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1. Can a person eligible to receive a certified copy of a vital record designate someone to collect the certified copies for them?

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. 

2. Does an ex-spouse have access to the previous spouse's birth or death certificate?

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. 

3. Do stepparents have the same access to records as parents?

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. 

4. Does an attorney have access to vital records?

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. 

5. Do foreign governments accept a birth or death record issued by the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry?

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. 

6. How do I obtain a record with an Apostille Seal?

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. 

7. What should I do if I receive a No Match certificate as a result of a request I submitted?

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. 

8. What should I do if I receive a No Record certificate as a result of a request I submitted?

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.

9. Can vital records be faxed?

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.

10. What can I do if I do not have all of the information required for a non-genealogical application (exact date the event occurred, exact municipality where the event occurred and/or mother's maiden

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.

11. Is the fee for a New Jersey birth record waived for military personnel?

No.