How to Obtain a Death Certificate in New Jersey

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If you have a loved one that passed away in New Jersey, you may need to obtain a copy of his death certificate. You may need it to apply for Social Security for underage children or to receive life insurance benefits, or maybe you just want to have a copy for personal reasons. Obtaining a copy of your loved one's death certificate is not hard, but you will need the proper forms.

Step 1

Print out the application for a certification or a certified copy of a vital record (see Resources). If you are an immediate family member, you can request a certified copy. If you are not an immediate family member, you can only obtain a certification.

Step 2

Fill out the application completely. You need to make sure you used the deceased individual's exact name, place where the death occurred and the date the death occurred.

Step 3

Make a photocopy of your proof of identity, which can be your driver's license or passport. Then make a copy of proof of your relationship to the deceased individual. Place these copies in an envelope along with the application.

Step 4

Add a check or money order for the $25 filing fee to the envelope. Make sure you do not send cash.

Step 5

Address and send your envelope to the following address.

New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services State Registrar Search Unit PO. Box 370 Trenton, NJ 08625-0370