Paterson Death Index and Vital Records
Paterson is the third most populous city in New Jersey and the county seat of Passaic County. The Paterson Health Department serves as the local registrar of vital statistics. This office keeps death, birth, and marriage records for the city. Paterson death index data spans from 1901 to 2017 with some gaps. The 1920s records list Paterson deaths in their own group. You can search the death index online at no cost or contact state and local offices for certified copies.
Paterson Death Index Quick Facts
Paterson Death Index Year Ranges
The Paterson death index has entries for 1901 to 1903, 1920 to 1929, and 1949 to 2017. There are gaps in the data. The years 1904 to 1919 are not in the index. The years 1930 to 1948 are also missing. The Department of Health could not find these files when asked.
In the 1920s, Paterson deaths are listed in their own block. The state kept large cities in separate groups during that time. This means Paterson entries for 1920 to 1929 are sorted first by city, then by year, and then by last name. This layout helps if you only want to search Paterson records from the 1920s. Other Passaic County towns are in a county block.
The New Jersey Death Index lets you search all years at no cost. Type a name. Get a list of matches. Each result shows the death date, age, and file number. Use that file number to get the full record from the state or from the Paterson Health Department.
The actual death records may still exist for years not in the index. The State Archives has microfilm for many early years. If you cannot find a Paterson death in the index, try the Archives or the local registrar.
How to Get Paterson Death Records
You can get a Paterson death record from three main sources. The right one depends on the year of death and the type of copy you need.
The Paterson Health Department is the local registrar. They hold death records for deaths that took place in the city. Visit the office in person with your ID. Give them the name and date of death. Staff will search their files. If they find a match, you can buy a copy. Fees may vary from the state rate.
The New Jersey Department of Health holds death records from 1901 to the present. The fee is $25 for one copy. Each extra copy at the same time is $2. You can order by mail, in person at 140 East Front Street in Trenton, or online. This works for any Paterson death after 1900.
The State Archives holds older records. They have death records from May 1848 through 1900 and microfilm through 1963. The lookup fee is $10. The Archives genealogy page shows what they have. Visit the Search Room at 225 West State Street in Trenton to view Paterson death records on microfilm.
- Paterson Health Department for local death records
- NJ Department of Health for records from 1901 to the present
- State Archives for records from 1848 to 1900 and microfilm through 1963
Note: The Passaic County Surrogate at 71 Hamilton Street, Room 101, Paterson handles probate and estate files. These can tie to death records when settling an estate.
Federal Death Records in Paterson
The Social Security Administration tracks deaths for benefit purposes. When a person dies, the SSA is told so benefits stop. This creates a record. If you need to report a death or deal with Social Security matters, the Paterson SSA office can help.
The SSA office in Paterson is at 200 Federal Plaza, First Floor, Paterson NJ 07505. You can visit in person to report a death, ask about survivor benefits, or get a copy of an SS-5 form. The SS-5 is the form used to apply for a Social Security number. It shows the person's name, date of birth, and parents' names. For older deaths, the SS-5 can fill in gaps left by state death records.
The Social Security Death Index is a federal database. It lists deaths reported to the SSA. It does not have every death. It mainly covers people who had a Social Security number. For Paterson residents who died after the 1930s, this can be a good backup source. The death index at the state level and the SSA records at the federal level work well when used side by side.
Who Can Get Paterson Death Records
State law sets the rules for who can get a death record in Paterson. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, only certain people can get a certified copy. The list includes the spouse, civil union partner, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the dead person. A legal rep or a guardian can also get one. Court orders work too.
If you are not on that list, you may still get a copy with some facts blocked out. The cause of death and Social Security number are often hidden. For records over 40 years old, the rules are less strict. This helps with genealogy work on old Paterson deaths.
The State Archives search tools let you look for older Paterson death index entries. If you find one, you can order the full record with fewer limits than you would face for a recent death.
Paterson Death Index for Genealogy
Paterson has a rich history. It was one of the first planned cities in the nation. Many families lived there for generations. The death index is a key tool for tracing those family lines. Death records list names, ages, and parents. This data links one generation to the next.
Paterson was also a major mill town. Workers came from across the world to work in the silk mills. Many of these people show up in the Paterson death index. Their records may list a birth country, which helps trace the family back across the ocean.
Start at the free death index online. Search by name. Note the file number from any match. Then order the full record. The full death record has details the index does not show, such as the street address, cause of death, and the names of both parents.
The Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness page for Passaic County can help with free lookup aid for Paterson death index work.
Note: FamilySearch and Ancestry both have New Jersey death indexes that may fill in gaps for years not in the free online death index.
Passaic County Death Records
Paterson is in Passaic County. The county holds records that may help your search. Passaic County has 16 municipalities, and Paterson is the county seat. For more on county resources, fees, and related records, visit the Passaic County death records page.