Frequently Asked Questions

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

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

The application must be filed in the New Jersey municipality in which either applicant resides and the license is valid throughout the State. If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, the application must be filed in the municipality where the ceremony will occur and the license is valid ONLY in the issuing municipality.

No. Domestic partners who wish to enter into a civil union with the same partner do not need to terminate their domestic partnership.  Once they have entered into the civil union, their domestic partnership automatically terminates, if it was originally registered in New Jersey.  If it was registered outside New Jersey, the laws of that state would determine the validity of the domestic partnership following the civil union.

Yes. If the domestic partnership with a different partner was not legally terminated, or was not terminated by the death of the previous partner, you must terminate the domestic partnership before entering into a civil union with someone else.

If your civil union meets the requirements of the state in which you registered, then it is recognized by the State of New Jersey.

No. You are not required to enter into a civil union in New Jersey. If your civil union or same-sex marriage meets the requirements of the state or country in which you registered, then it is recognized by the State of New Jersey as a civil union. However, if you wish, you may also elect to enter into a civil union in New Jersey.  In that case, you would file for a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License in New Jersey.

Yes. There is a 72-hour waiting period before the license can be issued. The waiting period begins once the application has been filed by one or both applicants.  A Superior Court judge can waive all or part of the 72-hour waiting period.

No. For a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License, there is no waiting period, the license can be issued immediately after the complete application has been filed.

Yes. It is recommended you check the Internet website for the particular Internet ministry to verify that their ministers are authorized to perform civil union ceremonies.

 Public officials who are authorized to perform marriages are authorized to perform civil unions.  Public officials may choose whether or not to exercise this authority.  However, if a public official agrees to perform marriages, he or she must agree to perform civil unions.  If an official elects not to perform civil unions, he or she cannot perform marriages either. Public officials do have the right to exercise their authority only for residents of their municipality.

No. Members of the clergy are not covered by the Law Against Discrimination and have the right to decline to perform civil unions.

Yes. The Registrar is required by law to accept for filing an application for a civil union license so long as the application is provided to the Registrar of the municipality in which either of the applicant’s reside or, if out of State residents, in the municipality in which the ceremony will occur.

Yes. However, please note that the federal government does not recognize civil unions.  You may choose to consult an attorney to legally establish a name change.

Yes. You can create or edit vows.  In your vows, you may refer to each other using any terms you prefer, including wife, spouse, lover, or life mate, and you may refer to the ceremony as a marriage.  However, when the ceremony is completed, you are legally entered into a civil union and considered a civil union couple.

No, you must contact the state or country in which the death occurred.

Request a long form copy of the death certificate, which will have the burial location. Then you can contact that entity for more information.

Yes. Your domestic partnership is still valid as it was entered into under the law in place at the time. However, you continue to have only the rights afforded to domestic partners and not the full rights of married couples as are given to civil union couples.

No. There is no basis to recognize the assumption of the partner’s last name. A legal name change must be filed with the courts and an original copy of the final judgment presented to the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.

Yes. As of February 19, 2007, domestic partnerships can only be established by couples 62 years of age or older, regardless of whether they are a same-sex or opposite-sex couple.

No. Domestic partners who wish to enter into a civil union with the same person do not need to terminate their domestic partnership. Once they have entered into the civil union, their domestic partnership will automatically terminate if it was registered in New Jersey. If it was registered outside New Jersey, the laws of that state would determine the validity of the domestic partnership following the civil union.

Yes. If the domestic partnership with a different partner was not legally terminated, or was not terminated by the death of the previous partner, you must terminate the domestic partnership before entering into a civil union with someone else.

Information regarding benefits can be found at the https://nj.gov/treasury/pensions/.

An individual who has filed a complete application for a copy of a vital record can authorize another person to pick up the record on his or her behalf. To do so, the applicant should sign a notarized letter, stating the name of the person listed on the vital record and the name of the individual who is picking up the record. The individual picking up the record must present this letter along with an acceptable form of identification. 

An ex-spouse can only obtain birth or death records if the records are being obtained on behalf of a minor child that was the product of the marriage. Documentary proof of the minor child and the need for the certificate must be provided. 

Stepparents can only obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate of a stepchild with the authorization of the biological parent, unless the stepparent has adopted the child or has been granted custody of the child. 

