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1. Where do I request a birth certificate if I was born abroad, with US citizenship at birth?

Contact the State Department in Washington DC at (202) 955-0307. 

2. How do I know if the copy of my birth certificate is acceptable for the Division of Motor Vehicles, Passport or for proof of age or citizenship?

Your record must be issued by the local office
of vital records where the birth occurred or the Office of Vital Statistics and
Registry and must contain a raised seal. Some entities require the document to
have been issued within the last two years. Complimentary copies issued by a
hospital are not valid. 

3. What is the procedure to correct information on a birth record?

Since there are many unique circumstances to
amending records it is suggested you contact this office for further
information or the State of New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics &
Registry - Record Modification Unit toll-free at 1-866-649-8726 extension 581.

4. Is a raised seal required to make a certified copy of a birth certificate official?

Yes, within the State of New Jersey certified
copies are required to contain the raised seal of the issuing authority, either
the local office of vital records or the Office of Vital Statistics and
Registry.

5. Can I obtain the time of birth?

Yes. In order to obtain this information you
must purchase a certified copy of your record. The time will be included on the
birth certificate only if the doctor recorded it. You should indicate on your
request that you wish the certified copy to show the time of birth. 

6. Can I request the birth record of a non-family member?

Yes, but you will
receive a certification rather than a certified copy. A certification is a
non-certified document, which contains limited information and states it is for
informational purposes only, not for identification or legal purposes.

7. How long after a birth occurs is it filed with the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry?

Under our current
system, births are filed within three weeks of the completion of the
certificate by the hospital.

8. What is required to file a delayed birth certificate?

In order to request a delayed report of birth,
you must first file an application requesting the birth certificate to ensure
the record is not on file. If no record is found, you will receive a No Record
statement, which must be returned with a letter of request to place a delayed
report of birth on file. You will receive a questionnaire to complete so that a
more detailed search can be completed. You will also need to provide
documentary proof that the birth took place. Documentary proof will be reviewed
and a determination made. Please contact the Record Modification unit toll-free
at 1-866-649-8726 extension 581 for further information.