New Jersey - How to obtain a Birth Certificate

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Procedure

In Person

Appear in person at the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry In-Person Office and bring acceptable forms of identification establishing your identity and correct fee.

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration

140 East Front Street

Trenton, NJ

By Mail

Mail the completed application form, with a legal size self-addressed stamped envelope and check or money order for the search fee. Do not send cash. Mail to:

New Jersey State Archives

225 West State Street

P.O. Box 370

Trenton, NJ 08625-0370

Apply Online (VitalChek)

• It's the easiest and most efficient method for ordering official birth certificates and other vital records because there is less room for error when you enter the information yourself. Our simple forms have built-in editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.

Order official, certified birth certificates from New Jersey Vital Records online quickly and securely

• VitalChek is an official service, authorized by New Jersey Vital Records, to securely order certified New Jersey vital records, like birth certificates. Other online services may not be authorized by New Jersey Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
• As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas No.1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as New Jersey birth certificates, simple, fast and secure:
  • Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
  • Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
  • Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
• VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering New Jersey birth certificates for yourself or your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.

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Required Documents

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 with current address OR
• A current, valid drivers license without photo and one alternate form of ID with current address 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)
• Tax Return or W-2 for current/previous tax year

People who are homeless can have a social worker or the coordinator of the homeless shelter where they are temporarily residing submit a request on behalf of the homeless person. The request must be on their agency letterhead and provide the identifying information on the homeless person's vital record. The request must be accompanied by proof of employment by the agency and valid identification. The resulting copy of the vital record will be mailed to the agency.

People who are incarcerated can provide legal imprisonment, conviction papers or release documents that include the name, social security number and all possible aliases used in the past or identification from a prison/probation official.

Note

Please do not send in original ID documents. Only copies are required.

Office Locations & Contacts

Contact Details

Contact Information for the NJ Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration

Telephone:

1-609-292-4087

1-866-649-8726 toll-free nationwide

Expedited Orders for copies of Vital Records

VitalChek Network Inc

P.O. Box 308

Brentwood, TN 37024-0308

• Note

To obtain an expedited application form and ordering requirements please review the information at www.vitalchek.com

Non-expedited orders to be submitted by Postal Mail

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration

P.O. Box 370

Trenton, NJ 08625-0370

Non-expedited orders to be submitted by Express Mail

To mail in your application by Express Shipping, please send to:

New Jersey Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration

Attn: - Customer Service Unit

H & A Bldg, 5th Floor

Warren and Market Streets

Trenton, NJ 08625

In Person orders

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration

140 East Front Street

Trenton, NJ

Hours of Operation

8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Monday Friday, excluding State Holidays

For applications received after 3:30 p.m., records will be mailed the next business day.

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Atlantic County : 5901 Main Street Mays Landing, NJ 08830-1800
Phone: (609) 625-4011 Website

Bergen County : One Bergen County Plaza Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076
Website

Burlington County : 49 Rancocas Road PO Box 6000 Mount Holly, NJ 8060
Phone: (609) 265-5122 Website

Camden County : 520

Eligibility

Copies of New Jersey birth certificates are only issued to persons who establish themselves as the certificate holder named on the record, the certificate holder's parent, legal guardian or legal representative, spouse, adult child, adult grandchild or adult sibling.

Fees

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:

• Certified copy: $25.00(for the initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement)
• Additional copy: $2.00 each(for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.)
  

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. Credit card requests must be placed with VitalChek as an Expedited Request.

Note

Please do not send cash through the mail.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

For Walk-in

Processed through the State Bureau of Vital Statistics or Local Vital Records Office. Processing time and fees vary at the Local Vital Records Office. Non-genealogical records by walk-in from the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry are typically processed within 2 hours

For Mail, Phone, Fax or Internet Orders (Expedited service)

• Processed through our authorized vendor VitalChek.
• You will need a credit card, check or money order to place your expedited order. Orders are processed within 15-22 days.

For Mail (Non-Expedited service)

• Processed through the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or Local Vital Records Office. Processing time and fees vary at the Local Vital Records Office.
• Non-genealogical records by mail from the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry are typically processed within 8-10 weeks.

Instructions

• New Jersey Vital Records issues certified copies of New Jersey birth certificates, for events that occurred within the State of New Jersey.
• Birth Certificates are available for events that occurred in the State of New Jersey from 1901 to present.
• Vital Records are also available from Local Vital Records Offices in the municipality where the event occurred.
• For information about vital records from May 1848 1900 visit the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Archives and Records Management.
• The Archives also holds microfilm copies of births from 1901-1923. These materials are available for in-person use only.
• You may request the certified copies by mail, in person, and Online (VitalChek).
• Payment by check or money order made payable to "New Jersey General Treasury".
• To get a certified copy of a persons 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:
  • The subject of the record
  • The subjects parent, legal guardian or legal representative
  • The subjects spouse/civil union partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
  • A state or federal agency for official purposes
  • Pursuant to court order

Required Information

• Name of child
• Father's full maiden name
• Mother's full maiden name
• Child's birth place
• Child's birth date
• Applicant's name and address
• Applicant's phone number
• Reason for certificate request
• Your relationship as applicant to the Registrant
• Applicant signature
• Photocopy of Gov Issued ID

Need for the Document

You may need a birth certificate when enrolling in school, applying for a social security card or for certain legal proceedings. This can prove frustrating when you do not have a copy immediately on hand. If you want to obtain your birth certificate or if you would like to have an additional copy of your birth certificate you can obtain one with following the procedure given below.