New Jersey Public Records

The state of New Jersey boasts a long and illustrious history, first inhabited in the 17^th century by Dutch and English immigrants and playing a key role as one of the 13 Original Colonies during the Revolutionary War.  With centuries of history and many notable Americans calling this state home, New Jersey public records provide tremendous insight for researchers.  The key to finding public records in New Jersey is knowing where to look. These documents may be stored at various government offices, depending on the sort of records you are looking for and the year in which the event took place. By learning where to find birth, death, marriage and divorce records in New Jersey, you can successfully find a wealth of information on the people who lived and died in this state. Researchers looking for archival information will also find abundant resources through departments within the New Jersey state government offices.

When launching a New Jersey public records search, keep these tips in mind:

Who can Conduct a New Jersey Public Records Search?

While New Jersey free public records can be accessed by any member of the general public, access to certified copies of some documents is restricted for the protection of New Jersey residents who are on those documents. Certified copies of New Jersey birth records can be used as official identification, and certified copies of death records include personal medical information like the cause of death.

For this reason, certified copies of these vital records in New Jersey can only be obtained by the subject on the record, a parent or legal guardian of the subject, a spouse, child, grandchild or sibling of the subject, or a legal representative of any of these parties. Copies can also be obtained by court order or by a bank or insurance company that requires the document to conduct official business on behalf of the subject (usually in the case of death certificates).

New Jersey Public Records Locations

The New Jersey Department of Health is an effective place to begin a public records search in New Jersey.  This agency holds many of the birth, death, marriage and divorce records for the state. Specifically, the department has birth, marriage and death records that date back to 1901, domestic partnership records to 2004 and civil unions to 2007. The Department of Health offers both certified copies and certifications of these New Jersey vital records, with certified copies falling under the restrictions listed above. Individuals that require an Apostille Seal (official seal required for presenting documents to foreign governments) will need to contact the New Jersey Department of Treasury for this additional step.

The New Jersey Department of Health breaks its public records into two categories: genealogical and non-genealogical records. Genealogical records are those dating back more than 80 years, while non-genealogical records date from 80 years past to the present. Additional genealogical records can be found at the New Jersey Department of State, including marriage and death records dating back to the 19^th century, military records and census records. Even some records relating to slaves and colonial deeds can be located through this government office.

New Jersey Public Records Online

To make an online New Jersey public records search as fast and easy as possible, some of the records are now available online. The New Jersey Department of Health does not offer online access to documents directly, but does partner with VitalChek to provide online services to interested parties. There is an additional fee for using the VitalChek service, as well as the fee to obtain copies of documents. However, searches can be performed quickly and privately, right from the comfort of home.