Family Tree Circles Locations
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New Jersey
Locations
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Wiki
State Offices
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
140 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ 08608-2308
Mailing Address:
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Tel: (609) 292-4087
Fax: (609) 984-7633
Email: chs@doh.state.nj.us
Website
Useful Links:
Local
Registrars' Offices
Archives & Records Management
Important Notice: The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry changed the appearance of the safety paper used to issue certified copies of vital records within the State of New Jersey.
Effective October 1, 2011, certified copies are issued on burgundy colored safety paper. Please note that certified copies issued on green colored safety paper prior to October 1, 2011 are valid.
Remarks: All individuals requesting a
certified copy of a record, must present/submit copies of positive
signed identification, including, but not limited to, a driver's
license, passport or other picture identification.
Options to obtain a certified copy:
By Fax - Download the fax application for a birth, death, marriage, civil union or domestic partnership certificate from the Order by Facsimile section. Fax completed application, with all required documentation, to 1-877-553-2194;
By Phone - To place your order by phone, please call 1-877-622-7549. Have your credit card and vital record information ready when you call to help speed the order process. Phone orders must be charged to a credit card or electronic check;
By Mail - Download the mail application for a birth, death, marriage, civil union or domestic partnership certificate from the Order by Mail section. You may mail your completed application and a copy of your identification and relationship documents to the mailing address above;
VitalCheck - Secured online applications to request for vital records, which accepts all major credit card payments, can be made through VitalCheck with an additional charge for their service.
Types of Vital Records Copies:
-
Certified copies have the raised seal of the office issuing the record and are always issued on State of New Jersey safety paper. Certified copies may be used to establish identity and are legal documents.
-
Certifications are issued on plain paper with no seal and clearly indicate they are not valid for establishing identity or for legal purposes.
Remarks: Certifications are generally only useful for genealogy. Certifications of death records do not contain the Social Security Number or the Cause of Death medical terminology.
Apostille and Authentication
An Apostille Seal is an additional seal required for certain certified records that will be presented to a foreign government that is a member of the Hague Treaty.
The seal is often required on documents for international adoptions or establishing dual citizenship. Contact the consulate of the country involved to determine if you need an Apostille Seal.
To get and Apostille Seal:
-
First obtain a certified copy of the vital record from the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
-
Indicate on your application that it will need an Apostille Seal, and you will receive a certified copy of the vital record with the original signature of the State Registrar or Assistant State Registrar.
-
You must forward this document to the New Jersey Department of Treasury, which issues the Apostille Seal.
Requests for corrections may be filed with the Office of
Vital Statistics and Registry or the Local Registrar in the
municipality where the event occurred, or in the case of marriage
or civil union license, in the municipality where the license was
issued.
Requests for corrections must be supported by verifiable documentation. Requirements for corrections vary based on the type of correction being filed.
Types of Vital Records Copies:
Remarks: All forms identified are available at the office of the Local Registrar. If, after reading the information below, you have further questions, please call 1-866-649-8726, and choose the option for "Questions regarding correcting your vital record".
Genealogical Birth, Marriage, or Death
Location:
New Jersey State Archives
225 West State Street
P.O. Box 307
Trenton, NJ 08625-0307
Tel: (609) 292-6260
Tel: (609) 633-8334
Fax: (609) 292-9105
Research Email: archives.reference@sos.state.nj.us
Records Email: archives.collections@sos.state.nj.us
Website
The State Archives holds original birth, marriage and death records for the period May 1848 - May 1900. Consult the reference policy linked above for information on how to request a vital records search for this time period.
The Archives also holds microfilm copies of: births, 1878-1923; marriages, 1878-1940; and deaths, 1878-1940. These materials are available for in-person use only. Search service is provided by the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Remarks: Consult the Reference Services page for information about research services available by mail through the State Archives.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
140 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ 08608-2308
Mailing Address
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Tel: (609) 292-4087
Fax: (609) 984-7633
Email: chs@doh.state.nj.us
Website
A State or local Registrar may issue a certified copy of a vital record only to persons who establish themselves as the subject of the vital record, the subject's parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age, to a State or Federal agency for official purposes, pursuant to court order or under other emergent circumstances as determined by the Commissioner.
Fee: $25.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since 1901
Notes: Additional copies of the same birth
records ordered at the same time of certification are $2.00
each.
Remarks: All other applicants will be issued a Certification that state the document is not for identification or legal purposes. For older records, please see information for the State Archives.
When the child being adopted was born in the United States, it is recommended that the adoption be placed on file in the state where the birth occurred. Please contact the birth state for more information on filing an adoption.
When a child is born in New Jersey and adopted, the adoptive parent(s) should place the adoption on file with the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
To place a domestic adoption on file and receive a certified copy of the new birth certificate, send your requests to New Jersey Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration, along with the completed Report to Adoption, as well as the certified copy of the original final judgment or decree of adoption, and a check or money order.
Once an adoption has been processed and recorded with the New Jersey Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration, a new birth certificate is prepared using only the information contained in the court order.
Remarks: The original court order, birth certificate and related documents are placed under seal; this seal can only be broken by court order.
