Clifton Birth Record Lookup
Clifton birth records are managed by the City Clerk and the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics. Clifton is a city of about 90,000 people in Passaic County, making it one of the larger cities in northern New Jersey. The city clerk acts as the local registrar and keeps records of births that take place within Clifton. You can request a certified copy of a Clifton birth certificate at the clerk office or through the state. Both sources provide the same official document, so you can choose the option that works best for your needs.
Clifton Quick Facts
Clifton City Clerk Birth Records
The Clifton City Clerk handles vital records for the city. The clerk registers all births, deaths, and marriages that occur in Clifton. You can call the clerk office at 973-470-5800 to ask about hours and what to bring.
When you go in person, bring a valid photo ID such as a state driver's license or US passport. You will need to fill out a form with the name at birth, date of birth, and parent names. The clerk will check the records and issue a certified copy if you are eligible. A Clifton birth certificate costs $25 for the first copy. Each extra copy of the same record is $2 when ordered at the same time.
The local option is often faster than going through the state. Many Clifton residents pick up their birth certificates within the same visit. The clerk office is inside the Clifton City Hall and is open on regular business days.
Note: The Clifton registrar only has records for births that took place within the city boundaries.
State Options for Clifton Birth Certificates
The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics is another way to get a Clifton birth certificate. The state office in Trenton holds copies of all New Jersey birth records from 1925 to today. You have several choices for ordering.
Walk-in service is available at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. This is the only spot in New Jersey where you get a birth certificate the same day. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Clifton is in the northern part of the state, so the drive to Trenton takes about an hour depending on traffic. If you need it fast and cannot wait for mail, this is your best bet.
You can also mail your request. Fill out Form REG-27A and send it with a check for $25 made out to "Treasurer, State of NJ" to the Office of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Mail orders for Clifton birth records take 8 to 12 weeks. Phone orders go through VitalChek at 877-622-7549, and online ordering is open 24 hours a day.
Clifton Birth Record Eligibility Rules
New Jersey treats birth records as closed documents. The law under Title 26 of the state statutes sets strict limits on who can get a copy. This applies to all Clifton birth records and records across the state.
Eligible people include:
- The person on the birth certificate
- A parent or legal guardian
- A legal agent with written permission from an eligible person
- An attorney acting on behalf of the subject
- Anyone with a court order
You must show proof of who you are and how you are tied to the person on the record. A valid government photo ID is required. If you are a legal agent, bring the signed letter of authorization along with your own ID. The vital statistics FAQ page explains what forms of ID are accepted for Clifton birth record requests and other common questions.
Clifton and Passaic County Registrars
Clifton is one of 16 municipalities in Passaic County. The Passaic County registrar list shows every local office in the county. Each town only keeps records for births that happened there. The county seat is Paterson, which is the third largest city in New Jersey. Other Passaic County towns with registrars include Wayne, Hawthorne, Little Falls, and West Milford.
The City of Clifton website provides information about city services including the clerk office that manages birth records.
Check the clerk page on the Clifton website for current hours and directions to help plan your visit.
If you are not sure where a birth took place, think about where the hospital was. The birth goes on file in the town where the hospital sits. A Clifton resident who gave birth at a Paterson hospital would need to contact Paterson for that record. The hospital location, not the home address, is what matters.
Note: The Passaic County Clerk in Paterson handles land records and elections but does not issue birth certificates for Clifton or any other town.
Old Clifton Birth Records
For birth records before 1925, the New Jersey State Archives is the place to look. The archives hold records through 1924 for all of New Jersey, including Clifton and other Passaic County towns. The archives are at 225 West State Street, Level 2, Trenton, and visits require an appointment.
Clifton was incorporated as a city in 1917, carved out from the former Acquackanonk Township. Birth records from before that time may be filed under the old township name. If you are doing genealogy research in Clifton, it helps to know this history. The archives staff can guide you to the right records even if the town name changed over the years.
The CDC vital records directory for New Jersey lists the state office and archives as the two main sources. The state toll-free number at 1-866-649-8726 can help if you have questions about finding a Clifton birth record from any era.
Passaic County Birth Records
Passaic County has 16 municipalities and about 500,000 residents. Clifton is the second largest city in the county after Paterson. Each municipality keeps its own birth records through a local registrar. The Passaic County Clerk at 401 Grand Street in Paterson handles land records and election services but does not issue birth certificates. For a birth record from anywhere in Passaic County, contact the town where the birth took place or the state office in Trenton.