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Bergen County, New Jersey

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records

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Bergen County was established in December 1682 (formed 7 Mar 1683), when the Assembly of East Jersey Province divided the Province into four original counties: Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. It originally included the area that is today Hudson County, and part of the area that is today Passaic County. On October 31, 1693 Bergen County was divided into Bergen and Hackensack Townships. In 1709 (January 21, 1710) New Barbadoes township was transferred from Essex County to Bergen, and became its county seat. On February 7, 1837 part of Bergen County's area was transferred to form Passaic County. The County was named for either Bergen-op-Zoom, the Netherlands or Bergen, Norway. The County Seat is Hackensack.

Counties adjacent to Bergen County are Rockland County, New York (north), Westchester County, New York (east), Hudson County (south), Essex County (south) and Passaic County (west).

Bergen County Cities Include Englewood, Garfield, Hackensack. Boroughs Include Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Carlstadt, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, East Rutherford, Edgewater, Elmwood Park, Emerson, Englewood Cliffs, Fair Lawn, Fairview, Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Harrington Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Leonia, Little Ferry, Lodi, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, Moonachie, New Milford, North Arlington, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Palisades Park, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, River Edge, Rockleigh, Rutherford, Saddle River, Tenafly, Teterboro, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Wallington, Westwood, Wood-Ridge, Woodcliff Lake. Townships Include Lyndhurst, Mahwah, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook, South Hackensack, Teaneck, Washington Township, Wyckoff. Villages Include Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood

Over the history of the county, there have been various municipality secessions, annexations, and renamings. The following is a partial list of former municipalities, ordered by year of incorporation: Bergen Township (1683), Hackensack Township (1693), New Barbadoes Township (1710), Saddle River Township (1716), Franklin Township (1771), Harrington Township (1775), Lodi Township (1825), Washington Township (1840), Hohokus Township (1849), Union Township (1852), Midland Township (1871), Englewood Township (1871), Palisades Township (1871), Ridgefield Township (1871), Ridgewood Township (1876), Orvil Township (1885), Boiling Springs Township (1885), Overpeck Township (1892), Bergen Township (1893), Eastwood Borough (1894).

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County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also New Jersey Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

All Departments below are in the Bergen County Justice Center, 10 Main Street, Hackensack. NJ 07601; (201) 527-2700 , unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/.

NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Bergen County Clerk has Land Records & Marriage Records from 1766/1829*, and is located at One Bergen County Plaza, Floor 1, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Phone Number: (201) 336-7000

New Jersey county clerks are responsiblefor land records, including deeds and mortgages, naturalizations, marriages (usually 1795-1840s), and various county court records. A few original county justice of the peace dockets are at the New Jersey State Archives. Estate matters are handled in the surrogate's and orphans' courts. * The date the earliest land deed was recorded appears in the second column. Where two years appear, the first refers to mortgages, the second to deeds.

Bergen County Surrogate Court / Orphan's Court has Probate Records from 1785/1804** and is located at the courthouse. Room 211, Phone Number: (201) 646-2252

By virtue of laws enacted since 1844, the responsibilities of the County Surrogate have been expanded. The County Surrogate now has two major functions:

  1. As Judge and Clerk of the County Surrogate's Court, the Surrogate is responsible for settling the estate of every county resident who dies individually owning any assets in New Jersey--whether or not that resident dies leaving a will. Therefore, the Surrogate reviews and probates wills and appoints Executors, Administrators and guardians of minors. In addition, the Surrogate administers and invests monies (now more than $30 million in Bergen County) primarily for minor children who receive judgments in the courts in Bergen County; and
  2. As Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part, the Surrogate dockets, reviews and schedules all actions pertaining to will contests, estate matters, accountings, mental incompetencies, guardianships of incompetents and all adoptions occurring in Bergen County. In addition, all documents involved in all County Surrogate Court matters are recorded, stored and maintained by the County Surrogate's Court.

** Where two years are given, the first is the date when orphans' court minutes begin, the second when surrogates' records and files begin

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in New Jersey

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services, State Registrar Search Unit, PO Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370; (609) 292-4087, Fax: (609) 392-4292. It can take up to 4 months to get a vital record from New Jersey.

Vital records from May 1848 - May 1878 may be obtained from the State Archives. The Archives also holds microfilm copies of births from 1878-1923, marriages from 1879-1940 and deaths from 1878-1940. These materials are available for in-person use only.

  • Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates from 1878 to the present.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $25.00 per certificate.
      Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $2 are per copy
      Additional years searched (genealogy records only) are $1 per year.
      Make Check or Money Order payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $25.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 14-16 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • Divorce Certificates: Divorce records for 1900-1989 are kept by the Records Information Center of the State Superior Court. For records after 1989 contact the NJ County Court that issued the divorce decree.New Jersey divorce decrees are available through the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Center. For more information on obtaining a certified copy of a divorce decree, call the Records Center at: 609-777-0092
    • Cost: Include a fee of $10.00 per 10 year search per last name with request. Make check or money order payable to Clerk of the Superior Court. Superior Court of NJ, Public Information Ctr, 171 Jersey Street, CN 967, Trenton, NJ 08625-0967
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Records for New Jersey

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Bergen County, New Jersey are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Bergen County, New Jersey are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for New Jersey

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Maps. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Maps by clicking the link below:

County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in New Jersey

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other New Jersey Genealogical Addresses

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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County County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for New Jersey

There are many churches and cemeteries in Bergen County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Bergen County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for New Jersey

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Bergen County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Bergen County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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