Monmouth County NJ Death Index Records

Monmouth County holds one of the oldest sets of public records in New Jersey. The county was formed in 1683 from East Jersey, and its seat is Freehold. Death index records for Monmouth County span 1901 to 1903, 1920 to 1929, and 1949 to 2017. The county has 53 towns that each file death records with their local registrar. This page explains how to search the Monmouth County death index and where to get copies of death records from county and state offices.

Monmouth County Clerk Death Records

The Monmouth County Clerk is at 33 Mechanic Street, Freehold, NJ 07728. This office keeps land and marriage records that date back to 1790. The clerk does not hold death certificates, but the records there help trace family links. Marriage records show dates and names. Land records show where a person lived. Both types add facts to a death index search in Monmouth County.

The clerk staff can look up old deeds, wills, and marriage files. You can visit in person or call to ask about a record. Fees vary by type. A plain copy of a deed costs less than a certified copy. Most requests are filled the same day. The office is open on weekdays during normal hours. Check the county clerk site for current hours and fees in Monmouth County.

The Monmouth County clerk has kept records since the late 1700s. That makes it one of the most complete sets of county files in New Jersey. If you are tracing a death in Monmouth County, start with the death index and then use the clerk records to build a fuller picture of the person and their family.

A lead image of the Monmouth County Clerk office is shown here.

The clerk site has forms you can print and fill out before your visit to Monmouth County.

Monmouth County Surrogate Office

The Monmouth County Surrogate is at 71 Monument Park in Freehold. This office handles wills, estates, and probate files. When a person dies in Monmouth County, their will is filed with the Surrogate. The probate file often lists heirs, dates, and assets. These records help confirm facts found in the death index.

Probate records are public in New Jersey. You can ask to see a will or estate file at the Surrogate office. The staff can search by name or year. Older files may take more time to find. The Surrogate also issues letters of administration and letters testamentary. These papers let an executor or heir act on behalf of the estate in Monmouth County.

A view of the Surrogate office website is shown below.

Use the Surrogate records along with the Monmouth County death index to build a full family history.

Note: The Surrogate does not issue death certificates. For a certified copy of a death record, contact the local registrar in the town where the death took place in Monmouth County.

Death Index Years for Monmouth County

The Monmouth County death index has records for three spans. The first is 1901 to 1903. The next is 1920 to 1929. The last is 1949 to 2017. Gaps exist for 1904 to 1919 and 1930 to 1948. The state lost those files. The actual death certificates may still be on film at the New Jersey State Archives, even when the index is missing.

For the 1920s, death index entries are grouped by county and then by year. Within each year, names are sorted by last name. Some entries from 1920 to 1924 are lost. The 1925 to 1929 set is more complete. Each entry shows the name, date of death, and a reference number you can use to request the full certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health.

The free online death index from Reclaim The Records lets you search all of these years at no cost. Type a name and the site will show matching entries from Monmouth County and every other county in New Jersey. This is the fastest way to check the death index for a Monmouth County record.

For deaths before 1901, the New Jersey State Archives holds records from 1848 to 1900 on film. You can visit the Archives in Trenton or request a search by mail. The fee is $10 per search. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, local registrars in each of the 53 Monmouth County towns must file death records with the state.

Matawan Borough Registrar

The Matawan Borough Registrar is at 201 Broad Street in Matawan. This is one of the 53 local registrars in Monmouth County. Each town has its own registrar who keeps death, birth, and marriage records for events that took place in that town. The fee for a copy is $10.

If a death took place in Matawan, the local registrar holds the record. You can visit in person or call to ask about a search. Bring the full name and year of death. Staff will search their files. If the record is found, you can get a certified copy the same day. The $10 fee covers one copy.

Here is the Matawan Borough Registrar page for vital records.

Other towns in Monmouth County have similar registrar offices with the same basic process for death record requests.

Monmouth County New Jersey Overview

Monmouth County sits in the east-central part of New Jersey along the Atlantic coast. It was one of the first four counties formed in the state. The county seat of Freehold has served that role since the 1700s. The county grew fast in the 1900s and now has more than 600,000 people across its 53 towns.

A reference image of Monmouth County is shown here.

The county borders Ocean County to the south and Middlesex County to the north.

The 53 towns in Monmouth County range from small boroughs to large townships. Each town files death records with its own local registrar and with the state. The Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness page for Monmouth County lists contacts who can help with record lookups. This is a free service run by volunteers who visit local offices on your behalf.

Note: Marriage and land records in Monmouth County date back to 1790. Death records start later, with the state index beginning in 1901. For deaths between 1848 and 1900, check the State Archives.

Monmouth County Historical Association

The Monmouth County Historical Association is a resource for family history and local records. They hold old maps, books, and papers that can help with death index research. The group has a library and archive open to the public. Staff can help you find facts about people who lived and died in Monmouth County.

The Historical Association also has a collection of old newspapers. Death notices and obituaries from Monmouth County papers can fill in gaps when the death index does not have the details you need. These papers date back to the 1800s. The library staff can guide you to the right source for your search.

The Historical Association image is shown here for reference.

Visit their site to learn about hours, fees, and how to plan a research trip to Monmouth County.

How to Search Monmouth County Death Records

There are several ways to search for a death record in Monmouth County. The method you pick depends on what you know and what you need. Here is a list of the main options:

• Search the free online death index by name for years 1901 to 2017
• Contact the local registrar in the town where the death took place
• Write to the NJ Department of Health for a certified copy
• Visit the State Archives in Trenton for records from 1848 to 1963
• Check the Surrogate office for estate and probate files linked to a death

Start with the free online index. It is fast and covers most years. Type the last name first. If you get too many results, add a first name or year. The index shows the name, date, and a file number. Write down the file number. You will need it to order a copy of the full death certificate from the state or from a local registrar in Monmouth County.

For older records not in the index, the State Archives is the best source. Their search page has a database of over 2.3 million entries. You can also visit the Archives in person to view microfilm copies of death records from Monmouth County. The Archives is at 225 West State Street in Trenton.

Death Record Laws in Monmouth County

New Jersey law governs how death records are filed and shared. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, each local registrar in Monmouth County must record every death in their town. The registrar checks the certificate for errors and sends the original to the State Registrar. A copy stays on file at the local office.

Certified copies of death records are not open to everyone. The law limits who can get a certified copy. Eligible people include a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal agent. For genealogy, you may request a copy of a death record older than 40 years. The cause of death and Social Security number may be blocked on those copies.

The Reclaim The Records project used the Open Public Records Act to get death index data from the state. The index itself is public. It shows names and dates but not the cause of death. That detail is on the full certificate, which has stricter access rules in New Jersey and Monmouth County.

Note: If you need a death record for a legal matter, such as settling an estate, you may need to show proof of your link to the person. Bring a photo ID and any papers that show your relationship when you visit a registrar in Monmouth County.

Cities in Monmouth County

Monmouth County has 53 municipalities. Each one files death records with a local registrar. Below are links to some of the larger towns in the county.

Other towns in Monmouth County include Freehold, Long Branch, Red Bank, Asbury Park, Holmdel, and Marlboro. All of them file death records with their local registrar and with the state office in Trenton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monmouth County. If you are not sure which county holds the death record, check the address where the death took place. The record is filed in the town and county where the death happened.