How to Obtain Copies of Vital Records

For all orders, 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 requesting a certified copy

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

Step 1: Identify the non-genealogical record

You must be able to fully identify the record by providing the information listed below on the application form. Your request cannot be accepted unless you provide the information below.

• Full name on the record
• City where the event occurred
• Exact date of the event (month, day and year)
• Mother’s maiden name
• Father’s name (if recorded on the record)

• For Marriage, Civil Union or Domestic Partnership - Instead of parents’ names, you must provide the name of the spouse/partner.

Step 2: Provide Acceptable Identification

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 driver’s license without photo and one alternate form of ID, both with current address
  OR

• Two alternate forms of ID, both 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 within the previous 90 days)
• 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, one copy of their birth certificate with the fee waived. 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 AND photo work identification from a prison/probation official.

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.

Step 3: Payment of 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 City of Elizabeth Office of Vital Statistics charges:

• $ 1 5 per certified copy of the record

• 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 via our online request site.

Please do not send cash through the mail.

Step 4: Proof of Relationship

REQUIRED when 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 not valid for establishing identity or legal purposes. However, you must still provide proof of identity when requesting a certification.

To get a certified copy of a person’s 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 subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative

• The subject’s spouse/civil union partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
• A state or federal agency for official purposes
• Pursuant to court order

See the How to Prove Relationship tips at the bottom of this page for information on how to prove your relationship. This is a key requirement to getting a certified copy of a vital record.

Failure to provide proof of relationship is the number one reason certified copy applications must be rejected.

Step 5: Submitting your completed application and supporting documents

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 one of the following order methods: