The New Jersey birth certificate application form, the REG-27, is a free PDF you can download from the Department of Health’s forms page at nj.gov, print, complete by hand, and mail to the Office of Vital Statistics in Trenton with copies of your ID and a $25 check.1New Jersey Department of Health. Forms for Ordering a Vital Record If mailing a paper form is not what you want, you can order the same certified copy online or by phone through VitalChek, or walk into the Trenton office or the local registrar in the municipality where the birth occurred. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $2 each.2New Jersey Department of Health. Fees at a Glance
Who Is Allowed to Request the Record
Before you fill anything out, check that you qualify. Under N.J.A.C. 8:2-2.1, a certified copy of a New Jersey birth certificate can be issued only to:3Legal Information Institute. New Jersey Administrative Code 8:2-2.1 – Certified Copies
- The person named on the record
- A parent of that person
- A legal guardian or legal representative with documentation of authority
- A child, grandchild, or sibling of the person named, if of legal age
- A state or federal agency requesting the record for official purposes
- Anyone with a court order directing release
Spouses and domestic partners are not on that list, even though New Jersey lets them request certain other vital records. If you do not fit any category, your remaining option is a court order or a request based on emergent circumstances, which the Commissioner evaluates case by case.3Legal Information Institute. New Jersey Administrative Code 8:2-2.1 – Certified Copies
Anyone other than the person named on the record needs proof of the relationship. A parent might present their own ID plus a document linking them to the child. A sibling could submit their own birth certificate showing shared parentage. Legal representatives need a power of attorney, court appointment, or similar paperwork.
What the REG-27 Asks For
The form’s official title is “Application for a Non-Genealogical Certification or Certified Copy of a Vital Record.” Download the PDF from the Department of Health’s forms page and print it.1New Jersey Department of Health. Forms for Ordering a Vital Record It asks for:4New Jersey Department of Health. Application for a Non-Genealogical Certification or Certified Copy of a Vital Record
- The full name at birth, exactly as registered
- The date of birth (month, day, year)
- The place of birth (city or town and county in New Jersey)
- Both parents’ full names as they appeared on the original record, including names given at birth or maiden names
The Office of Vital Statistics searches its database using these fields. Missing or mismatched entries cause delays or outright rejections. If you are not certain about a spelling, put down your best information rather than leaving the field blank.
Identification You Must Include
You have to verify your own identity, not just the record subject’s. The cleanest path is a valid photo driver’s license or a photo non-driver ID showing your current address.5New Jersey Department of Health. Acceptable Forms of Identification
Without a photo ID, you can send a non-photo driver’s license plus one alternate ID showing your current address. With no driver’s license at all, you need two alternates, and at least one must show your current address. Acceptable alternates include a passport, permanent resident card, voter registration card, vehicle registration or insurance card, federal or state or school ID, a utility bill or bank statement dated within the past 90 days, or a W-2 or tax return from the current or previous year.
For a mailed application, send photocopies. For a walk-in, bring originals.5New Jersey Department of Health. Acceptable Forms of Identification
How to Submit
By Mail
Complete the REG-27, attach copies of your ID, and enclose a check or money order payable to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Do not send cash. Mail everything to:
Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
New Jersey Department of Health
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-03706Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – New Jersey
Standard processing runs about six to eight weeks, and longer during busy periods.7New Jersey Department of Health. Online Requests If you have a hard deadline, like a passport, build in that cushion.
Online or by Phone Through VitalChek
New Jersey contracts with VitalChek for online and phone orders, available 24/7 through the VitalChek website or by calling 877-622-7549.8New Jersey Department of Health. About Vital Statistics and Registry The state fee is the same, but VitalChek adds its own processing charge, and expedited shipping is extra.2New Jersey Department of Health. Fees at a Glance You can pay by credit or debit card, which is the main draw. Standard processing is still six to eight weeks unless you pay for expedited service.7New Jersey Department of Health. Online Requests
Walk-In at Trenton
The Office of Vital Statistics and Registry at 140 East Front Street, Trenton, offers same-day service Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state holidays.9New Jersey Department of Health. Contact Us Arrive by 3:30 p.m. if you want to leave with the certificate; later arrivals are accepted, but the certificate goes out by mail the next business day.10New Jersey Department of Health. Same Day Walk-In Service
Local Registrar in the Municipality of Birth
The local registrar in the city or town where the birth took place can usually issue a certified copy the same day, which is often the quickest option.10New Jersey Department of Health. Same Day Walk-In Service Jersey City is an exception and does not currently issue birth certificates at its local office. Call before you go to confirm hours. One important limit: if you need an apostille for international use, the certified copy must come from the state office, not a local registrar.
Fees
The state fees are identical across mail, online, and in-person channels at state offices:2New Jersey Department of Health. Fees at a Glance
- First certified copy: $25 (includes the database search)
- Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time: $2
VitalChek orders add a processing fee plus shipping on top of the $25, so the online route generally costs noticeably more than mailing a check.
Genealogical Records Use a Different Form
The REG-27 is the wrong form if you are researching an ancestor. A New Jersey birth record is treated as genealogical only when the person is deceased and the birth occurred more than 80 years ago.11New Jersey Department of Health. Getting Copies of Genealogical Records Those requests use a separate form on the same Department of Health forms page and have looser eligibility rules.1New Jersey Department of Health. Forms for Ordering a Vital Record If the person is living, or the birth is under 80 years old, it is a non-genealogical request and the REG-27 and the eligibility rules above apply.
Fixing an Error on the Certificate
If the copy you receive contains a mistake, New Jersey has a correction process, and what you need to provide depends on what needs to change.12New Jersey Department of Health. Correcting a Vital Record
To correct a first or middle name on or after the child’s seventh birthday, you must submit documentary proof that was created before the child turned seven. Acceptable proof includes a baptism certificate, elementary school enrollment records, immunization or medical records showing the child’s full name and date of birth, or state and federal census records. Submitting evidence does not guarantee approval. If the Office of Vital Statistics finds the proof insufficient, it may direct you to petition a court for a legal name change instead.12New Jersey Department of Health. Correcting a Vital Record
Amendments involving paternity or parental information call for different documents, such as a Certificate of Parentage, a court-issued paternity order, or a certified copy of a marriage record. Divorce-related changes may require the divorce complaint and the final judgment.