Hunterdon County Birth Records

Hunterdon County is a rural county in western New Jersey with about 130,000 residents. The county seat is Flemington, a small borough with a population near 5,000. Hunterdon has 26 municipalities, the most of any county on this site. Each one has a local registrar who keeps birth records for that area. If you need a certified birth certificate from Hunterdon County, you can go through the local town registrar or the state office in Trenton. This guide walks through each option and gives you the details you need to place a request.

Birth Records in Hunterdon County

New Jersey uses a split system for vital records. Births in Hunterdon County are first filed with the local registrar in the town where the birth took place. A copy goes to the State Office of Vital Statistics in Trenton. You can get a certified birth certificate from either the local registrar or the state. The cost is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each extra copy ordered at the same time.

Hunterdon County is made up of small towns and rural townships. Many have just a few thousand residents. This means that the registrar offices tend to be small and may have limited hours. It helps to call ahead before you visit. The state office is an option if you cannot reach the local registrar or if the town office is not open when you need it.

Hunterdon County Registrar Offices

The state registrar list for Hunterdon County shows all 26 municipalities. Each one has a registrar who keeps birth records for births that happened in that town. The Hunterdon County government does not issue birth certificates. The County Clerk at 71 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822 handles land records and elections. Phone is 908-788-1214.

With 26 towns, Hunterdon County has more registrar offices than most counties in New Jersey. Some of the more populated areas include Raritan Township, Readington, Clinton Township, and Tewksbury. Smaller boroughs like Stockton, Milford, Califon, and Glen Gardner also have registrars.

Here are some key municipalities in Hunterdon County:

• Raritan Township, the largest with about 23,000 residents
• Readington Township, with roughly 16,000 people
• Clinton Town and Clinton Township
• Flemington, the county seat with about 5,000 residents
• Lambertville, Frenchtown, and High Bridge

Flemington Birth Records

Flemington is the county seat of Hunterdon County. It is a small borough with about 5,000 people. The Borough Clerk keeps vital records for events in Flemington. If you were born here, the clerk can issue a certified birth certificate. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of your link to the person on the record.

Because Flemington is small, many Hunterdon County births take place in nearby towns or at hospitals outside the borough. Make sure you know which town the birth was recorded in. The town of birth, not the family's home address, is what decides which registrar has the record.

Note: Flemington is the county seat, but the County Clerk there does not handle birth certificates. Go to the Borough Clerk for Flemington birth records.

Raritan and Readington Birth Certificates

Raritan Township is the largest town in Hunterdon County with about 23,000 residents. The Township Clerk handles vital records for births in Raritan Township. This is one of the busier registrar offices in the county due to the population size.

Readington Township has about 16,000 people and also has its own registrar. Both towns follow the same rules as the rest of New Jersey. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a birth certificate. Each extra copy of the same record costs $2 when ordered at the same time. You need valid ID and proof of your relationship to the person named on the record.

The image below shows the Hunterdon County government site, which can help you find local offices and services.

The county site links to all 26 municipalities and their contact information.

Ordering From the State for Hunterdon County

The state is a solid option for Hunterdon County residents. Since the county is rural and some offices have short hours, the state office may be easier to reach. The ordering page lists all the ways to request a birth certificate. Walk in at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton for same-day service. Mail Form REG-27A to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625. Call VitalChek at 877-622-7549. Or use the VitalChek website. Phone and online orders have an extra fee.

Under Title 26 of the New Jersey Statutes, birth records are not public. Only the person named, a parent, a legal guardian, a legal rep, or someone with a court order can get a certified copy. This rule applies at both the local and state level. The state toll-free number is 1-866-649-8726. Mail orders take 8 to 12 weeks. Cash is accepted at the walk-in center, and checks or money orders go with mail requests.

Historical Hunterdon County Birth Records

For births in Hunterdon County before 1925, the New Jersey State Archives is the right source. The Archives holds birth records through 1924 at 225 West State Street, Level 2, Trenton. They are open by appointment for research. Hunterdon County was one of the original counties in New Jersey, formed in 1714. Many families in this area go back generations, and the Archives can help trace those roots.

The CDC guide for New Jersey notes the state office has records from 1918 forward. New Jersey started keeping some form of birth records in 1848. For Hunterdon County family history research, the Archives is a core resource. The state FAQ page can also help if you have trouble finding a record or are not sure which office to contact.

The state registrar tool below helps you find any of the 26 local registrar offices in Hunterdon County.

This tool lists every registrar in the county with addresses and phone numbers.

Note: Adoptees born in Hunterdon County should check the adoptee page for rules on getting an original birth certificate.

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