An attorney can only obtain records on behalf of a client. The attorney must show proof of being the legal representative of the client and may only obtain the same type of copy of a vital record that the client is eligible to receive. An attorney is not granted certified copies of vital records solely on the basis of being an attorney. 

Yes. However, if the foreign country is a member of the Hague Treaty, the record must also contain an Apostille Seal. You can contact the consulate of that country to determine if it is a member of the Hague Treaty or obtain other specific requirements. 

Certified copies of Vital Records issued by a local Registrar CANNOT be used to obtain an Apostille Seal. You must purchase a copy of your vital record from the State of New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry and indicate on your application that it is needed for Apostille Seal. You will receive a certified copy which you must forward to the Department of Treasury requesting an Apostille Seal. 

A No Match statement means the information you provided does not exactly match a record on file. Verify the information you provided. Submit a new application for the record with the corrected information. Your new application must include the required identification and fees. 

A No Record statement means that there is no record on file that corresponds to the information you provided. Verify the information you provided. If the information you originally gave is correct, you can request to file a delayed report be placed on file. More information on delayed reports of birth can be found under the Birth Records portion of the FAQ’s, more information on delayed reports of marriage can be found under the Marriage Records portion of the FAQ’s.

No. Vital records require the raised seal of the local office of vital records or the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry seal to be considered valid. It is the administrative policy of the State Registrar that records are not faxed for any reason.

In order to be processed your application must contain all required items. To find the required information, you may wish to check census records, newspaper archives at the local library, the federal social security death index or hire an investigator. If after exhausting all alternatives you are still unable to supply the required items you will need to obtain a court order directing the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry to issue the copy.

No.

No. Just as with opposite-sex couples, so long as your out-of-state marriage is consistent with the laws and public policy of New Jersey, your marriage is valid and recognized in this State and you will not need to enter into a New Jersey marriage. 

No. You must contact the state or country in which you were married. 

Each judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, each judge of the federal district court, United States magistrate, judge of a municipal court, judge of the Superior Court, judge of a tax court, retired judge of the Superior Court or Tax Court, or judge of the Superior Court or Tax Court, the former County Court, the former County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, or the former County District Court who has resigned in good standing, surrogate of any county, county clerk and any mayor or former mayor not currently serving on the municipal governing body or the deputy mayor when authorized by the mayor, or chairman of any township committee or village president of this State, and every minister of every religion, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages or civil unions between such persons as may lawfully enter into the matrimonial relation or civil union; and every religious society, institution or organization in this State may join together in marriage or civil union such persons according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization. A civil celebrant shall be authorized to solemnize marriages or civil unions if certified by the Secretary of State.

Yes. It is recommended you check the Internet website for the particular Internet ministry to verify that their ministers are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

 No. Just as with opposite-sex couples, so long as your out-of-state marriage is consistent with the laws and public policy of New Jersey, your marriage is valid and recognized in this State and you will not need to enter into a New Jersey marriage.

No. Your domestic partnership will remain intact and will still be on file with the local municipality where the ceremony was performed or the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry after you enter into marriage with your domestic partner.

You will not have to dissolve your civil union in order to enter into marriage so long as you are marrying your current civil union partner.  However, if you wish to marry someone other than your civil union partner, then you must have your civil union dissolved before you can enter into marriage with someone else. 

Civil unions remain valid.  Your civil union will remain intact and will still be on file with the local municipality where the ceremony was performed or the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry after you enter into marriage with your civil union partner.

Civil Unions will not automatically convert to marriages. Civil unions remain valid and couples may continue to enter into civil unions if those so choose.  A civil union couple will have to apply for and receive a marriage license and thereafter engage in a marriage ceremony in order to receive a marriage certificate.

Yes. The Civil Union Act remains in full force and effect.

The couple would be entering into a remarriage. Any couple married outside of the State that wishes to renew their marriage commitment in New Jersey may do so by applying for and receiving a remarriage license and thereafter engage in a remarriage ceremony, as set forth at N.J.S.A. 37:1-7. The 72 hour waiting period does not apply to remarriages. 

Yes. All individuals, including those already in a civil union, who apply for marriage licenses must comply with the 72 hour waiting period unless a New Jersey Superior Court Judge enters an order waiving the wait period due to emergency circumstances.

Couples who are currently in a civil union and have not entered in a valid marriage outside of this State must apply for a marriage license, not a remarriage license, and must wait 72 hours before receiving their marriage license.