Monmouth County Birth Record Search
Monmouth County sits along the Jersey Shore with a population of about 640,000 people. It has 53 municipalities, which ties Bergen County for the most in New Jersey. Birth records in Monmouth County are filed at the local level. Each of the 53 towns has its own registrar who logs births in that area. The county seat is Freehold. Whether you need a birth record from Middletown, Howell, Long Branch, or any other town, this page shows you where to go and what to bring.
Monmouth County Quick Facts
Monmouth County Clerk and Birth Records
The Monmouth County Clerk is Christine Giordano Hanlon. Her office is at 33 Court Street in Freehold, NJ 07728. The phone number is 732-431-7324. The Monmouth County Clerk website lists all services. The clerk handles land records and elections. Birth records, though, are not at the county clerk level. They are at the town registrar or the state office.
The Monmouth County Clerk office in Freehold provides county-level services and directs residents to birth record resources.
The clerk office at 33 Court Street in Freehold serves all 53 Monmouth County municipalities for county records.
| County Clerk |
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon 33 Court Street Freehold, NJ 07728 Phone: (732) 431-7324 |
|---|---|
| Birth Records | Contact local town registrar or State Office of Vital Statistics |
| Website | monmouthcountyclerk.com |
Birth Records in 53 Monmouth County Towns
With 53 towns, Monmouth County has more local registrars than almost any county in the state. The NJ Department of Health registrar list for Monmouth County shows every office. Some key towns include Middletown Township with about 65,000 residents, Howell Township with 50,000, and Freehold Borough with 12,000. Each town keeps birth records only for births that took place there.
Other towns with registrars in Monmouth County include Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Eatontown, Freehold Township, Long Branch, Marlboro, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, and Wall. The shore towns like Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Red Bank all have their own clerks. Inland towns like Marlboro, Howell, and Freehold Township do too. No matter the size of the town, it has a registrar.
When you call a Monmouth County town for a birth record, ask for the registrar or town clerk. Give them the full name on the birth record and the date of birth. They will tell you if the record is on file and what you need to get a copy. Some towns may ask you to come in person. Others may take mail requests.
Note: With 53 towns in Monmouth County, make sure you know the exact town of birth before you call for a birth record.
Getting Monmouth County Birth Records
You have four ways to get a birth record from Monmouth County. Each has a different cost and speed. The state fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $2 for each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Walk-in service is the fastest. Go to 140 E. Front Street in Trenton. The NJ Office of Vital Statistics runs this center. Bring your photo ID and cash or check. You get the record that same day. This office has birth records from 1925 on for all of New Jersey, so any Monmouth County birth in that range is there. The drive from Freehold to Trenton takes about an hour.
Mail orders use Form REG-27A. Send it to PO Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370 with a check for $25. Include a copy of your photo ID. The NJ ordering page has the form and full details. Mail takes 8 to 12 weeks. Online and phone orders go through VitalChek at 877-622-7549. VitalChek adds its own fee.
The NJ Department of Health maintains a full registrar list for Monmouth County birth records.
This state resource lists all 53 Monmouth County local registrars who keep birth records.
Monmouth County Birth Record Access Rules
New Jersey law restricts who can get a birth record. This is a closed record state. Under Title 26, birth records are not open to the public. Only certain people can request a certified copy of a Monmouth County birth record.
Those who qualify to request a birth record in Monmouth County are:
- The person on the record if age 18 or older
- A parent named on the record
- A legal guardian
- An attorney with written consent
- Anyone with a valid court order
You must show a government-issued photo ID. A driver's license or passport works. You also need to prove your link to the person on the Monmouth County birth record. The NJ vital records FAQ explains the rules in detail. If the birth record cannot be found, the FAQ suggests checking with the local registrar in the town where the birth took place.
Major Towns for Birth Records in Monmouth County
Middletown Township is the largest town in Monmouth County with about 65,000 residents. The clerk handles birth records at 732-615-2000. Howell Township has about 50,000 people and keeps its birth records at 732-938-4500. Freehold Borough, the county seat, has around 12,000 residents and also keeps local birth records.
Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Red Bank sit along the shore. These towns see visitors from all over but keep birth records only for births in their own limits. Neptune, Ocean Township, and Wall are mid-size towns with their own registrars. Each one logs births and can issue copies of birth records for events that took place there in Monmouth County.
Note: Call the NJ vital records office at 1-866-649-8726 if you are not sure which Monmouth County town holds your birth record.
Historical Monmouth County Birth Records
Birth records for Monmouth County from before 1925 are at the New Jersey State Archives. The archives is at 225 West State Street, Level 2, Trenton. An appointment is needed. New Jersey has tracked births since 1848. That gives nearly 180 years of records. For Monmouth County families with deep roots in the area, the archives is a prime source for older birth records.
Records from 1925 to now are at the state vital records office in Trenton. The CDC guide for New Jersey vital records lists the state office address and the toll-free phone number, 1-866-649-8726. This covers all Monmouth County birth records in that date range. Between the archives and the state office, you can trace Monmouth County birth records from the 1800s to today.
Adoptee Records in Monmouth County
Adoptees born in Monmouth County may be able to get their original birth record. For adoptions made final on or after August 1, 2015, adults can request the original birth certificate. Older adoptions may need a court order. The NJ adoptee page has steps and forms. Proof of identity is needed. The process takes time, so start early if you need a Monmouth County adoptee birth record.
Cities in Monmouth County
Monmouth County has 53 towns. All keep local birth records. The two largest are Middletown and Howell.
Other Monmouth County towns include Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Eatontown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Long Branch, Marlboro, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, and Wall. Each keeps birth records at the local registrar level.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Monmouth County. Birth records are filed by town, not county. Know which town the birth was in to find the right office.