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Monmouth 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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Monmouth County was created on 7 March 1683 and was formed as an original county in the East Jersey Province. The County was named for Monmouthshire, Wales. The County Seat is Freehold. The southern portion of old Monmouth County was set off as Ocean County in 1850.

First settled by migrant New Englanders in 1664, Monmouth County has always been known as a desirable place to live. A long shoreline and many estuaries provided a bounty of clams and fish, and the rich soil of the interior lowlands enabled a varied and generous production of agricultural products.

Monmouth County was formed in 1683 by the Proprietary Assembly, and was named after Monmouthshire, England. The land area of the County of Monmouth is 472 square miles. Some records were destroyed by the British in 1778, which might explain the gap in the deed records from 1756-1785. Older records are at the The Monmouth County Archives.

Counties adjacent to Monmouth County are Middlesex County (north), Ocean County (south), Burlington County (southwest), Mercer County (west), Queens County, New York- northeast), Richmond County, New York-north).

Monmouth County Boroughs Include Allenhurst, Allentown, Atlantic Highlands, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Deal, Eatontown, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Highlands, Interlaken, Keansburg, Keyport, Lake Como, Little Silver, Manasquan, Matawan, Monmouth Beach, Neptune City, Oceanport, Red Bank, Roosevelt, Rumson, Sea Bright, Sea Girt, Shrewsbury, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, West Long Branch. Cities Include Asbury Park, Long Branch. Townships Include Aberdeen, Colts Neck, Freehold, Hazlet, Holmdel, Howell, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown, Millstone, Neptune, Ocean, Shrewsbury, Upper Freehold, Wall. Villages Include Loch Arbour. Communities Include Adelphia, Allenwood, Belford, Cliffwood Beach, Colonial Terrace, East Freehold, Elberon, Fairview, Imlaystown, Leonardo, Lincroft, Morganville, Navesink, New Monmouth, North Middletown, Oakhurst, Ocean Grove, Port-au-peck, Port Monmouth, Ramtown, River Plaza, Sandy Hook, Shark River Hills, Strathmore, Wanamassa, Wayside, West Allenhurst, West Belmar, West Freehold, Wickatunk, Yorketown

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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 Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Park, Freehold, NJ 07728-1266; (732) 677-4300, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/.

NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Some records destroyed by British in 1778.

Monmouth County Clerk has Land Records & Marriage Records from 1766/1667 and is located at the address above. Phone Number: (732) 431-7324. [ County clerks were required by law to file copies of deeds beginning in 1785 and mortgages beginning in 1766. Monmouth County also filed earlier deeds beginning in 1667.]

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.

Monmouth County Surrogate Court / Orphan's Court has Probate Records from 1785/1804 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: 732-431-7330, Fax 732-303-7656; Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30-4:30 . [ Recording of wills and estate inventories at the county level began in 1804. Orphans Courts were established in 1785.]

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.

Because New Jersey's pre-1830 federal censuses have not survived, tax records are quite an important substitute for placing persons and families prior to that time. Tax lists arranged by township are available for 1773-1822. The originals, at the New Jersey State Archives, show heads of households, landowners, and single adult males, with information about their property that was taxable, including land, horses, cattle, slaves, and mills. Only about half of the 1773-4 lists are extant, and for some places, such as Sussex County, coverage is very slight. Microfilms of these records are at the state archives, the New Jersey Historical Society, Rutgers University, and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. The 1784 tax lists for thirty-eight municipalities (predominantly in southern New Jersey) are the only ones to indicate the size of a household, with a column for number of whites and a column for number of slaves.

Below is a list of online resources for Monmouth County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Monmouth 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 Monmouth County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Monmouth 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 Monmouth 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 Monmouth 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 Monmouth County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Monmouth 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 Monmouth County Maps. Email us with websites containing Monmouth 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 Monmouth County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Monmouth 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 Monmouth County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Monmouth 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 Monmouth County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Monmouth County Tombstone Transcription Project.

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

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