Death Records for Essex County

Essex County is the second-most populous county in New Jersey, with more than 800,000 residents. The county seat is Newark. Death records in Essex County are filed with the local registrar in the municipality where the death took place. With over 20 towns, there are many local offices that hold death records across Essex County. This page explains how to search for and obtain death records in Essex County, New Jersey.

Where to Get Essex County Death Records

Death records in Essex County can be obtained from several sources. The primary source is the local registrar in the municipality where the death occurred. The Essex County Registrar directory lists all local vital records offices across the county. Towns like Newark, East Orange, Montclair, Bloomfield, and Irvington each have their own registrar in Essex County.

Glen Ridge offers a good look at how small towns handle death records. The Glen Ridge Vital Statistics office charges $25 for the first copy and $10 for each added copy in the same request. They take cash or money order. This is typical for Essex County towns, though some may vary on payment forms. All follow the fee rules set by N.J.S.A. Title 26.

The image below shows the Essex County Registrar's online presence, a helpful starting point for finding death records in Essex County.

This resource lists contact details for all vital records offices in Essex County.

Essex County Death Record Copy Types

New Jersey issues different types of death record copies. A certified copy has a raised seal on safety paper. This is what courts, banks, and insurers need. It proves the death for legal matters. A plain certification works for genealogy. It has the same facts but lacks the raised seal. Essex County offices can tell you which type fits your needs.

An Apostille Seal may be needed for use in other countries. The New Jersey Secretary of State adds this seal. It makes an Essex County death certificate valid in countries that accept the Hague Convention. The local copy alone will not work for foreign use without this step. Contact the Secretary of State at 609-292-4087 for Apostille requests on Essex County death records.

Note: Certified copies from Essex County are valid for all domestic legal purposes without any added steps.

Genealogy and Essex County Death Records

Essex County has deep roots. Families have lived here since the 1600s. The Forebears genealogy database has church records, birth indexes, and death data for Essex County going back centuries. Key collections include PA and NJ Church Records from 1708 to 1985 and Dutch Reformed Records from 1639 to 2000. The NJ Births Index covers 1660 to 1931 and can help tie family lines to death records.

The New Jersey Death Index is free to search. It covers 1901 to 1903, 1920 to 1929, and 1949 to 2017. This is the best starting point for Essex County death record research in the 20th century. Once you find a match, you can then request the full death certificate from the local Essex County registrar or from the state.

Church and cemetery records fill the gaps before 1848. There were no state death records in New Jersey before that year. For Essex County, Dutch Reformed church logs are a prime source. Burial records from old Newark cemeteries also help. The New Jersey Historical Society in Newark holds many of these early Essex County records.

Note: The NJ Death Index is a finding aid only and does not provide copies of actual death certificates for Essex County.

Searching for Death Records in Essex County

Begin with the name and year. The Death Index lets you search by name across all of New Jersey, including Essex County. Matches show the year and municipality of death. This tells you which office to contact in Essex County for the full record.

In person, visit the registrar in the town where the death took place. Bring your ID and the basic facts: name, date, and place. Staff can look up Essex County death records and print copies while you wait in most cases. For mail requests, send a written request with a check or money order to the right municipal registrar in Essex County. Include your return address and phone number.

The New Jersey Department of Health in Trenton is a backup source. They have death records from 1878 to the present for all of Essex County. Use them when you do not know the exact town of death. The state charges $25 for the first copy and $2 for added copies.

What Essex County Death Certificates Show

An Essex County death certificate holds key facts. It lists the full name of the person. The date and place of death are on it. The cause of death appears, along with any other conditions that played a role. The name of the doctor who made the pronouncement is on the form, as is the funeral home that handled the remains.

Personal details are also part of the Essex County death record. These include the person's age, date of birth, place of birth, and usual address. The parents' names are listed, which helps with genealogy work. Marital status and occupation at the time of death also appear on Essex County death certificates. Under N.J.S.A. 26:6-8, the funeral director files the death certificate with the local registrar within 72 hours.

State Offices for Essex County Death Records

The New Jersey Department of Health maintains death records from 1878 forward. Their office at 140 East Front Street in Trenton serves walk-in visitors. You can also order by mail. For Essex County deaths before 1878, contact the New Jersey State Archives. They hold records from 1848 to 1878 on microfilm. These older Essex County death records are a vital source for family history research.

The state fee schedule applies to all requests through the Department of Health. The first certified copy is $25. Added copies in the same order cost $2 each. These fees are set by law and are the same whether the death took place in Essex County or any other part of New Jersey.

Note: For Essex County deaths before 1878, contact the State Archives at 609-292-6260, as the Department of Health does not hold records from that period.

Cities in Essex County

Essex County has more than 20 municipalities. Each one files death records with its own registrar. Below are links to city pages with more details on local death record access.

Other municipalities in Essex County include Montclair, West Orange, Livingston, Nutley, Maplewood, South Orange, Millburn, Belleville, Orange, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Verona, Glen Ridge, Essex Fells, Roseland, North Caldwell, West Caldwell, and Fairfield.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Essex County. If you are not sure which county holds the death record you need, check the address where the death took place. The municipality of death is what counts.