How to Get a Certified Copy of a KLG Order in New Jersey

What a Certified Copy Proves

Once the court grants your Kinship Legal Guardianship, the judge signs a Judgment for Kinship Legal Guardianship (Form CN 10270). That signed order is your legal proof of authority over the child.

But the original stays in the court file. What you carry to the school, the doctor's office, and the county welfare agency is a certified copy — a court-issued duplicate bearing the official seal that confirms the document is an authentic, unaltered reproduction of the court's record.

A certified copy is an official court-issued duplicate that can prove the order is authentic. For public school enrollment, the New Jersey Department of Education says an eligible student may enroll under the affidavit-student rules without first obtaining guardianship or custody.

Where to Get Certified Copies

Certified copies of KLG orders are issued by the county Family Division clerk's office in the county where your case was decided. This is not the County Clerk's general office and not the Surrogate's Court — it is the clerk for the Family Part of Superior Court.

Request copies at the courthouse right after your hearing, if possible. Having copies in hand before you leave means you can start using them immediately — at the school the next morning, at the doctor's office that afternoon.

If you need additional copies later, you can request them from the same county Family Division clerk by visiting in person or submitting a written request. Some counties accept mail requests with a check or money order for the copy fees.

What Copies Cost

The Judiciary's fee schedule lists $25 for a certified document with the court seal. The fee is for the clerk to authenticate the copy, apply the court seal, and sign it.

Order more copies than you think you need. A minimum of four is practical:

• One for the child's school
• One for the child's primary care doctor or pediatrician
• One for benefit applications (county welfare agency, NJ FamilyCare, SNAP)
• One to keep in your personal records as a backup

Replacing a certified copy later means another trip to the courthouse and another fee. Starting with enough copies saves time and money.

What the Certified Copy Shows

The Judgment for Kinship Legal Guardianship (CN 10270) states:

• The names of the guardian and the child
• The date the order was entered
• The authority granted — full legal and physical custody of the child
• That parental rights are not terminated
• The duration — until the child turns 18 or is no longer continuously enrolled in a secondary education program, whichever occurs later

The certified copy with the court seal is official evidence of the court order. Keep the copies in good condition so the seal remains legible.

Using Your Certified Copy

School enrollment: A KLG order documents your authority over the child's educational plans. Under the affidavit-student rules, an eligible student may also enroll without first obtaining guardianship or custody (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1(b)(1)). The school may make a copy for its records and return your certified original.

Medical care: Give the pediatrician's office a copy to place in the child's file. This establishes your authority to consent to medical treatment, vaccinations, and dental care.

Benefit applications: The KLG statute authorizes the guardian to apply for financial assistance and social services for which the child is eligible (N.J.S.A. 3B:12A-6(e)(1)). Confirm the documents required by the relevant program before ordering extra copies.

Banking and property: The KLG statute authorizes decisions about the child's care and well-being and applications for eligible assistance and services. It does not confer the additional rights of a guardian of a minor's person or estate under Title 3B (N.J.S.A. 3B:12A-4(d)(1)).

If the Original County Seems Wrong

Under Court Rule 5:9A-3(b), post-judgment KLG proceedings remain in the county where the original FL case was filed. A party may ask the court to change venue, which is decided case by case. For a certified copy, contact the Family Division in the county where the order was entered.

Some counties will process mail requests — call the Family Division clerk's office to ask about their procedure before making the trip if distance is an issue.

Our New Jersey Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide includes a post-order administration section that covers requesting certified copies, presenting them to institutions, and keeping your records organized after the court grants your order.

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