- For a child born and adopted in a foreign country - At least one of the parents must be a U.S. citizen, and a New Jersey resident at the time of the adoption or at the time the adoption is placed on file with the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
Remarks: The submitted documents will be retained by the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry to be placed under seal.
- For a child born and adopted in a foreign country - At least one of the parents must be a U.S. citizen, and a New Jersey resident at the time of the adoption or at the time the adoption is placed on file with the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
Remarks: All documents will be returned to the applicant once processed.
Death
Location:
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
140 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ 08608-2308
Mailing Address
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Tel: (609) 292-4087
Fax: (609) 984-7633
Email: chs@doh.state.nj.us
Website
A State or local Registrar may issue a certified copy of a vital record only to persons who establish themselves as the subject of the vital record, the subject's parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age, to a State or Federal agency for official purposes, pursuant to court order or under other emergent circumstances as determined by the Commissioner.
Fee: $25.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since 1901
Notes: Additional copies of the same birth
records ordered at the same time of certification are $2.00
each.
Remarks: All other applicants will be issued a Certification that state the document is not for identification or legal purposes. For older records, please see information for the State Archives.
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth
The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry maintains records to prepare Certificates of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth from 1969 to the present.
Any of the parents can request for a certified copy of a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth by submitting a completed the REG-68 form Acceptable Forms of Identification and the appropriate fees directly to the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or to a licensed health care professional for signature, who is then responsible for submitting the documents.
Marriage
Location:
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
140 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ 08608-2308
Mailing Address
Department of Health and Senior Services
Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Tel: (609) 292-4087
Fax: (609) 984-7633
Email: chs@doh.state.nj.us
Website
A State or local Registrar may issue a certified copy of a vital record only to persons who establish themselves as the subject of the vital record, the subject's parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age, to a State or Federal agency for official purposes, pursuant to court order or under other emergent circumstances as determined by the Commissioner.
Fee: $25.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since 1901
Notes: Additional copies of the same birth
records ordered at the same time of certification are $2.00
each.
Remarks: All other applicants will be issued a Certification that state the document is not for identification or legal purposes. For older records, please see information for the State Archives.
Remarriage
For individuals who are currently in a marriage in New Jersey or are in an opposite sex marriage 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 opposite sex marriage, meet the requirements for entering into a marriage in New Jersey and follow the guidelines above to completing the license application.
Remarks: 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.
The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership form must be obtained from a Local Registrar of Vital Statistics in any municipality in the State of New Jersey. The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership does not have to be obtained (or filed) in the municipality in which the domestic partners reside.
A Certificate of Domestic Partnership is the document that is prepared by the Local Registrar after you have filed your signed and notarized Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. Each partner is presented with an informational copy of the Certificate at the time it is prepared.
Application Fee: $28.00
Required Documents: A valid Government/State
issued federal identification, proof of residency, Social Security
Card.
Notes: Many Local Registrar Offices have notaries on staff; please call to verify this information with the Local Registrar.
Remarks: Domestic Partnerships are not considered registered until the Affidavit has been filed with a Local Registrar's Office and the Certificate of Domestic Partnership has been issued.
The civil union license must be obtained from the registrar in the New Jersey municipality in which either applicant resides, if one or both is resident of New Jersey. A license issued under the preceding circumstances is good for use anywhere in the State of New Jersey.
A New Jersey marriage or civil union license may never be used outside of the State of New Jersey and a license issued in another state may never be used within the State of New Jersey.
Application Fee: $28.00
Required Documents: A valid Government/State
issued federal identification, proof of residency, Social Security
Card.
Notes: Be sure to contact the Registrar well in advance of the ceremony to find out on what days and during what hours the Registrar will be in the office.
Remarks: A couple that has previously entered into a civil union or a same-sex marriage may apply for a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License.
Reaffirmation of Civil Union
For individuals who are currently in a Civil Union in New Jersey or are in a same sex union in another state where the rights afforded that union are equal to the rights afforded married couples, there exists the option to reaffirm your relationship/vows by registering a Reaffirmation of Civil Union.
In order to apply for a Reaffirmation of Civil Union the couple must provide proof of their existing same sex union, meet the requirements for entering into a civil union in New Jersey and follow the guidelines above to completing the license application.
Remarks: The process for a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License are the same as for the Civil Union License, except that the Reaffirmation of Civil Union License must be accompanied by the proof of existing union and once the application is filed there is no 72 hour waiting period before the license is issued.
Divorce
Location:
Clerk of the Superior Court
Superior Court of NJ
Public Information Center
171 Jersey Street
P.O. Box 967
Trenton, NJ 08625-0967
Tel: (609) 292-4087
Fax: (609) 984-7633
Email: chs@doh.state.nj.us
Website
New Jersey divorce decrees are available through the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Center. For more information on obtaining a certified copy of a divorce decree, call the Records Center at: 609-421-6100
Fee: $10.00 per copy
Remarks: The fee is for a certified Blue Seal
copy. Make check payable to Clerk of the Superior Court.
Terminating a Domestic Partnership
In order to end a Domestic Partnership, you must file a request for termination with the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey.
Remarks: Following termination, you are responsible for notifying any entity that you had originally notified when you entered into the Domestic Partnership.
