Vital Statistics

Genealogical Records (family history research) are:

• Birth, death and marriage records for people who are deceased 
   
  AND where
• the birth occurred more than 80 years ago until 1921
• the marriage occurred more than 50 years ago until 1931
• the death occurred more than 40 years ago until 1931

Your request cannot be processed as a genealogical request if the person named on the record is still living or the event was more recent than listed above. 

The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry holds records for the most current 100 years. For records older than 100 years, please visit the Department of State, New Jersey State Archives web page or call (609) 292-6260.

The following must be sent with your application:

• all required copies of ID for proof of identity
• the correct fees
• copies of documents proving your relationship to the person named on the record, if you are ordering a certified copy

 Your application will be returned if you do not send in all required documentation.

You must identify the record by providing the following required information, if you provide the optional information it may assist us in locating the record.

Required Information:

• Full name on the record
• City or county where the event occurred
• Year the event occurred

Optional Information:

• Exact date of event
• Mother’s maiden name
• Father’s name
• Social security number (deaths only)
  
  
  

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
  OR
• A current, valid driver’s license without photo and one alternate form of ID
  OR
• Two alternate forms of ID, one of which must have current 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
• County 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 send in original ID documents. Only copies are required.  If you want to have your order mailed to a different address than what is listed on your identification, your application must include a notarized letter that authorizes the order to be mailed to a different address. 

Fees for copies of vital records issued vary by municipality. Please contact the Local Vital Records office where the event occurred for information about their fees.

The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry charges

• $25 for the first copy of a vital record; and
• $2 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
• For genealogical applications only, additional years can be searched at a fee of $1 for each additional year.
• Additional names or counties can be searched at an additional fee of $25 each.
  
  Applications mailed to the State may be paid by check or money order made payable to: Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Applications made to the municipal office should be made payable to the municipality. We cannot accept credit card payment by mail.
   
  Please do not send cash through the mail.
  
  

ONLY required if ordering a certified copy of a vital record.

Proof of relationship is not required if you are asking for a certification, which is an uncertified informational copy of the vital record which is not valid for establishing identity or legal purposes. 

To get a certified copy you must provide proof of your relationship to the person listed on the vital 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 or domestic partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
• A state or federal agency for official purposes
• Pursuant to court order

Regardless of the where you place your order you will have to send with your application:

• all required copies of ID establishing your identity
• the correct fee, and
• copies of documents proving your relationship to the person named on the record, if you are ordering a certified copy

Your application will be returned if you do not send in all required information.

Submit your request and supporting documentation via following order method:

ONLY required if ordering a certified copy of a vital record.

If you are requesting a certification (an informational copy of a vital record not valid for legal purposes), you do not need to provide proof of relationship.

If you are requesting a certified copy of

• your parent’s or sibling’s vital record
  you must provide a copy of your birth certificate to show you are the child or sibling of the person whose record you are requesting.
   
• 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:
  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.

If you are not a person qualified to get a certified copy of a record

• but you are helping a person eligible to receive a vital record obtain a copy of a record they are eligible to receive
  
  you must show your valid ID and a notarized, written release authorizing you to get the record on that person’s behalf including their proof of relationship to the subject of the record.

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.