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How to get a New Jersey death certificate

In New Jersey, order a certified death certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.1 The first copy costs $252 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $22. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day2.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a New Jersey death certificate costs
  3. How long it takes
  4. Who can order a New Jersey death certificate
  5. ID you need
  6. What the application asks for
  7. Forms
  8. Years held and older records
  9. Special situations
  10. Warnings from the office
  11. The state office
  12. Questions people ask
  13. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek$253 first, $22 each extra copy–Card4
By mail: VitalChek$255 first, $25 each extra copy, plus $63 processing fee
+ one extra charge		–Check and card5
By mail (option 2)$256 first, $26 each extra copy
+ 2 possible extra charges		10 to 12 weeks6Check and money order6
In person$252 first, $22 each extra copySame day2–
At a local officeSee the details below––
By phone$253 first, $22 each extra copy, plus $12.953 processing fee––

Online through VitalChek

Vendor
VitalChek4
Fees
  • First copy $253
  • Each additional copy in the same order $22
Expedited service
Available4
Payment
Card4

Good to know

  • Online orders cannot be picked up at the walk-in center4
  • Genealogical records cannot be ordered online; mail only6
  • Requirements at order time: government-issued license, credit card in your name, scans of all supporting documents4

Go to the ordering site4

By mail: VitalChek

Run by
VitalChek2
Fees
  • First copy $255
  • Each additional copy in the same order $25
  • Processing fee $63
  • U.S. Postal Service Regular Mail $05
Payment
Check and card5
Make payable to
VITALCHEK5
Mail to
New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
1

Good to know

  • Non-genealogical records only via this vendor mail channel2

By mail (option 2)

Run by
New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry6
Fees
  • First copy $256
  • Each additional copy in the same order $26
  • Each extra year searched $16
  • Search fee $256
Processing time
10 to 12 weeks6
Payment
Check and money order6
Make payable to
Treasurer, State of New Jersey6
Mail to
New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
1

Good to know

  • No credit cards by mail; no cash6

In person

Run by
New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry2
Fees
  • First copy $252
  • Each additional copy in the same order $22
Processing time
Same day2
Office
Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, 140 East Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
7
Hours
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, excluding State Holidays; arrivals after 3:30 p.m. may only drop off applications1

Good to know

  • Non-genealogical orders only2
  • Amendments are not processed at the walk-in counter7

At a local office

Run by
Local Registrar of the municipality where the event occurred8
Make payable to
The municipality2

Good to know

  • Local copies cannot receive an apostille8

By phone

Run by
VitalChek2
Fees
  • First copy $253
  • Each additional copy in the same order $22
  • Processing fee $12.953

Good to know

  • Supporting documents must be faxed to 1-888-489-95062

What a New Jersey death certificate costs

First certified copy
$252
Each additional copy, same order
$22
Each extra year searched
$16

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certified copy9Valid to establish identity; legal document9$253
Certification9Not valid for identity or legal purposes; generally only useful for genealogy9$253

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you orderProcessing timeCounted
By mail (option 2)10 to 12 weeks6Before shipping
In personSame day2From receipt

Who can order a New Jersey death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • The person named on the record, a parent named on the record, legal guardian, attorney or legal representative, spouse, child, brother or sister, grandchild, government agency and person named in a court order: if the conditions in the state’s rule are met2
    Proof: Attorney: proof of legal retainer by the eligible individual and their proof of relationship2
  • Executor or estate administrator2
    Proof: Proof of appointment as executor2
  • Ex-spouse: only on behalf of a minor child of the marriage8
  • Someone helping an eligible person: valid ID plus notarized written release and the eligible person's proof of relationship2

Other kinds of copies

  • Informational copy Anyone: Proof of relationship is not required if you are asking for a certification, which is an uncertified informational copy of the vital record not valid for establishing identity or legal purposes.2
Records open to the public after
40 years2
Cause of death
Certifications (non-certified) omit the cause of death medical terminology9
Social Security number on the copy
Certifications of death records omit the SSN9

ID you need

Photo ID
Required2
Accepted ID
  • A current, valid photo driver's license or photo non-driver's license with current address2
Notarization
Not required for ID; a notarized letter is required only to have copies mailed to an address other than the one on your ID2
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID2

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.2

  • Full name on the record
  • City where the event occurred
  • Exact date of the event (month, day and year)
  • Mother's maiden name
  • Father's name (if recorded on the record)

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the office holds
1951 to today11
Older records
New Jersey State Archives (deaths May 1, 1848–December 31, 1950)12

Special situations

If the person has died
Deaths of NJ residents that occurred in another state or country are not on file in NJ8
People in prison
Incarcerated applicants: legal imprisonment, conviction or release papers plus photo work ID from a prison/probation official2

Warnings from the office

  • Missing proof of relationship is the most common reason certified-copy applications are rejected2
  • Vital records are not public and cannot be searched online11
  • Vital records are never faxed8

The state office

Office
New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry1
Phone
877-622-7549 (toll-free; phone orders via VitalChek); status of mailed-in applications 1-866-649-87261
Email
Web contact form on the Contact Us page (not for ordering records)1
Mailing address
New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
1
Walk-in address
Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, 140 East Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
7
Hours
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, excluding State Holidays1

Questions people ask

How much is a certified New Jersey death certificate?

The first copy costs $25 and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $2.2

How long does it take to get a New Jersey death certificate?

By mail: 10 to 12 weeks. In person: same day.62

Can I order a New Jersey death certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.4

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: VITALCHEK.5

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: A current, valid photo driver's license or photo non-driver's license with current address.2

Where are older New Jersey death certificates kept?

New Jersey State Archives (deaths May 1, 1848–December 31, 1950).12

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/contact-usNew Jersey Department of Healthdated July 1, 2022
  2. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/non-genealogical-recordsNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  3. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/feesNew Jersey Department of Healthdated August 13, 2025
  4. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/online-requestsNew Jersey Department of Healthdated July 9, 2021
  5. NEW JERSEY DEATH Applications (PDF)New Jersey Department of Health application form, hosted by contracted vendor VitalChek (linked from nj.gov)dated April 1, 2025
  6. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/order-vital/genealogical-recordsNew Jersey Department of Healthdated August 13, 2025
  7. Reg 27a (PDF)New Jersey Department of Healthdated April 1, 2019
  8. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/contact-us/faqsNew Jersey Department of Healthdated January 3, 2022
  9. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vital/order-vitalNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  10. Reg 28a (PDF)New Jersey Department of Healthdated May 1, 2018
  11. Department of Healthnj.gov/health/vitalNew Jersey Department of Healthdated June 15, 2026
  12. Search genealogical collections.shtmlNew Jersey State Archives