Union Township Birth Records
Union Township birth records are kept by the township clerk and the New Jersey state vital records office. Union Township is part of Union County and has about 60,000 residents. The township clerk acts as the local registrar for birth events that happened in Union. You can also get copies from the state in Trenton. This page lays out where to go, what forms to use, and how to pay for Union Township birth records.
Union Township Quick Facts
Where to Get Union Township Birth Certificates
The Union Township clerk is the local registrar. This office holds birth records for births that took place in the township. Call the Union Township clerk at 908-851-8500 to check hours and ask about walk-in service. This local option is often faster than going through the state.
The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics also has Union Township birth records. The state holds copies of all records from 1925 to the present. Walk-in service is at 140 E. Front Street in Trenton, with same-day copies. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370 and take 8 to 12 weeks.
Phone and online orders use VitalChek. Call 877-622-7549 any time. There is an added fee, but you can use a credit card.
The image below shows the Union County government website, which provides links to county services and can help you find the right office for vital records.
The Union County website provides contact details for county offices and links to municipal services across all 21 Union County towns.
How to Request Union Birth Records
Start by choosing a method. In person gets you the record fastest. Visit the Union Township clerk or the state walk-in center in Trenton. You will need a valid photo ID. Under Title 26 of the New Jersey Statutes, only eligible people can get certified copies. This means the person named on the record, a parent, legal guardian, legal representative, or someone with a court order.
To order by mail, fill out Form REG-27A. Send the form with a check or money order for $25 made out to "Treasurer, State of NJ." Each extra copy costs $2. Include a photocopy of your ID. The form requires the full name at birth, date of birth, city of birth, and parent names.
If you have missing details, the state may still locate the record. Call the toll-free line at 1-866-649-8726 to get help with Union Township birth records.
Union Township Birth Certificate Costs
The fee is $25 for one certified copy. Extra copies of the same record are $2 each when ordered together. These rates are the same at the Union Township clerk and the state office.
Cash works for in-person visits. Mail orders need a check or money order. VitalChek takes credit cards but adds a processing fee on top of the $25 base.
Note: Union Township birth records are not public under New Jersey law and cannot be searched through any online government database.
Union County Registrars
Union County has 21 municipalities. Each one has its own registrar. The Union County registrar list on the state website has contact info for every town. If a birth took place in Union Township, the Union Township registrar has that record. A birth in nearby Elizabeth, Linden, or Plainfield would be at that town's registrar instead.
Union County has about 575,000 residents. The county seat is Elizabeth. New Jersey uses a local system for vital records. Each town is in charge of recording its own events. The state office in Trenton has copies of all Union Township birth records from 1925 forward, making it a useful backup source.
Below is a screenshot from the state registrar search tool, which can help you find the right office for any Union County birth record request.
This state tool lets you search by county and town to find the registrar's address and phone number for Union Township and all other towns in Union County.
Historical Union Township Birth Records
For birth records before 1925, visit the New Jersey State Archives. The Archives is at 225 West State Street, Level 2, in Trenton. All visits require an appointment. Call 609-292-6260 to schedule.
The Archives holds birth records through 1924 for all of Union County, including Union Township. These records date back to the mid-1800s and are a key source for genealogy research. The Archives also keeps land records, court documents, and other historical files from across the state. If you need a Union Township birth record from before 1925, this is the place.
For records from 1925 on, the state office or the Union Township clerk can help. The CDC directory for New Jersey lists where to write for any vital record in the state.
Note: Older records at the State Archives may use different formats and may not look like a modern birth certificate.
Who Can Get Union Township Birth Certificates
New Jersey is a closed-record state. Birth records are not open to the public. Only these people can request a certified copy:
- The person named on the birth certificate
- A parent or legal guardian of that person
- A legal representative with proper documents
- Someone who has a court order
You must prove your identity every time. Bring a government-issued photo ID such as a license or passport. Without a photo ID, two other forms may be accepted if at least one shows your current address. The vital records FAQ page has the full list of accepted ID types.
Adoptees born in Union Township may have special options for getting their original birth certificate. The rules vary by adoption date. Visit the adoptees information page for details on how to apply for Union Township birth records as an adoptee.
Union County Birth Records
Union Township is one of 21 municipalities in Union County. The county seat is Elizabeth. For more on birth records in Union County, including nearby cities like Elizabeth, Linden, and Plainfield, visit the county page.