The New Jersey Department of State oversees all the arts, cultural, history and volunteer programs in the state. The Department partners with other state entities, particularly the Departments of Education, Environmental Protection and Community Affairs, to sustain and enhance these programs to ensure the widest possible public participation. The Department places the highest priority on technical and financial support and mentoring to achieve this goal. The Department is also often the first portal for public inquiries about much of state government business through its Feedback weblink, and is a first point of referral for answers to public inquiries.
For Railroad (prior to the 1950s), State turnpike roads (from the early 1800s), Morris Canal, and Delaware & Raritan Canal records: Contact the New Jersey State Archives
Those issues are the jurisdiction of the Division of Consumer Affairs within the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. A full array of information and contacts can be found on their website, www.nj.gov/oag/ca/home.htm.
There are no birth or death records filed prior to May 1848. For birth and death records prior to May 1848, you would have to search for church records, family bible records, cemetery records, etc.
There are County Clerk's Marriage records from 1795 to 1870s. Most of these county clerk's marriages (excluding Hudson County) are available on microfilm or as published books at the New Jersey State Archives, or through your local LDS - Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Family History Centers.
The State Archives has the original county clerk's marriages for:
Burlington County 1795-1878;
Cumberland County 1795-1878;
Essex County 1795-1879;
Passaic County 1837-1878;
Somerset County 1795-1878;
Sussex County, 1795-1878; and
Union County 1857-1878.
Requests may be made to the New Jersey State Archives and must specify the county, the husband's and wife's names and an approximate date of marriage. The search fee is $5.00.
May 1848 to May 1878:
The State of New Jersey vital records (births, marriages, and deaths) begin in May 1848. For New Jersey Vital Records, May 1848 to May 1878 contact the New Jersey State Archives. The search fee is $10.00 per record requested.
June 1878 to the present:
All Mail requests for New Jersey Vital Records (births, marriages, and deaths) June 1878 to the present should be directed to:
Note: ALL MAIL REQUESTS MUST INCLUDE A COPY OF YOUR PHOTO DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH ADDRESS OR TWO ALTERNATE FORMS OF ID WITH YOUR ADDRESS. OVER-THE-COUNTER CUSTOMERS MUST HAVE THESE ORIGINAL IDENTIFICATIONS IN THEIR POSSESSION WHEN FILING AN APPLICATION.
You may also contact the municipal vital records office where the event occurred.
For wills and inventories filed 1670 to 1952, and guardianships filed prior to 1785 contact the New Jersey State Archives. The fee for copies is $5.00 per individual file for up to ten pages.
For wills filed from 1953 to the present contact:
Superior Court Public Information Center
PO Box 967
171 Jersey Street
Trenton, NJ 08625-0967
609.777.0092 or 0093
For intestate (no will) estates, administrations of estates, wills, and guardianships from 1785 to the present contact the county surrogate's office where the estate was filed.
The Office of the Secretary of State maintains a Will Registry wherein a testator, (the person making the will) or his/her attorney, may register with the Will Registry Program which contains basic information about the will. Registration is entirely voluntary and electing not to register with the Office of the Secretary of State does not have any effect on the validity of the will. www.state.nj.us/state/secretary/will_registry.html
The Superior Court Public Information Center has all divorce records for 1901 to 1992/3. Divorce records since 1992/3 are still filed with each county court. The Superior Court does have an index, which will provide the file number and citation to county court.
Superior Court Public Information Center
PO Box 967
171 Jersey Street
Trenton, NJ 08625-0967
609.777.0092 or 0093
New Jersey Dept. of Human Services
Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) Adoption Registry
PO Box 717
Trenton, NJ 08625-0717
609.292.8816 or 984.6800
The New Jersey Cemetery Board has records of cemeteries of which they have taken control. All other inquiries should be directed to the actual cemetry.
