How to get a birth certificate or death certificate in New Jersey

For some of the biggest moments in life, there’s documentation to go along with it — and birth certificates and death certificates are possibly some of the most necessary.

A birth certificate is needed for getting a driver’s license, a passport, and verifying your U.S. citizenship throughout your life. In the U.S., birth certificates are usually issued by the hospital, birthing facility, or midwife/doula that helped deliver the pregnancy.

A death certificate is needed for family members to take care of a deceased loved one’s estate, claim life insurance benefits, and apply for permits to burial or cremation. In the U.S., death certificates are issued by the funeral home, cremation service, or other person who takes care of the deceased loved one’s remains.

If you need one of these items but haven’t completed the process before, here’s what to do in the state of New Jersey.

You or a family member have to apply for a certified copy of your birth certificate with the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records. If you have questions, call 866-649-8726 or email records@doh.nj.gov.

Person named on the birth certificate (you), spouse, parent, sibling, children, grandparent or grandchild, and legal guardians or representatives of the person named on the birth certificate. Must be 18 years or older.

Relatives have to prove that they’re related to you. Legal representatives have to prove that they are representing you. If you need a birth certificate for someone who is deceased, you have to also provide a copy of the person’s death certificate.

Birth certificates include the person’s name, birthdate, place of birth, and other information like gender assigned at birth. It also includes the names of your parents, and can include their birthdates and other information.

You need an application form if you apply by mail or in-person. You can pick up an application form at 140 E. Front Street in Trenton or download the form.. You can also apply online.

You have to provide government-issued ID or a legible photocopy. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license, passport, military ID, federal and state-issued ID.

If you don’t have government-issued ID, then you need to provide two current documents that verify your full name and current address, like a utility bill, pay stub, or bank statement.

If a family member is requesting someone’s birth certificate, you have to provide documentation — like a marriage license or birth certificate — that proves you’re related to the person.

$25 to request a certified copy of a birth certificate, and $2 per copy if ordered at the same time. Note that there’s an additional cost of $10 in fees and a $12 shipping fee if you apply online. Make checks or money orders payable to “Treasurer, State of New Jersey.” Cash is not accepted.

Online orders: 8-12 weeks. In-person: Same-day. Mail: 4-8 weeks

You can request copies of a death certificate from the funeral director or person in charge of taking care of your deceased loved one’s remains when making funeral arrangements. If you need a loved one’s death certificate after their funeral has passed then you need to apply at the Office of Vital Records.

A family member or eligible party can apply for a certified copy of a death certificate. If you have questions, call 866-649-8726 or email records@doh.nj.gov.

Spouse, parent, sibling, children, grandparent or grandchild, a person with direct financial interest, and legal guardians or representatives of the person named on the death certificate. Must be 18 years or older.

Relatives have to prove that they’re related to the deceased person. Legal representatives have to prove that they are representing the deceased person or their estate. People with a direct financial interest — like a business partner or loan provider — have to prove that they did business with the person.

Death certificates include the name of the person, time of death, place of death, cause of death, and other vital information about the deceased person.

You need an application form if you apply by mail or in-person. You can pick up an application form at 140 E. Front Street in Trenton or download the form. You can also apply online.

You have to provide government-issued ID or a legible photocopy. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license, passport, military ID, federal and state-issued ID.

If you don’t have government-issued ID, then you have to provide two current documents that verify your full name and current address, like a utility bill, pay stub, bank statement.

If a family member is requesting someone’s death certificate, you have to provide documentation — like a marriage license or birth certificate — that proves you’re related. Legal representatives have to provide documentation that they are representing the deceased person or their estate. If you have direct financial interest with the deceased person, you have to provide financial documents or contracts to prove that you were in business with this person.

$25 to request a certified copy of a death certificate, and $2 per copy if ordered at the same time. Note that there’s an additional cost of $10 in fees and a $12 shipping fee if you apply online. Make checks or money orders payable to “Treasurer, State of New Jersey.” Cash is not accepted.

Online orders: 8-12 weeks. In-person: Same-day. Mail: 4-8 weeks