Death Records for Salem County
Salem County sits in the southwest corner of New Jersey. It is one of the least populated counties in the state. The county seat is Salem City. Death records in Salem County are filed with the local registrar in the municipality where the death took place. The Surrogate's Court cannot issue sealed death certificates. Certified copies come from the local registrar or the New Jersey Department of Health. This page explains how to search for and obtain Salem County death records through the proper channels.
Salem County Quick Facts
How Salem County Death Records Are Filed
When a death occurs in Salem County, the process starts with the attending physician or medical examiner. They certify the cause of death on the certificate. The funeral director then files the completed death certificate with the local registrar in the municipality where the death happened. This is a key point. Salem County death records go to the town of death, not the town where the person lived.
The registrar in the township where the death occurred keeps the original record. A copy goes to Trenton. In some cases, a "resident copy" is also sent to the municipality where the deceased lived. This means Salem County death records may exist in more than one location. Funeral homes may also file a copy in their own township if the deceased was a resident of that town.
The Salem County Surrogate's Court provides information about death certificates on its website. However, the Surrogate's Court itself cannot issue sealed death certificates. You must go to the local registrar or the state for a certified copy of a Salem County death record.
Under Title 26 of the New Jersey Statutes, registrars must forward death certificates promptly. The state maintains a central repository. This dual filing system helps ensure Salem County death records are preserved even if local records are damaged or lost.
Getting Certified Death Records in Salem County
Certified copies of Salem County death records are available from two main sources. The first is the local registrar in the municipality where the death took place. The second is the State Bureau of Vital Statistics in Trenton. Both can issue certified copies for deaths from 1878 to the present.
For deaths that occurred between 1848 and 1877, contact the New Jersey State Archives at 609-292-4087. Records from that era are not held by local registrars or the modern state vital statistics office. The State Archives has digitized some of these older Salem County death records and made them searchable online.
The fee for a certified death certificate is $25. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $2 each. You can pay by check or money order for mail requests. Call 1-866-649-8726 (toll-free) or 1-609-528-9316 for questions about Salem County death records or to check on the status of a request.
Note: Salem County death records from 1848 to 1877 are only available through the New Jersey State Archives, not through local registrars.
Who Can Get Salem County Death Certificates
New Jersey restricts who may obtain a certified death certificate. Executive Order No. 18 sets out the rules. These rules apply across the state, including Salem County. Only certain people have the right to get a certified copy of a death record.
The following people can request a certified Salem County death certificate:
- The spouse or civil union partner of the deceased
- A parent or legal guardian
- A child, grandchild, or sibling
- A legal representative with proper authority
- A government agency acting in an official role
- Anyone with a court order
Others may request an informational copy of a Salem County death record. This version has a "not for legal purposes" watermark. It contains the same facts but cannot be used for legal transactions such as settling an estate or claiming benefits. The cost is the same as a certified copy.
Salem County Municipalities and Registrars
Salem County has fifteen municipalities. Each has a local registrar of vital statistics who handles death records for that jurisdiction. Some are small townships with part-time offices. Others have regular hours. Always call ahead before visiting a Salem County registrar to confirm they are open and can process your request.
The municipalities in Salem County are Alloway Township, Carneys Point Township, Elmer, Elsinboro Township, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township, Oldmans Township, Penns Grove, Pennsville Township, Pilesgrove Township, Pittsgrove Township, Quinton Township, Salem City, Upper Pittsgrove Township, and Woodstown. Death records are filed in the town where the death took place. If you are unsure which town handled the filing, the state office in Trenton can search Salem County death records across all municipalities.
Salem City is the county seat and the hub of county government. Many Salem County offices are located there. However, for death records, you must contact the registrar in the specific town of death. The county seat does not serve as a central filing point for vital records in Salem County.
Note: Contact the specific municipal registrar in Salem County where the death occurred, as the county seat does not centrally file death certificates.
Salem County Death Record Research
Salem County has a rich history. It is one of the oldest settled areas in New Jersey. Researchers often seek death records from the 1800s and early 1900s. The New Jersey Death Index is a good starting point. It is free to search. The index covers many years and can help you find entries for Salem County deaths.
Once you find an entry in the death index, you can request the full record from the state or local registrar. The index gives you the name, date, and location. With that information, a formal request for a certified copy becomes straightforward. The NJ Department of Health handles requests for records from 1878 forward.
Church records, cemetery records, and newspaper obituaries can also supplement death records in Salem County. Many of the older churches in the county kept detailed burial records before the state required vital statistics registration. The Salem County Historical Society is a useful resource for finding these types of records. Local libraries may also hold microfilm copies of old newspapers with death notices for Salem County residents.
State Options for Salem County Death Records
The New Jersey Department of Health is the central source for all death records in the state. It holds copies of Salem County death records from 1878 to the present. This office is useful when you do not know the exact town of death within the county. Staff can search by name and date across all Salem County municipalities.
You can order from the state by mail, online, or in person at the Trenton office. Mail requests take several weeks. Online orders through VitalChek arrive faster but cost more due to service fees. The base fee is $25. Additional copies are $2 each when ordered together. Include as much detail as possible about the deceased to speed up the search for Salem County death records.
The New Jersey State Archives is another resource. It holds older records and historical documents. Genealogists and historians often use the Archives to find Salem County death records from the 1800s. The Archives also has census records, military records, and other documents that can help fill gaps in family history research.
Cities in Salem County
Salem County has fifteen municipalities in southwestern New Jersey. Each one files death records through its own local registrar. Salem City is the county seat.
Municipalities in Salem County include Salem City, Woodstown, Penns Grove, Pennsville Township, Carneys Point Township, Pittsgrove Township, Alloway Township, Elmer, Elsinboro Township, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township, Oldmans Township, Pilesgrove Township, Quinton Township, and Upper Pittsgrove Township.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Salem County. Death records are filed where the death took place. If the death occurred near a county line, confirm the municipality and contact the correct registrar for the death certificate.