Adoptions

On May 27, 2014, a new law took effect that will allow adoptees and certain relatives to request and obtain the names of their biological parents beginning January 1, 2017.  Read More

The deadline has passed for birth parents to request the New Jersey Department of Health redact personal identifying information from an adoptee's original birth certificate. 

Birth parents may still choose to indicate that they wish no contact with the adoptee. To do this, birth parents w must complete the Contact Prefernce Form and Medical/Family History Form. You can obtain a copies of these forms by clicking HERE

In addition, the New Jersey Department of Health has provided a list of counseling resources to be shared with birth parents and adult adoptees who may need to speak with a professional regarding the changes to New Jersey’s adoption law.

Counseling Services

• NJ Mental Health Cares: www.njmentalhealthcares.org/
  They can be contacted Mon – Fri from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at 866-202-4357

• NJ Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJ ARCH):   www.njarch.org
  They can be contacted during regular business hours at 1-877-4ARCHNJ (1-877-427-2465)

• Dealing with a difficult situation and need someone to talk to? There are specialists available for free and confidential telephone counseling and support 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Please call to speak with a live person at: 1-855-654-6735

Forms for Birth Parents

             Contact Preference Form
             http://nj.gov/health/forms/reg-36a.pdf
 
             Medical/Family History Form
             http://nj.gov/health/forms/reg-36b.pdf
 
Forms can also be obtained by calling the Department of Health/Office of Vital Statistics at 866-649-8726, ext. 582 or the New Jersey Catholic Conference Helpline 609-989-4809.

Completed forms must be mailed to:
 
New Jersey Department of Health
Vital Statistics and Registry
PO Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
  
In addition, birth parents have the option to complete and submit these forms online at https://adoptionrecords.nj.gov/arms/a/index.html

Beginning January 2017, authorized individuals may obtain an uncertified copy of an adoptee’s original birth certificate without obtaining a Superior Court Order. The application and instructions below are to be used to make that request. Applications and payment can be submitted prior to January 2017, however, no records will be released until the law’s effective date of January 2017.

Application for an Uncertified Copy of an Adopted Person's Original Birth Record
https://healthapps.state.nj.us/forms/index.aspx#reg-41 

NJCC Statement on the Change in New Jersey’s Adoption Laws
 
Contact Preference Form - http://nj.gov/health/forms/reg-36a.pdf
 
Medical/Family History Form - http://nj.gov/health/forms/reg-36b.pdf