Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.
Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below. If it has not been digitized or if you need a certified copy, contact the appropriate state or county office to view the record.
| Adoption Records |
The State Archives' holdings of adoption records vary from county to county. Additional and/or more recent records are held by the county surrogates' offices and Superior Court; consult the county records and judiciary for addresses and links. It should be noted that New Jersey's 1940 adoption statute did not retroactively seal earlier adoption files. The records listed below, therefore, are open to the public without restriction. |
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| Birth Records |
Colonial to 1848: See Published Vital Records below. Registration began 1848:
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| Death Records |
Colonial to 1848: See Published Vital Records below. Registration began 1848:
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| Marriage Records |
Colonial Marriage Bonds and Licenses, see Secretary of State - Genealogical and Colonial Records also consult the searchable Index to Marriage Records, 1666-1799 External. Registration began 1848:
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| Divorce Records |
Colonial to early 1900s: see Published Vital Records below. Granted by chancery court 1743-1850: State Archives. Granted by Legislature, 1778-1844:
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| Records Relating to Enslaved Persons |
County clerks were required by law to record slave manumissions (freedom papers) beginning in 1786. The "Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery" in 1804 required the recording of births of children of slave mothers. The State Archives' holdings of slave-related filings vary depending on the county. Additional records may be available in county clerks' offices. |
The subscription resources marked with a padlock 
are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.
Using Ancestry Library Edition for New Jersey
Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as New Jersey records External.
Using FamilySearch for New Jersey
FamilySearch provides useful state and county wikis that make excellent starting points for research. The New Jersey Wiki External includes links to each of its counties.
FamilySearch has digitized many of its microfilms containing county courthouse records including birth, death, and marriage. Not all records have been indexed yet, so search engine results may NOT show you the full range of FamilySearch data. You must browse the FamilySearch catalog External listings for each county to view the full set of records available. The vast amount of accessible original records is well worth your time to explore.
There is no fee to use FamilySearch, but you must create a free, personal account to access the databases and digital records.
Contact the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics to learn more about accessing state-level records and explore additional options for obtaining copies.
Below are selected print publications for statewide vital records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.
To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published county courthouse records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records at the county level.
Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical SocietyWoodbridge and Vicinity: The Story of a New Jersey Township by 
