Atlantic County Genealogy Records

Atlantic County sits along the southern New Jersey coast. It is home to Atlantic City and the county seat of Mays Landing. Researchers searching for genealogy records in Atlantic County can find birth, death, marriage, land, and probate files through several local offices. The County Clerk holds records dating back to 1837 when the county was first formed. Whether you need vital records, old deeds, or family history files, Atlantic County has multiple places to start your search for genealogy records.

Atlantic County Clerk Genealogy Office

The Atlantic County Clerk is the main source for many genealogy records in the county. Joseph J. Giralo serves as County Clerk. The office has two locations. The main office is at 5901 Main Street in Mays Landing, NJ 08330. A satellite office sits at 1333 Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City, NJ 08401. You can reach the office by phone at (609) 625-4011. Both locations are open from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. The satellite office closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM.

The Clerk holds court and land records from 1837. Birth and death records start in 1901. Divorce records go back to 1949. You can search deeds, mortgages, federal tax liens, and notice of settlements through the office. All documents recorded from March 1, 2000 are free to view on the web. The Records Room is open to the public for viewing and copies. E-Recording is also an option for filing new documents in Atlantic County.

The Atlantic County Clerk's Office provides online access to many genealogy records for researchers who cannot visit in person.

Free services at the Clerk's office include DD-214 discharge paper filing and Veteran ID Cards for honorably discharged Atlantic County veterans. A Property Fraud Alert system lets homeowners keep watch on their property records at no cost.

Probate and Estate Records

The Atlantic County Surrogate's Office handles probate records. James Curcio serves as the Surrogate. The office is at 5911 Main Street in Mays Landing, NJ 08330. A second location is at 1201 Bacharach Boulevard in Atlantic City. Phone the office at (609) 645-5800. Probate records in Atlantic County began in 1837 when the county was formed. In 1852, records were moved from the Court of Common Pleas to the Surrogate.

You do not need a lawyer to start probate. Cash and checks are the only accepted forms of payment. To file, you need the original will, a certified death certificate with raised seal, the fiduciary's full name, address, phone, and Social Security number, names and addresses of next of kin, and two forms of ID. Walk-ins are welcome, though an appointment is a good idea. Under New Jersey vital records law, the state keeps a full index of all registered records, which can help when searching for estate files tied to genealogy research in Atlantic County.

Note: Appointments are not required for most services at the Surrogate's Office, but they are strongly recommended to avoid wait times.

Atlantic County Historical Society

The Atlantic County Historical Society is a key resource for genealogy research. It sits at 907 Shore Road in Somers Point, NJ 08244. Call (609) 927-5218 or email info@achsnj.org to plan a visit. The Society is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The library holds genealogy records, maps, and early photos. A museum on site features Victorian clothing and maritime artifacts from the shore area. Researchers can use Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com right from the library for free. The Society was founded in 1913 and incorporated in 1915. The current building opened in 1968 and went through a full renovation in 2017. The Risley Homestead, parts of which date to 1790, was left to the Society in 1989 by Virginia Risley Stout. It sits on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Free membership is offered to all Atlantic County fourth graders and their families, which is a great way to start young researchers on their family history path.

Atlantic County Library Genealogy Resources

The Atlantic County Library System offers tools for family history research. The main branch is at 40 Farragut Avenue in Mays Landing, NJ 08330. Phone is (609) 625-2776. The Atlantic City branch is at 1 North Tennessee Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, with a phone number of (609) 345-2269.

The Atlantic City Free Public Library holds the Heston Collection. This collection has documents, ephemera, and items about Atlantic City's past. It includes the Atlantic City Press on microfilm from 1895 to the present day. Old newspapers are one of the best tools for genealogy work. They hold death notices, marriage announcements, birth listings, and local news about your family. The library system also provides eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital databases, and programs for all ages.

State Archives for Atlantic County Research

The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton holds vital records that cover Atlantic County. Birth records on microfilm run from 1848 to 1923. Marriage records span 1848 to 1948. Death records cover 1848 to 1963. These are open to the public at no charge in the search room at 225 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.

The Archives also holds over 37,000 cubic feet of paper records and 32,000 reels of microfilm. Genealogy researchers can find colonial marriage bonds from 1666 to 1799 through a searchable online database. Probate records date from 1670 to 1952. Land records include colonial deeds and proprietary records from East and West Jersey. For records not found at the county level in Atlantic County, the State Archives is the next step. You can reach them at (609) 292-6260.

The Reclaim the Records project made about 445,000 New Jersey vital record indices free to view online at the Internet Archive. These indices cover births, marriages, and deaths from the early 1900s and can point you to records held at the State Archives.

Note: For birth records under 100 years old and records after 1940, contact the New Jersey Department of Health at (877) 622-7549 rather than the State Archives.

Online Genealogy Search Tools

Several online platforms hold Atlantic County genealogy records. Ancestry.com has New Jersey births, marriages, and deaths going back to 1660. Census records for all federal years through 1950 are available there. The Atlantic County Library and Historical Society both offer free access to Ancestry Library Edition on their computers.

Other useful sites for Atlantic County genealogy include:

• FamilySearch with free access to New Jersey vital records from 1660 to 1980
• The NJ GenWeb Project with free county-level genealogy pages and query boards
• The New Jersey Digital Highway with collections from museums and archives
• The Genealogical Society of New Jersey with cemetery records and locality guides

The Genealogical Society of New Jersey was founded in 1925. Its collections sit at the Alexander Library on the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick. The Society publishes a quarterly journal and keeps cemetery transcriptions from across the state, including Atlantic County plots. These free and paid tools make it possible to trace Atlantic County families from your home before visiting any office in person.

Cities in Atlantic County

Atlantic County has over 20 municipalities. Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Hammonton, Galloway, and Pleasantville are among the largest. All genealogy records for these areas are filed through the Atlantic County offices in Mays Landing and Atlantic City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Atlantic County. If your family lived near a county line, records may be filed in a neighboring county instead. Check the town of residence to confirm which county holds the records you need.