Are New Jersey Vital Records Open to the Public?
Certified copies of New Jersey vital records are generally restricted to persons named on the document, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Furthermore, these individuals must provide a valid photo ID to obtain the vital record of interest through the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. Meanwhile, vital records other than 100 years are publicly available to interested persons from the New Jersey State Archives.
What Information Shows Up in New Jersey Vital Records?
New Jersey vital records are a series of official documents that certify important life events maintained by government entities to ensure the accuracy and availability of personal information for legal, administrative, and research purposes. The New Jersey Statutes Annotated §26:8-1 through §26:8-82 outlines the provisions for the registration, issuance, and maintenance of vital records.
What Information Do I Need to Search for New Jersey Vital Records Online?
Generally, persons who wish to search for vital records in New Jersey must know the name of the person on the vital record, as well as the date the life event happened. Furthermore, most vital record searches require that a requester knows the location where the life event happened. Some required additional information, such as the names of the registrant's parents.
How Do I Obtain New Jersey Vital Records?
Persons who wish to obtain New Jersey vital records must first know the necessary information to facilitate a vital record search. These include names, dates, and locations of life events. Furthermore, requesters must have a check or money order for the applicable request fee as well as a valid, government-issued photo ID or another form of valid identification to demonstrate eligibility. In addition to these, requesters who are otherwise unauthorized to receive vital records must have a certified court order to obtain vital records.
Publicly available vital records are managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a convenient jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third-party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:
- The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
- The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile.
Requesters must provide relevant information associated with the record to conduct an online search for vital records. Some of these include:
- The registrant's name
- Date of the event
- Place of the event
- City or county where the life event occurred
- First and last name of parents
- Presiding judge (for marriage or divorce records)
Certified Copy vs. Informational Copy: Understanding the Difference
A certified copy of a New Jersey Vital Record is a long-form document with the raised seal of the Office of Vital Statistics & Registry. This document is valid for official purposes like establishing identity and processing social security and passport applications. On the other hand, informational copies of vital records are unfit for official, legal purposes like establishing identity and obtaining public benefits.
Are New Jersey Marriage Records Public Information?
Certified New Jersey marriage records are available to persons named on the document, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Public requesters may obtain public marriage records stored at the New Jersey State Archives.
How Do I Obtain New Jersey Marriage Records?
The Office of Vital Statistics & Registry issues certified marriage records in New Jersey. Interested persons must complete an application form and attach the necessary ID documents and payment to obtain the certified record. Then, the applicant must enclose the application packet in a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail it to:
Office of Vital Statistics & Registry
55 North Willow Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Phone: (866) 649-8726
How to Get a New Jersey Marriage Certificate
Obtain a New Jersey Marriage Certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, or the local registrar's office where the marriage occurred. Couples who are married in New Jersey are eligible to request a certificate.
Are Divorce Records Public Information in New Jersey?
Certified New Jersey divorce records are generally restricted to persons named on the document, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Divorce records older than 100 years are, however, open to the public through the New Jersey state archives.
How Do I Obtain New Jersey Divorce Records?
Eligible individuals can obtain certified divorce records by submitting a request to the Clerk of the Superior Court, where the divorce decree was issued. The Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of NJ prepares a certified copy of the requested record for a fee of $10, and it will contain the county of venue, docket number, names of the parties, and date of the Final Judgment of Divorce, and is stamped with the Seal of the Superior Court. The check should be made payable to the Clerk of the Superior Court of NJ and submitted to:
Clerk of the Superior Court
Superior Court of NJ
Record Information Center
171 Jersey Street,
P.O. Box 967
Trenton, NJ 08625-0967
All requests must be accompanied by a copy of the requestor's valid photo ID and evidence of the relationship between the requestor and the individual listed on the record.
How to Get a Certified Divorce Certificate in New Jersey
Certified Divorce Certificates can be acquired through the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or the Superior Court where the divorce was granted. Either party involved or their legal representatives can obtain the certificate.
Are Birth Certificates Public in New Jersey?
New Jersey Birth Certificates are not public. The NJ Stat. Ann. § 26. states the provisions for the disclosure of birth certificates in New Jersey.
Are New Jersey Birth Records Public Information?
New Jersey birth records are restricted to the persons named on the document, immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives. Interested members of the public may obtain public birth records older than 100 years via the New Jersey state archives.
How Do I Obtain New Jersey Birth Records?
As birth records contain sensitive information, only eligible persons may order birth certificates and birth certificate replacements in New Jersey. Generally, the applicant must submit an application form along with payment for the applicable fees, as well as a copy of the requestor's photo ID. Furthermore, the requester must provide documentation that establishes eligibility to obtain the birth record. It is possible to order birth certificates online, but persons who wish to submit in-person and mail requests must send the request to:
Office of Vital Statistics & Registry
55 North Willow Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Phone: (866) 649-8726
Are New Jersey Death Records Open to the Public?
New Jersey death records become public information 100 years after the death. Until then, only the deceased immediate family members and authorized legal representatives may initiate a death certificate search.
How Do I Obtain New Jersey Death Records?
Interested requesters can perform a death record search by name on the public death records database. However, persons who wish to obtain certified death records in New Jersey must submit a request to the Vital Statistics & Registry Office in person or send a mail request. Either way, applicants must complete an application form, attach a valid photo ID, as well as payment for the appropriate fees. Then, the requester must mail the application to:
Office of Vital Statistics & Registry
55 North Willow Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Phone: (866) 649-8726
How Do I Find Sealed Vital Records in New Jersey?
Vital records are generally not sealed in the state of New Jersey. Instead, access is restricted to persons who can establish themselves as the subject of the documents, immediate family members, or legal representatives. Suppose a requested vital record is sealed. Then, the requester must obtain a court order authorizing access to that specific sealed vital record. In any way, a person petitioning the Superior Court for access to a sealed vital record must demonstrate a tangible interest in the document.
What are Vital Statistics in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, vital statistics refers to data regarding significant life events and health indicators. The New Jersey Department of Health's Vital Statistics and Registry gathers and analyzes this data to foster the understanding of public health issues, influence policy-making, and direct resources toward improving the health of New Jersey residents. It is also especially important in disease control and population management.
