Bloomfield Township NJ Death Index Records
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, with a population of roughly 53,000 residents. The township clerk registrar maintains local vital records including death certificates for people who died within Bloomfield. Death index entries for the township cover the years 1901 to 1903, 1920 to 1929, and 1949 to 2017. Bloomfield has deep roots in New Jersey history dating to 1812 when it separated from Newark. This page covers how to search those records and where to obtain copies.
Bloomfield Township Death Index Quick Facts
Bloomfield Township Death Index Coverage Years
The Bloomfield Township death index includes records from three time spans: 1901 to 1903, 1920 to 1929, and 1949 to 2017. Gaps exist between these periods because the state was unable to locate all index files when the data was assembled. The actual death certificates from the missing years may still exist on microfilm at the New Jersey State Archives even when no index entry is available.
For the 1920s block, Bloomfield Township death records are grouped under Essex County in the index. Within each year, names are sorted alphabetically by last name. Some entries from 1920 to 1924 are incomplete across the state. The 1925 to 1929 set is more complete. Each death index entry shows the name, date of death, and a file number that you use to request the full certificate.
The New Jersey Death Index from Reclaim The Records lets you search all covered years for free online. Type a name and the site returns matching entries from Bloomfield Township and every other municipality in New Jersey. This is the fastest way to check for a death record from your home computer.
Note: Bloomfield was a fairly populated town by the early 1900s, so the death index contains a good number of entries from the start. The township had about 15,000 residents by 1900 and grew steadily through the century.
Bloomfield Township Clerk Registrar
The Bloomfield Township clerk serves as the local registrar of vital statistics. This office records deaths that occur within the township and keeps copies of those records on file. When a person dies in Bloomfield, the funeral director files a death certificate with the clerk registrar within five days. The registrar reviews the form for errors and sends the original to the State Registrar in Trenton.
You can visit the clerk registrar office in person to request a copy of a death record. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name of the deceased along with the approximate date of death. The staff will search their files. If a match is found, you can purchase a certified copy. The fee for a certified death record in New Jersey is $25 for the first copy, and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $2.
The clerk registrar in Bloomfield Township also handles birth and marriage records. All vital records follow the same state rules for access and fees. Visit the township website for current office hours and contact information before your trip.
How to Get a Bloomfield Township Death Record
There are three main ways to get a copy of a death record from Bloomfield Township. The right option depends on the year the death occurred and the type of copy you need. Each source has its own fees and processing time.
The first option is the Bloomfield Township clerk registrar. This local office holds records for deaths that took place in the township. You visit in person, provide the name and date, and the staff searches their files. If found, you pay the fee and get your copy. This is often the fastest path for recent Bloomfield deaths.
The second option is the New Jersey Department of Health. The state holds death records from 1901 to the present. The fee is $25 for one certified copy, and extra copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $2 each. You can order by mail, visit the office at 140 East Front Street in Trenton, or use VitalChek online.
The third option is the New Jersey State Archives. They hold death records from May 1848 to 1900 in original form and microfilm copies through 1963. The fee is $10 per lookup. This is the best path for older Bloomfield Township death records that date back to the mid-1800s.
The New Jersey Historical Society is another resource for researchers. They hold old newspapers, local histories, and genealogical collections that can support your death index search. Obituaries and death notices in local papers from Bloomfield often contain details not found on the death certificate itself.
- Bloomfield Township clerk registrar for deaths that took place in the township
- NJ Department of Health for deaths from 1901 to the present
- State Archives for deaths from 1848 to 1900 and microfilm through 1963
- New Jersey Historical Society for old newspapers, obituaries, and local records
Who Can Get Bloomfield Township Death Records
New Jersey law controls who may receive a certified death record. These rules apply to Bloomfield Township and every other municipality in the state. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, only certain people are eligible to request a certified copy of a death certificate.
Eligible requestors include the surviving spouse, civil union partner, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased person. A legal representative or court-appointed guardian may also get a copy. State and federal agencies can request copies for official work. A court order is another valid path. If you do not fall into any of these groups, you may still receive a copy with restricted information. The cause of death and Social Security number are typically hidden on those copies.
For genealogy purposes, death records more than 40 years old have fewer access restrictions. The State Archives will issue these older records with less proof of your relationship to the deceased. This is especially helpful for tracing family lines in Bloomfield Township, which has records going back to the mid-1800s when the township was already a well-established community.
The Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness page for Essex County connects you with volunteers who can assist with free lookups of Bloomfield Township death index records.
Bloomfield Township Death Index for Genealogy
The Bloomfield Township death index is a strong resource for family history research. A full death certificate lists the person's name, age, date and place of death, occupation, birthplace, and the names of both parents. Those parent names are often the detail that allows a researcher to trace back one more generation in the family tree.
Bloomfield was formed in 1812 when it separated from the city of Newark. The township was named after Joseph Bloomfield, a governor of New Jersey. Through the 1800s, it grew as a manufacturing and residential community close to Newark. By the early 1900s, the township had become a densely settled suburb. Many families of Italian, Irish, and German descent settled in Bloomfield during that period. Death records from different decades reflect these waves of settlement and the changing character of the township.
Start your search at the free online death index. Type the last name and first name. If you find a match from Bloomfield Township, note the file number. Then order the full death record from the state or the local registrar. The full record has much more detail than the index entry. FamilySearch and Ancestry also have New Jersey death and burial indexes that may fill gaps for years not covered in the free index.
Death Registration Laws for Bloomfield Township
New Jersey law governs how deaths are recorded in Bloomfield Township. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, the local registrar must enforce all death registration rules within the township. The registrar reviews each death certificate for completeness and accuracy before forwarding it to the State Registrar. A burial or cremation permit cannot be issued until the death record is properly filed. This means that nearly every death in Bloomfield Township has a record on file in the state system.
The funeral director is responsible for filing the death record. They gather information from the family and from the attending physician or medical examiner. The physician signs the cause of death section. The funeral director submits the completed form to the Bloomfield Township clerk registrar. This must happen within five days of the death. Late filings may require additional paperwork or a court order.
Death records in Bloomfield Township are vital records under state law. They are separate from general public records covered by the Open Public Records Act. You cannot use an OPRA request to obtain a death certificate. You must go through the proper channels at the clerk registrar office or the state health department. The death index data itself is public information, but the full death certificate has legal restrictions on access.
Note: New Jersey began requiring death registration in May 1848. Bloomfield Township records from before that date exist only in church records, family papers, and cemetery logs. Given that Bloomfield was formed in 1812, there are about 36 years of local history where only non-civil sources cover death events.
Essex County Death Records
Bloomfield Township is in Essex County. The county clerk and other county offices hold records that support your death index research. Essex County has 22 municipalities, and Bloomfield is one of the more populated towns. For more on county resources, fees, and the full list of towns in the county, visit the Essex County death records page.