in Leonia) - Please fill out an application:  Here
• No- Resident(s) of another NJ town - Please contact the town in which you live. - Town Registrars

After the application is completed, there will be a 72-hour waiting period before the license is issued. *Licenses can only be issued during business hours.  The application itself is valid for 6 months.

Appointments are scheduled during regular business hours, depending upon availability. 

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.

**A blood test is no longer required for marriage.

Note: 

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 or one year if requested at the time the application is processed. 

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.

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 is 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.

Please refer the marriage application instructions above.  

Spanish “Entrar en un Casamiento o Union Civil en Nueva Jersey”
Russian “ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ БРАКА ИЛИ ГРАЖДАНСКОГО СОЮЗА В НЬЮ-ДЖЕРСИ”
Korean “뉴저지에서의 결혼 혹은 시민결합”

You must call the Registrar to make an appointment for a domestic partnership, no walk-ins can be processed. 

Couples wishing to register a Domestic Partnership must be 62 years of age or older. Please view the requirements on the State Vital Statistics website.

Registrar of Vital Statistics

BOH@leonianj.gov

In the state of New Jersey, a license is required for any dog or cat older than six months. The licensing period for dogs and cats is from January to December. The Borough of Leonia Health Department requires all owners of dogs and cats to register their animals once a year. For the purpose of registering:

1. Fill out the form linked below for either dog or cat (link below).
2. Pay the amount specified on the form.
3. Present documentation of rabies immunization (valid until at least November of the current licensing year).

Form for Dog, click:  Here

Form for Cat, click:  Here

Pet licensing is part of our municipal rabies control program.  By ensuring that dogs and cats have current rabies vaccinations, pet licensing safeguards your family and pets from the disease. Through spay and neuter programs and license discounts for dogs that have undergone these procedures, licensing promotes the control of the dog and cat populations. An additional advantage of licensing is that it offers a simple means of identifying misplaced dogs, enabling their prompt return to their rightful owners.

Dog license renewals must be obtained by February 30th of the current licensing year in order to avoid a $10 late fee.

• Proof that the rabies vaccination expires after November 1st of the current licensing year is required for dogs and cats.
• NEW Dogs do not have to pay a late fee and can register at any time of the year.

Fees:

Anyone submitting on or after May 1st will be subject to a $10.00 late registration penalty.

Applications may be submitted to us through email:  BOH@leonianj.gov or by mail to the following address:
Health Department attn: Dog/Cat Licensing
312 Broad Ave
Leonia, NJ 07605

Free rabies clinics are normally held in November at the Leonia Senior Center.  Please call (201) 592-5780 x260 for exact date and time.

Note: Free Rabies shots are available at the Bergen County Animal Shelter in Teterboro, NJ. For further information, contact the B.C. Animal Shelter at (201) 229-4600 for scheduled dates when inoculations are offered.

Pet owners are urged to curb their pet. Pet feces should not be discarded in storm drains!

Animal control services are handled by Bergen County Animal Control.  Residents are to contact the Leonia Police Department at 201- 944-0800 (24 Hours a Day/365 Days a Year) to report the following:

• Sick, injured,
• Dangerous animals
• Stray animals
• Removal of dead animals on public property
• Removal of nuisance wildlife on public property
• Report a lost pet - First contact the Health Department at:  201-592-5780 x260
• All other non-emergency animal calls/complaints.  

DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 FOR ANIMAL RELATED CALLS/COMPLAINTS

Bergen County Animal Control will respond to complaints on private property for the removal of dead animals or to trap nuisance wildlife and will charge a fee directly to the resident for these services.

Additionally, Bergen County Animal Control is not a pest control service and will not remove healthy wildlife from residential property. The only exception is that they will remove wildlife from living quarters for a fee payable by the resident at the time of the service. This does not include animals in attics, basements, garages, chimneys, or sheds.   

The Board of Health is responsible for the delivery of health-related services to the residents of the Borough of Leonia. Board of Health members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. For more information, please click here to visit the Board of Health page.

The Board meets on the third Wednesday of every month, excluding July, August, & November. Meetings begin at 6:00 pm and take place at the Leonia Senior Center, 305 Beechwood Place.