Find Birth Records in Mercer County

Mercer County birth records are held by local registrars in each of the 12 towns that make up this central New Jersey county. The state capital, Trenton, sits in Mercer County. This means the walk-in vital records office is right here. About 380,000 people live in the county. Each town has its own clerk who keeps birth records for births that took place in that town. You can also get birth records from the state office. This page shows you how to search for and get Mercer County birth records.

Mercer County Birth Record Registrars

Each of the 12 towns in Mercer County has a local registrar. The registrar logs all births that take place in that town. If you know where a birth took place, you can go right to that town clerk. This is often the fastest way to get a birth record in Mercer County. The local office may have less of a wait than the state office.

The NJ Department of Health registrar list for Mercer County shows all 12 local offices with phone numbers and addresses. Towns in Mercer County range from the large city of Trenton to small places like Pennington and Hightstown. Hamilton Township and Trenton each have about 90,000 people. Princeton, home to Princeton University, has around 30,000 residents. All of these towns keep their own birth records at the local clerk level.

The Mercer County registrar list has offices in East Windsor, Ewing, Hamilton, Hightstown, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence, Pennington, Princeton, Robbinsville, Trenton, and West Windsor. Each clerk keeps records only for births that took place in that town. A birth in Hamilton will not be on file in Princeton. You must ask the right town for your birth record.

Note: Local registrars in Mercer County keep birth records only for births that took place in their own town limits.

Walk-In Birth Records in Trenton

Mercer County has a big edge over most other counties in New Jersey. The state walk-in vital records center is right here in Trenton. You can walk in and get a birth record the same day. No other county has this kind of direct access. The center is at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

This office holds birth records from 1925 to the present for all of New Jersey. So if you live in Mercer County and need a birth record from any part of the state, you can drive to Trenton and get it that same day. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each extra copy of the same record. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of your tie to the person on the record. Cash is fine for walk-in orders.

The NJ Office of Vital Statistics runs this center. It is the only walk-in site in the whole state. For Mercer County residents, this is a short trip. Compare this to the 8 to 12 week wait for mail-in requests. Same-day service is a real plus for those who live or work near Trenton.

Mercer County Clerk Office

The Mercer County Clerk is Paula Sollami-Covello. The clerk office is at 209 South Broad Street in Trenton. The phone number is 609-989-6473. While the county clerk does not issue birth records, this office handles land records and other county files. The Mercer County Clerk website has details on all services they offer. For birth records, you go to the local town registrar or the state vital records office.

The Mercer County registrar list for birth records covers these towns and their vital records offices. You can reach the City of Trenton clerk at 609-989-3041. Hamilton Township handles birth records at 609-890-3630. Princeton also keeps its own birth records at the town clerk office.

The NJ Department of Health keeps a full list of Mercer County registrars who handle birth records.

This list shows each of the 12 Mercer County towns and their local registrar contact details for birth records.

How to Get Mercer County Birth Records

There are four ways to get a birth record in Mercer County. Each has its own speed and cost. Your best bet depends on how fast you need the record and where the birth took place.

The fastest way is to walk in to the state office in Trenton. You get the record the same day. Bring your photo ID and $25. The NJ vital records ordering page spells out what you need. You can also order by mail using Form REG-27A. Send your form, a copy of your ID, and a check for $25 to PO Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Mail takes 8 to 12 weeks. Online and phone orders go through VitalChek at 877-622-7549. VitalChek adds its own fee on top of the $25 state fee.

For a Mercer County birth record, you need to give these details:

• Full name at birth
• Date of birth
• Town where the birth took place
• Names of both parents
• Your tie to the person on the record

New Jersey is a closed record state. Under Title 26 of state law, only the person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian, or someone with a court order can get a certified copy. The vital records FAQ page has more on who can request birth records in Mercer County and across the state.

Historical Birth Records in Mercer County

Older birth records for Mercer County are held at the New Jersey State Archives. Birth records from before 1925 are at the archives. The building is at 225 West State Street, Level 2, in Trenton. You need to make an appointment to visit. The archives is also in Mercer County, so local residents have easy access to both old and new records.

New Jersey has kept birth records since 1848. That is close to 180 years of records. For Mercer County, this means you can trace birth records back to the mid-1800s. Records from 1848 through 1924 are at the State Archives. Records from 1925 to the present are at the state vital records office. Both are in Trenton. This makes Mercer County the best place in the state to do birth record research in person.

The CDC vital records guide for New Jersey lists the state office as the main source for birth records. The CDC notes the $25 fee and the toll-free phone line at 1-866-649-8726. This is a good starting point if you are not sure where to begin your search for Mercer County birth records.

Note: The State Archives is open by appointment only, so call ahead before you visit for Mercer County birth record research.

Mercer County Adoptee Birth Records

Adoptees in Mercer County have special rules for getting their original birth records. The rules depend on when the adoption was made final. For adoptions after August 1, 2015, adults age 18 and up can ask for their original birth certificate from the state. For older adoptions, a court order may be needed.

The NJ adoptee birth record page has the full steps. You will need to prove your identity and fill out an application. This process takes time. Plan ahead if you need your original Mercer County birth record as an adoptee.

Birth Records Across Mercer County

Princeton is one of the best-known towns in Mercer County. Home to Princeton University, the town has about 30,000 residents. The municipal clerk in Princeton keeps birth records for all births that took place in town.

The Princeton municipal website provides information on local services including birth records in Mercer County.

Princeton is one of 12 municipalities in Mercer County where local registrars maintain birth records.

Trenton, the state capital, is the largest city in Mercer County. It is also the county seat. The city clerk handles birth records for Trenton. Hamilton Township, which rivals Trenton in size, has its own registrar too. Other Mercer County towns like Ewing, Lawrence, and West Windsor all keep birth records at their local clerk offices. No matter which town in Mercer County the birth took place in, a local registrar has that record on file.

Note: Contact the NJ vital records office at 1-866-649-8726 if you are not sure which Mercer County town to contact.

Cities in Mercer County

Mercer County has 12 municipalities. Each has its own local registrar who keeps birth records. The two largest are Trenton and Hamilton Township.

Other Mercer County municipalities include Princeton, East Windsor, Ewing, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Lawrence, Pennington, Robbinsville, West Windsor, and Hightstown. All keep their own birth records at the local clerk office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mercer County. If you need a birth record from a nearby area, check which county the town falls in. Birth records are kept by the town where the birth took place.