The paperwork · New Jersey
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in New Jersey, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy: $25.00 for initial copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $2.00 each.
Mail requests to: Office of Vital Statistics & Registry NJ Department of Health P.O. Box 370 Trenton, NJ 08625-0370 Please visit the New Jersey Vital Statistics website for the most up to date information regarding ordering options and information or call toll-free at 1-866-649-8726.
The State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry maintains records from 1918 to present. For older records, please see information for the State Archives. All requests must include a copy of the requestor’s valid identification, payment of the appropriate fee and proof of relationship to the individual listed on the vital record. 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. All other applicants will be issued a Certification that state the document is not for identification or legal purposes.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the New Jersey help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: $25.00 for initial copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $2.00 each. Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by New Jersey. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official New Jersey vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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