This updated JRG post on accessing vital records in New Jersey is built upon the 2018, 2015, and original published in 2013:
First, I want to share that it’s hard to believe I first wrote about this topic in 2013. Where have the eleven years gone? Genealogists with roots in New Jersey know the path to finding vital records (birth/marriage/death) for their ancestors isn’t a straight line. Mainly due to the lack of online information on how to access the records and available indexes.
Folks, we are unlike the rest of the country west of us… the county ain’t where it’s at! Our history centered in the Mid-Atlantic region is built upon the influence from our New England neighbors and English roots. Vital records are a local thing.
When the March 3, 1848 “An ACT relating to the registry and returns of births, marriages, and deaths, in the state of New Jersey” was enacted, the responsibility of registration was given to the local town clerks. They were charged with submitting an annual return of births, marriages and deaths for their municipality. And yes, I am aware that compliance with the new law took some time, but fellow genealogists take heart in knowing that we have over 175 years of vital registration records. Not the tenure of our New England friends, but much longer than any of our Mid-Atlantic siblings.
So what’s the news for today… 2024.
In the past decade, we have seen dramatic increase in public access to indexes happen through the efforts of the New Jersey State Archives searchable databases and Reclaim the Records obtaining and digitized the wide variety of indexes for births, marriages and deaths. Definitely, an amazing boon of resources for genealogists!
Let’s jump into what is where and how to access vital records… First, it is important to note, full plain copies can be made in-person at the NJ State Archives (NJSA) for $0.50/page from the on-site microfilm holdings or you can take all the digital photos you want for FREE. The staff at the NJSA is great! They are friendly, helpful and go above-and-beyond to assist researchers.
For In-Person Searches at the NJ State Archives:
- Birth (registers & certificates): 1848 – 1923
- Birth (Delayed Filing): for those born pre-1923; affidavit of birth filed mainly in the 1930s-1940s (certificate have been indexed and the database can be used with the assistance of a NJSA staff member)
- Death (registers & certificates): 1848 – 1963
- Marriages (registers & certificates): 1848 – 1949
- Marriages (County Clerk’s Register of Minister Returns): formation of county through mid-1870s [Beginning in 1795, the County Clerk’s Office was empowered to be responsible for keeping a record of marriages within their jurisdiction. The main collections cover 1795 through 1848 with some counties extending through the early 1880s. This overlap period creates the potential for duplicate records being filed.]
- Non-Resident Marriage License Applications: A unique collection available at NJSA for select counties, coverage ca1897-1910 for Burlington, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Somerset, and Sussex counties. Other counties available on FamilySearch: Morris and Ocean.
NJSA: Online Order or Request by Mail
- Birth (registers & certificates): 1848 – 1923
- Death (registers & certificates): 1848 – 1940
- Marriages (registers & certificates): 1848 – 1940
NJSA Mail Request Instructions | NJ Online Order
NJSA Vital Records Online Databases:
Reclaim The Records: New Jersey
FamilySearch: New Jersey Databases:
- New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980
- New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980
- New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985
- New Jersey, Marriages, 1670-1980
- New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956
- New Jersey Deaths and Burials, 1720-1988
- New Jersey, Deaths, 1670-1988
Ancestry ($) Databases:
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New Jersey Department of Health | Municipal Health Departments
Now, you’re probably wondering what about those gap years where the records are not accessible at NJSA but open without restriction for genealogy requests. These are handled by the NJ Dept of Health (NJDOH). The office handles both CERTIFIED (can be used for ID purposes) or Vital Registration (VR) CERTIFICATIONS (not for IDs; genealogy requests). NOTE: For NJDOH requests, please note the genealogy access information section at the bottom.
If you cannot visit NJSA in Trenton or hire a local researcher, you can order genealogy copies directly from the NJDOH for:
- Birth (certificates): 1923 – 1943 (80-year restriction for genealogical non-cert copy)
- Marriages (certificates): 1941 – 1973 (50-year restriction for genealogical non-cert copy)
- Death (certificates): 1923 – 1983 (40-year restriction; SSN & cause of death is obscured for genealogical non-cert copy)
Access for Genealogy Purposes from NJDOH: You must provide a form of ID with your genealogical non-certified request, but stating relationship is not required. You only need to prove relationship for CERTIFIED, raised seal copies, *not* the VR CERTIFICATIONS that are issued for genealogy requests.
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I hope I have given you a clear outline of the What, How, Where for New Jersey’s vital records. Check out my other posts on vital records and other NJ records like New Jersey Birth Certificates, 1878-1923/1942/1948/Current and many more.
Happy Searching!
Michelle
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