Passaic County NJ Death Index Search Guide

Passaic County was formed in 1837 from parts of Bergen and Essex counties. The county seat is Paterson. Death index records cover 1901 to 1903, 1920 to 1929, and 1949 to 2017. The county has 16 towns, each with its own registrar. Marriage records go from 1837 to 1940. Land records start in 1837. This page shows how to search the Passaic County death index, where to find copies, and what to know about record access rules in New Jersey.

Passaic County Clerk Records

The Passaic County Clerk is at 401 Grand Street, Paterson, NJ 07505. This office keeps land records from 1837 and marriage records from 1837 to 1940. The clerk does not hold death certificates. Those are filed with local registrars in each of the 16 Passaic County towns. But the clerk records add facts to a death index search.

Marriage records at the clerk office show names, dates, and places. Land records show deeds, mortgages, and liens. When you find a name in the Passaic County death index, use the clerk files to learn where the person lived and who they were linked to. Staff at the clerk office can search by name or by date range.

A reference image of Passaic County is shown here.

The county sits in the northeast part of New Jersey and borders Bergen, Essex, Morris, and Sussex counties.

The clerk office is open on weekdays. Call ahead for hours and fees. Most requests are filled the same day. If you need a certified copy of a land deed or old marriage record, the staff can help. These records go all the way back to 1837 when Passaic County was first formed from Bergen and Essex.

Passaic County Surrogate Office

The Passaic County Surrogate is at 71 Hamilton Street, Room 101, Paterson. The phone number is (973) 881-4760. This office handles wills, estates, and probate. When a person dies in Passaic County, their will is filed with the Surrogate. The probate file shows heirs, assets, and dates.

Probate records are public in New Jersey. You can visit the Surrogate to view a will or estate file. Staff search by name or year. The Surrogate also issues letters of administration and letters testamentary. These papers let an executor or heir act on behalf of the estate of the person who died in Passaic County.

Use the Surrogate records along with the Passaic County death index. The probate file often has the date of death, the names of heirs, and a list of assets. This can help confirm facts or lead you to new details about a family in Passaic County.

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 or the NJ Department of Health.

Death Index Coverage for Passaic County

The Passaic County death index covers three spans. The first is 1901 to 1903. The second is 1920 to 1929. The third is 1949 to 2017. Gaps exist for 1904 to 1919 and 1930 to 1948. The state could not find those index files. The actual death certificates for those years may still be on film at the New Jersey State Archives.

For the 1920s block, death index entries are sorted by county or major city, then by year, then by last name. This is an important point for Passaic County. In the 1920s death index, Passaic and Paterson are listed as separate entries. This means you should search under both "Passaic" and "Paterson" when looking for a death in this county during the 1920s. Other towns in Passaic County are grouped under the county name.

The free online death index lets you search all covered years at no cost. Type a name to see matches from Passaic County and the rest of New Jersey. The Reclaim The Records project obtained this data through the Open Public Records Act. Each entry shows the name, date, and a file number you need to order the full certificate.

For deaths before 1901, the State Archives holds records from 1848 to 1900. You can visit the Archives at 225 West State Street in Trenton or send a request by mail. The fee is $10 per search. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, each registrar in Passaic County must file all deaths with the state.

Paterson Death Records in Passaic County

Paterson is the county seat and the largest city in Passaic County. It has its own registrar of vital statistics. Deaths that took place in Paterson are on file with the city registrar. You can contact the city clerk to ask about a death record. Bring the full name and year of death.

Because Paterson is so large, it has its own section in the 1920s death index. When you search for a death that took place in Paterson during the 1920s, look under "Paterson" as well as "Passaic County." The index splits them out. This is not the case for the 1949 to 2017 block, where all towns are grouped by county.

Here is a reference image of the Paterson vital statistics office.

The city of Paterson keeps birth, death, and marriage records for events within its borders.

Paterson was a major mill city in the 1800s and early 1900s. Many people came to work in the silk and cotton factories. Death records from that era can help trace immigrant families who lived in Passaic County. The city registrar holds these older files along with more recent death records.

How to Search Passaic County Death Records

You can search for a death record in Passaic County in several ways. The best method depends on the year and what facts you already have. Here are the main options:

• Search the free online death index 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 for older records on microfilm
• Use the Archives search page to check their database online

Start online. The free death index is the fastest way to check. Type the last name and look through the results. Each match shows a name, date, and file number. Write down the file number. You will use it to order the full death certificate from the state or from a local registrar in Passaic County.

For records not in the index, the State Archives is the next step. They hold death records from 1848 to 1963 on film. The Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness page for Passaic County lists people who may help with free lookups at local offices. This is a good option if you cannot visit in person.

Note: For 1920s searches, remember that Passaic and Paterson are listed separately in the death index. Search both names to be thorough when looking for a death in Passaic County during that decade.

Death Record Access Laws in Passaic County

New Jersey law governs who can get a certified death certificate. Under N.J.S.A. Title 26, eligible people include a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal agent. A court order also works. For genealogy, you can get a copy of a death record older than 40 years, but the cause of death and Social Security number may be blocked.

The death index is public. Anyone can search it at no cost. It shows names and dates but not the cause of death. That detail is only on the full certificate. The index helps you find the file number you need to request the certificate from the state or from a local registrar in Passaic County.

Each of the 16 towns in Passaic County has a registrar who files death records. The registrar checks each certificate, issues burial permits, and sends the original to the State Registrar. A local copy stays at the town level. The Reclaim The Records project has worked to make more death index data available to the public across New Jersey.

Genealogy Tips for Passaic County

Passaic County has a rich history tied to its mill towns and immigrant groups. Many families came to Paterson and Passaic in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Death records from that time can reveal parents' names, birthplaces, and ages. The death index is a good starting point, but you may need to use other records too.

Land records at the clerk office go back to 1837. Marriage records span 1837 to 1940. The Surrogate has wills and probate files. Together, these records paint a picture of a family's time in Passaic County. Church records and old newspapers can fill in more gaps. The Paterson Public Library has a local history collection with city directories and old maps.

For older records, note that Passaic County was part of Bergen and Essex before 1837. If you need a record from before that year, check those counties. The Bergen County Clerk in Hackensack and the Essex County Clerk in Newark may have files for what is now Passaic County.

Cities in Passaic County

Passaic County has 16 municipalities. Each one has a local registrar who files death records. Below are links to some of the main cities and towns.

Other towns in Passaic County include Hawthorne, Pompton Lakes, Ringwood, Wanaque, and West Milford. All file death records with their local registrar and with the state office in Trenton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Passaic County. If you are not sure which county holds the death record, check the address where the death took place. Records are filed in the town and county of the event.