you must first verify what town the event took place in. Certified copies of vital records are provided by the municipality where the event took place. A certification or certified copy of a vital record is available upon written application only with proof of identity.
Instructions for obtaining a copy of Non-Genealogical Vital Records
- Certified Copies have the raised seal of the office issuing the record and are always issued on State of New Jersey safety paper. Certified copies may be used to establish identity and are legal documents.
Applications for a certified copy of
Non-Genealogical record
requires the applicant to provide a completed application, valid proof of identity
**, payment of the fee and, if requesting a certified copy, proof that establishes you are:
- the subject of the record;
- the subject's parent, legal guardian or legal representative;
- the subject's spouse/civil union partner, domestic partner, child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age;
- a state or federal agency for official purposes; or
- requesting pursuant to a court order.
**Acceptable proofs of identity are:
Valid photo driver's license or photo non-driver's license with current address
OR valid driver's license without photo and an alternative form of ID with current address
OR two (2) alternate forms of ID, one of which must show the current address. Alternate forms of ID are:
- Vehicle Registration
- Vehicle Insurance Card
- Voter Registration
- US/Foreign Passport
- Permanent Resident Card (green card)
- Immigrant Visa
- Federal/State ID
- County ID
- School ID
- Utility Bill (within previous ninety (90) days)
- Bank Statement (within previous ninety (90) days)
- Tax Return or W-2 for current or previous year
Requests for records to be mailed to an address other than that which appears on the requestor's ID must be accompanied by a notarized letter which includes:
- The alternate address, and
- A written requestor to mail records to this alternate address.
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. 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 or identification from a prison/probation official.
Please do not send in original ID documents. Only copies are required.
You can obtain certified copies either in-person or by mail. The Township of South Orange Village charges a $25.00 fee for each certified copy of a vital record requested..
All requests are processed Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM by:
South Orange Clerk's Office
76 South Orange Avenue, Suite 302
South Orange, NJ 07079
If you are looking for a certified copy of:
- Your own birth certificate and you have assumed your spouse's/civil union partner's surname:
- You must provide a copy of the certified copy of your marriage/civil union certificate to link the name on your current ID to the name on your birth certificate.
- Your child's birth certificate:
- You don't need any additional documents.
- Your spouse's/civil union partner's birth certificate:
- You must provide a copy of your marriage/civil union certificate.
- Your parent's or sibling's vital record:
- You must provide a copy of your birth certificate.
If you have assumed your spouse's/civil union partner's last name you must also provide a copy of your marriage/civil union certificate to link the name on your current ID to the name on your birth certificate.
- Your grandparent's vital record:
- You must establish that you are the person's grandchild by providing proof that links the name on your ID to the name of the grandparent.
For example, if you changed your last name after marriage/civil union and want a grandparent's vital record, you must:
- Provide your marriage/civil union certificate to show your name at birth,
- Provide your birth certificate to identify your parent, and
- Provide the parent's birth certificate to identify the grandparent.
If you are not a person qualified to get a certified copy of a record but
- You are helping a person receive a certified copy of a vital record they are eligible to receive:
- You must show your valid ID and a notarized, written release authorizing you to get the record on that person's behalf OR, you can supply a written release from the person you are helping along with a copy of that person's valid photo ID.
If you are an attorney
- Who is executor of an estate:
- You must supply proof of appointment as the executor.
- Who is the legal representative of the executor of an estate:
- You must supply proof of legal retainer by the executor and proof of the appointment of the individual as the executor.
- Who is the legal representative of an individual that is eligible to receive a certified copy of a vital record:
- You must supply proof of legal retainer by the eligible individual and their proof of relationship.
- Who needs a certified copy of a vital record and you are not the legal representative of an eligible person:
- You must obtain a court order directing the State Registrar to issue a certified copy of the record. A subpoena is not sufficient to issue a copy of a vital record.