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.