Union County Birth Records
Union County is in northern New Jersey with about 575,000 residents across 21 municipalities. The county seat is Elizabeth, the fourth largest city in the state. Each town in Union County has its own local registrar who files birth records for events in that area. To get a certified birth certificate, you need to know the town where the birth took place. This page walks you through the local offices, the state ordering methods, and the rules that apply to Union County birth record requests.
Union County Quick Facts
How Union County Vital Records Work
New Jersey operates a decentralized vital records system. Each of the 21 municipalities in Union County has a local registrar who records births that take place in that town. A copy of every record goes to the State Office of Vital Statistics in Trenton. That gives you two paths to a certified birth certificate from Union County. You can visit the local clerk or go through the state.
The Union County government office and County Clerk are at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, Elizabeth, NJ 07201. Phone: 908-527-4965. The County Clerk handles land records, elections, and business filings. That office does not issue birth certificates. For Union County birth records, you must contact the local registrar in the specific municipality or the state office.
Birth records in New Jersey are not public under Title 26 of the state statutes. Only the person named, a parent, a legal guardian, a legal rep, or someone with a court order can get a certified copy.
Elizabeth Birth Records
Elizabeth is the county seat and the fourth largest city in New Jersey. About 135,000 people live here. The City Clerk's Office handles a large volume of Union County birth records. You can call them at 908-820-4124. If you were born at a hospital in Elizabeth, the record is filed with the city's registrar.
The state website provides a registrar listing for all Union County towns. Below is the state resource for finding the right office.
This state tool lets you look up the registrar for any of the 21 Union County municipalities.
Elizabeth handles more birth record requests than any other town in Union County. Walk-in visits are the fastest route to a same-day copy. Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to show proof of your right to the record.
Union Township and Plainfield Birth Certificates
Union Township has about 60,000 residents. The Township Clerk keeps birth records for events in Union Township. Call 908-851-8500 for details on their process. Union Township is one of the larger communities in Union County and generates a steady flow of birth record requests each year.
Plainfield has about 55,000 people. The City Clerk handles birth records for births that took place in Plainfield. The phone number is 908-753-3309. Both towns follow the same rules and fees set by the state.
Other sizable Union County towns include Linden, Rahway, Westfield, Cranford, Summit, and Scotch Plains. Each has its own registrar. The NJ Department of Health registrar database for Union County has the full list with addresses and phone numbers for all 21 offices.
Note: The town where the birth took place matters most, not where the family lives now.
Ordering Union County Birth Certificates
There are four ways to get a certified birth certificate for a birth in Union County. Each method uses the same $25 fee for the first copy, with additional copies at $2 each when ordered at the same time.
The fastest way is to visit the local registrar. Most Union County municipal clerks can issue a copy the same day. You need a valid photo ID and proof of eligibility. The Vital Statistics FAQ page explains who can request a certified copy.
You can also go through the state. The ordering page lists every method. Mail Form REG-27A with $25 to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Processing takes 8 to 12 weeks. The walk-in center at 140 E. Front Street, Trenton offers same-day service Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. VitalChek handles phone and online orders at 877-622-7549 with an extra processing fee.
What you need for a Union County birth record request:
- Full name at birth
- Date and place of birth
- Parent names
- A valid photo ID
- Proof of relationship to the person on the record
Historical Union County Birth Records
New Jersey has kept birth records since 1848. For Union County births before 1925, the New Jersey State Archives is the main source. The Archives holds records through 1924 at 225 West State Street, Level 2, Trenton. They are open by appointment only. Records from 1925 onward are at the Office of Vital Statistics.
The CDC directory for New Jersey confirms the state office has records from 1918 to the present. Union County has deep ties to the early growth of northern New Jersey. Elizabeth was one of the first English settlements in the state. Tracing family roots here may take you through both the State Archives and local registrar offices.
Note: The State Archives operates by appointment only, so contact them before planning a visit for Union County historical birth records.
Correcting Union County Birth Records
If a Union County birth certificate has an error, the state provides a way to fix it. Common problems include wrong spellings, bad dates, and missing names. Simple fixes may not need a court order. Larger changes often require one. Union County residents can call 1-866-649-8726 for help from the Office of Vital Statistics.
The NJ Department of Health main page covers all vital records services. Below is the state portal for birth record ordering and corrections.
This page links to forms, contact details, and instructions for Union County birth record requests and corrections.
Adoptees born in Union County should review the adoptees page for rules on getting an original birth certificate. The process depends on when the adoption was finalized. The contact page has more ways to reach the state office with questions about Union County birth records.
Cities in Union County
These Union County cities have their own pages with more detail on local birth record offices and contacts.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Union County. If you are not sure where a birth took place, confirm the hospital or home address. The record is filed in the town where the birth happened.