Frequently Asked Questions
From the municipality where the birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership or civil union occurred or from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration. 
$28.00 – To be paid at the time of application. Local copies are valid for all purposes except for the following two instances:
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 Acceptable Forms of Identification. 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. 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. 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; he or she must meet the requirements of Executive Order 18. 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. How do I obtain a record with an Apostille Seal? You must purchase a copy of your vital record from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration and indicate on your application that it is needed for Apostils Seal. You will receive a certified copy, which contains the original signature of the State Registrar or Assistant State Registrar. You must forward this certificate to the Department of Treasury requesting an Apostille Seal. Requirements can be found at the following link:http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/revenue/dcr/programs/apostilles.htm
No. Vital records require the raised seal of the local office of vital records or the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration seal to be valid. It is the policy of the State Registrar that records are not faxed for any reason. To find needed information, you may wish to check census records, newspaper archives at the local library, the federal social security death index or hire an investigator. No. If the event took place in the City of Millville same day service is offered in person at the City of Millville Registrar’s Office or at the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration Counter Services in Trenton. The City of Millville Registrar’s Office may process correction requests for vital record events that occurred within the City of Millville. In some cases, these corrections must be authorized by the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration before issuing corrected certified copies of the record. Please contact the City of Millville Registrar’s Office for further information at (856) 825-7000 Ext 7604. The City of Millville Registrar’s Office will require you to provide documentary proof of the correct information. These requests are approved on a case-by-case basis, according to statute. 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 State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration 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. Yes. The record must contain the raised seal of the City of Millville. 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. No, you must contact the state or country in which the death occurred. Request a long form copy of the death certificate, which will have the burial location. Then you can contact that entity for more information. No. You are not eligible to receive a certified copy. However, you can have the life insurance company request it directly from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration. The request must be made on their agency letterhead and list the name and social security number of the deceased. They must also provide Acceptable Forms of Identification and the appropriate Fees. No. You are not eligible to receive a certified copy. However, you can have the title company or the stock/bond holder request it directly from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration. The request must be made on their agency letterhead and list the name and social security number of the deceased. They must also provide Acceptable Forms of Identification and the appropriate fees. Yes. Your domestic partnership is still valid as it was entered into under the law in place at the time. However, you continue to have only the rights afforded to domestic partners and not the full rights of married couples as are given to civil union couples. No. There is no basis to recognize the assumption of the partner’s last name. A legal name change must be filed with the courts and the original copy presented to the State Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration. Yes. As of February 19, 2007, domestic partnerships can only be established by couples 62 years of age or older, regardless of whether they are a same-sex or opposite-sex couple. No. Domestic partners who wish to enter into a civil union with the same person do not need to terminate their domestic partnership. Once they have entered into the civil union, their domestic partnership will automatically terminate if it was registered in New Jersey. If it was registered outside New Jersey, the laws of that state would determine the validity of the domestic partnership following the civil union. Yes. If the domestic partnership with a different partner was not legally terminated, or was not terminated by the death of the previous partner, you must terminate the domestic partnership before entering into a civil union with someone else. The application must be filed in the New Jersey municipality in which either applicant resides. If neither applicant is a New Jersey resident, the application must be filed in the municipality where the ceremony will occur. No. You must contact the city, state or country in which the marriage or civil union occurred. If your civil union meets the requirements of the state in which you registered, then it is recognized by the State of New Jersey. Yes. There is a 72-hour waiting period before the license can be issued. The waiting period begins once the application has been filed by one or both applicants. A Superior Court judge can waive all or part of the 72-hour waiting period. No. You are not required to enter into a civil union in New Jersey. If your civil union or same-sex marriage meets the requirements of the state or country in which you registered, then it is recognized by the State of New Jersey. However, if you wish, you may also elect to enter into a civil union in New Jersey. In that case, you would file for a Reaffirmation of Civil Union License in New Jersey. No. For a Remarriage or Reaffirmation of Civil Union License, there is no waiting period, The license can be issued immediately after the complete application has been filed. Judges of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third District, federal court judges, the county clerk, any mayor or the deputy mayor when authorized by the mayor, and ministers of every religion may marry individuals legally permitted to marry. Yes. It is recommended you check the Internet website for the particular Internet ministry to verify that their ministers are authorized to perform civil union ceremonies. Public officials who are authorized to perform marriages are authorized to perform civil unions. Public officials may choose whether or not to exercise this authority. However, if a public official agrees to perform marriages, he or she must agree to perform civil unions. If an official elects not to perform civil unions, he or she cannot perform marriages either. No. Members of the clergy are not covered by the Law Against Discrimination and have the right to decline to perform civil unions. Yes. The Registrar is required by law to accept for filing the vital records established by the laws of New Jersey. Yes. However, please note that the federal government does not recognize civil unions. You may choose to consult an attorney to legally establish a name change. Yes. You can create or edit vows. In your vows, you may refer to each other using any terms you prefer, including wife, spouse, lover, or life mate, and you may refer to the ceremony as a marriage. However, when the ceremony is completed, you are legally entered into a civil union and considered a civil union couple. |
