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How to Obtain Copies of Vital Records
Birth, Death, Marriage, Civil Union & Domestic Partnership
Non-Genealogical Records (current events) are:
- All domestic partnerships and civil unions
- Births occurring within the last 80 years
- Deaths occurring within the last 40 years
- Marriages occurring within the last 50 years
Required Materials
Your application will be returned if you do not send in all required documentation. For all orders, the following must be sent with your application:
- All required copies of ID for proof of identity
- Copies of documents proving your relationship to the person named on the record if obtaining a Certified Copy
- The correct fees
- If you have changed your name and are no longer going by your Maiden name, you must present your Marriage Certificate as proof of identity
Step 1: Identify the Non-Genealogical Record
You must be able to fully identify the record by providing all of the information listed on the application form. Your request cannot be accepted unless you provide the following information:
- City where the event occurred
- Exact date of the event (month, day and year)
- Father’s name (if recorded on the record)
- For Marriage, Civil Union or Domestic Partnership - Instead of parents’ names, you must provide the name of the spouse/partner.
- Full name on the record
- Mother’s maiden name
Step 2: Provide Acceptable Identification
You must provide acceptable identification (ID) in order to get a copy of any vital record. Copies of vital records must be mailed to the address listed on your identification.
The following are acceptable forms of ID:
- A current, valid driver’s license without photo and one alternate form of ID with current address
- A current, valid photo driver's license or photo non-driver's license with current address
- Two alternate forms of ID, one of which must have current address.
Alternate forms of ID are:
- Bank Statement (within previous 90 days)
- County ID
- Federal/State ID
- Immigrant Visa
- Permanent Resident Card (Green card)
- School ID
- Tax Return or W-2 for current/previous tax year
- U.S./Foreign Passport
- Utility bill (within the previous 90 days)
- Vehicle insurance card
- Vehicle registration
- Voter registration
ID for Homeless Persons
People who are homeless can have a social worker or the coordinator of the homeless shelter where they are temporarily residing submit a request on behalf of the homeless person. The request must be on their agency letterhead and provide the identifying information on the homeless person's vital record. The request must be accompanied by proof of employment by the agency and valid identification. The resulting copy of the vital record will be mailed to the agency.
Persons Who Are Incarcerated
People who are incarcerated can provide legal imprisonment, conviction papers or release documents that include the name, social security number and all possible aliases used in the past or identification from a prison/probation official.
Please do not send in original ID documents. Only copies are required.
Step 3: Payment of Fees
The Office of Vital Statistics charges:
- $15 for each Certified Copy:
- Birth
- Civil Union
- Death
- Domestic Partnership
- Marriage
- Applications mailed in may be paid by check or money order made payable to: City of Elizabeth
- Please do not send cash through the mail.
- We cannot accept credit card payment by mail
Step 4: Proof of Relationship
Only required if ordering a certified copy of a vital record. Failure to provide proof of relationship is the number one reason certified copy applications must be rejected. View the How to Prove a Relationship tips for information on how to improve your relationship. This is a key requirement to getting a certified copy of a vital record.
To get a certified copy of a person’s vital record, you must provide proof of your relationship to the person listed on the record and the proof must establish you are one of the following:
- Pursuant to court order
- A state or federal agency for official purposes
- The subject of the record
- The subject’s parent, legal guardian or legal representative
- The subject’s spouse/civil union partner; child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
Step 5: Submitting Your Completed Application & Supporting Documents
Regardless of the where you place your order you will have to send with your application:
- All required copies of ID establishing your identity
- Copies of documents proving your relationship to the person named on the record, if you are ordering a certified copy
- The correct fee
Submit Application
Your application will be returned if you do not send in all required information. Submit your request and supporting documentation via one of the following order methods.
Same Day Walk-in Service
Non-Genealogical Orders only. Processing time is approximately 15 minutes. Cash or money orders is an accepted form of payment.
Processed through Elizabeth Office of Vital Statistics
50 Winfield Scott Plaza
Room G12
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Regular Requests
Mail Orders only. Mail requests are typically processed within 1 to 2 weeks. Cash or money orders is an accepted form of payment.
Processed through Elizabeth Office of Vital Statistics
50 Winfield Scott Plaza
Room G12
Elizabeth, NJ 07201