Camden City Birth Records
Camden birth records are on file with the City Clerk and the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics. Camden is the county seat of Camden County and has a population of about 75,000. The city sits along the Delaware River across from Philadelphia and has deep roots in New Jersey history. The City Clerk serves as the local registrar and records all births that occur within Camden city limits. You can also get Camden birth certificates through the state office in Trenton, which keeps records going back to 1925 for every municipality in the state.
Camden Quick Facts
Camden City Clerk Birth Certificate Requests
The Camden City Clerk is the local registrar for vital records in the city. The clerk office registers births, deaths, and marriages that take place in Camden. Call 856-757-7404 to confirm hours and ask what you need to bring. Walk-in visits are the quickest way to get a Camden birth record from the local office.
You need a valid photo ID to request a birth certificate. A New Jersey driver's license, US passport, or other government-issued ID with your photo works. You must give the full name at birth, date of birth, and the names of both parents. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a Camden birth record. Added copies of the same record are $2 each when ordered at the same time.
Camden is the county seat, but the city clerk only keeps records for births within the city itself. The county government does not issue birth certificates. If the birth took place in Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, or any other Camden County town, you need to contact that town's registrar.
State Office for Camden Birth Records
The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics keeps copies of all birth records from 1925 forward. Camden residents can order from the state by mail, phone, online, or in person at the Trenton walk-in center.
The walk-in center is at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. This is the only place in New Jersey that offers same-day birth certificate service. Camden is about 35 miles from Trenton, so the drive takes around 45 minutes. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring Form REG-27A, a photo ID, and $25 in cash.
The Camden County government website provides helpful context about county services and local offices.
Visit camdencounty.com for information about county services, though birth certificates must be obtained through the city clerk or the state office, not the county.
For mail orders, send your form and a check for $25 to the Office of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Make checks payable to "Treasurer, State of NJ." Mail orders take 8 to 12 weeks. You can speed things up by using VitalChek at 877-622-7549 for phone or online orders.
Who Can Request Camden Birth Records
New Jersey is a closed record state. Birth certificates are not open to the public. The rules under Title 26 of the state statutes limit who can get a certified copy of a Camden birth record.
You can request a Camden birth certificate if you meet one of these requirements:
- You are the person named on the record
- You are a parent listed on the certificate
- You are a legal guardian
- You are a legal representative with proper authorization
- You have a court order granting access
Each person must present a government-issued photo ID. The vital records FAQ page covers accepted forms of identification and answers other common questions about getting birth records in Camden and the rest of New Jersey.
Note: Adoptees born in Camden should visit the adoptee information page to learn about rules for obtaining original birth certificates based on adoption date.
Camden Birth Records and Local Registrars
The state registrar database shows every local registrar in Camden County. You can look up the right office using the Camden County registrar list on the Department of Health website.
Below is the state registrar search page for Camden County, which lists contact details for all municipal registrars.
The registrar list at the state website is the best way to find the correct office for birth records in any Camden County municipality.
Camden County has 37 towns. Some of the larger ones include Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Pennsauken, Voorhees, and Winslow. Each town records births independently. The system is spread out by design. A birth at a Camden hospital stays on file with Camden. A birth at a Cherry Hill hospital stays on file with Cherry Hill. Knowing where the hospital was located helps you find the right office fast.
Historical Camden Birth Records
The New Jersey State Archives holds birth records through 1924. Camden has a rich history dating to the colonial period. The archives are at 225 West State Street, Level 2, Trenton. Visits are by appointment only. Researchers tracing family ties to Camden will find vital records, land deeds, and court papers in the collection.
The City of Camden website has details about city offices and services, including the clerk department.
Check the Camden clerk page for the latest office hours and contact information for birth record requests.
For modern records from 1925 forward, the state vital statistics office and the Camden city clerk are both valid sources. The state toll-free line at 1-866-649-8726 handles questions about Camden birth records and can check on the status of pending requests. The CDC vital records guide for New Jersey is another good reference for people living out of state who need a Camden birth certificate.
Note: Camden birth records from 1925 to the present are available from both the local registrar and the state office in Trenton.
Camden County Birth Records
Camden County is home to 37 municipalities and roughly 510,000 residents. Camden City is the county seat and one of the oldest cities in southern New Jersey. Each municipality in the county has its own registrar who files birth records for events in that town. The Camden County Clerk at 520 Market Street handles land records and elections but does not issue birth certificates. For any Camden County birth record, contact the municipality where the birth occurred or the state office in Trenton.