How to Get a New Jersey Death Certificate (2026)

You get a New Jersey death certificate from the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or the local registrar in the town where the death occurred. A certified copy goes to the decedent's spouse, civil union partner, domestic partner, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal representative. The fee is $25 for the first copy.

How Do You Get a Death Certificate in New Jersey?

You get a New Jersey death certificate from the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or from the local registrar in the town or city where the death happened. Both offices can issue certified copies of the same record.

There are four ways to request a copy. You can order online or by phone through VitalChek, the state's authorized vendor, or you can submit a request by mail or in person.

Regular mail requests go to the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Express or overnight mail uses a different address: Attn: Customer Service Unit, 55 N. Willow Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08618.

Walk-in service is at a third location, 140 East Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Do not go to either mailing address in person. Local registrars also accept walk-in requests for deaths recorded in their municipality.

Every request must include a valid photo ID, payment of the fee, and proof of your relationship to the deceased. Copies are mailed only to the address shown on your identification.

Who Is Eligible to Request a New Jersey Death Certificate?

A certified copy of a New Jersey death certificate is restricted to people with a close relationship to the deceased. New Jersey limits certified copies to protect against fraud and identity theft.

Under the state application form, a registrar may issue a certified copy to the decedent's spouse or civil union partner, domestic partner, parent, legal guardian, legal representative, child, grandchild, or sibling, if of legal age. A state or federal agency may also obtain a copy for official purposes, as may anyone acting under a court order.

You must prove that relationship. In-person applicants present original supporting documents, while mail applicants enclose copies of those documents along with a copy of a valid photo ID.

If you do not fall into one of those categories, you can still request a Certification rather than a certified copy. The Certification is explained below.

New Jersey Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time

The New Jersey Department of Health's current fee schedule sets the cost at $25 for the initial search and one certified copy or Certification of the record. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $2.

Mailed applications may be paid by check or money order made payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Cash is not accepted by mail, and credit card payments must be placed through the VitalChek online system.

Processing time depends on the method you choose. In-person walk-in requests are often completed the same visit, frequently within about two hours.

Mail requests generally take about 2 to 4 weeks, not counting delivery time. Online orders through VitalChek typically take 6 to 8 weeks, and VitalChek charges its own service fee on top of the state fee for expedited handling.

Certified vs Informational Copy in New Jersey

New Jersey issues two versions of a death record: a certified copy and a Certification. The version you receive depends on your relationship to the deceased.

A certified copy is the legal document. It carries the raised seal of the issuing office, is printed on State of New Jersey safety paper, and can be used to settle an estate, claim benefits, close accounts, and establish facts.

A Certification is an uncertified informational copy. It shows the recorded information but is clearly marked as not valid for establishing identity or for legal purposes.

You do not need to prove a relationship to receive a Certification, but you still must present valid identification. If you only need the information and not a legal document, the Certification is the option available to non-relatives.

How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies

The easiest way to get extra copies is to request them all at once, because each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is only $2. Estates often need several certified copies to handle banks, insurers, and government agencies.

If you need more copies later, you submit a new request. A later order starts over at the $25 fee for the search and first copy, then $2 for each additional copy in that order.

A replacement for a lost certified copy follows the same process. You reapply with your ID, proof of relationship, and the fee, and the office issues a fresh certified copy.

When you reorder, list the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, and your relationship so the office can match the record quickly.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Fees, eligibility rules, and processing times change, so confirm current details with the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry or the local registrar before you apply.

Sources

This page draws on the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, including its current fee schedule, its contact page, and application form REG-27a; see the citations below.

For more on access rules and the records themselves, see New Jersey Death Records and the Death Records by State hub.