Search Obituary, Death and Burial Records by Name
Enter the person’s first name, last name and last known state to prepare an obituary, death, burial, cemetery, memorial and related public-record search.
Find Recent Star-Ledger Obituaries and Verify Funeral Notices
Looking for a recent Star-Ledger obituary? Start with the newspaper’s current online obituary listings. Search the person’s name, compare the identifying details and open the handling funeral home’s original memorial before travelling or paying.
This guide covers Newark, Essex County and the wider New Jersey communities represented in The Star-Ledger. It also explains historical newspaper archives, death certificates, cemetery records, funeral assistance and veterans’ benefits.
Source review: October 14, 2026 • Independent information guide
Quick Answer: Where Should You Look?
The Star-Ledger obituary page
Open the newspaper’s Today or Browse page to see recent published notices.
Search by name
Enter first and last name, then narrow by publication date, place or funeral home.
Original funeral-home memorial
Verify visitation, funeral date, church, cemetery and donation instructions.
New Jersey death certificate
Use the municipality where the death occurred or the New Jersey state Vital Records office.
Is The Star-Ledger Still Publishing Obituaries?
Yes. The Star-Ledger stopped publishing a physical print newspaper after its final print edition on February 2, 2025. Its news and obituary services continue digitally.
Before February 2025
Search printed newspaper archives, digitized issues, obituary websites and library collections.
After February 2025
Search the online Star-Ledger obituary pages and NJ.com. Do not expect to find a newly printed daily paper.
How to Find Today’s Star-Ledger Obituaries
The Star-Ledger’s current obituary pages are available through NJ.com and Legacy. The newspaper-specific Today page provides a useful starting point for newly published notices.
Search Star-Ledger Obituaries by First and Last Name
The newspaper’s name-search page lets readers enter a first name, last name or both. It also provides additional filters to help separate people with similar names.
Full name known
Search first and last name. Add the middle name only if the person regularly used it.
Only surname known
Search the surname, then narrow by town, funeral home or publication date.
Publication date uncertain
Use a wider date range. Search the weeks after the estimated death date.
Useful obituary search filters
- First and last name.
- Publication date or date range.
- Obituary versus In Memoriam notice.
- Location.
- Newspaper.
- Funeral home.
- High school or college.
If the newspaper-specific search does not show the person, check the broader NJ.com obituary listings. Notices may appear under another NJ.com newspaper or through a funeral home.
Obituary, Death Notice or In Memoriam?
Obituary
A written memorial that may include life history, relatives, funeral services, cemetery and donation information.
Death notice
A shorter public announcement that may contain the name, death date and service arrangements.
In Memoriam
A remembrance published after the death, often on an anniversary. It is not necessarily a recent death.
Which New Jersey Communities Should You Search?
The Star-Ledger has a strong connection with Newark and northern New Jersey, but its obituary listings may include people across the state or people who moved outside New Jersey.
Newark and nearby towns
Newark, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Bloomfield, Belleville and Irvington.
Montclair and Livingston
Montclair, Verona, Cedar Grove, Caldwell, West Caldwell, Livingston and Millburn.
Elizabeth and Westfield
Elizabeth, Union, Hillside, Linden, Westfield, Cranford and nearby communities.
Jersey City and Bayonne
Jersey City, Bayonne, Hoboken, Kearny, Harrison and neighboring towns.
Morristown and Bridgewater
Morristown, Parsippany, Madison, Bridgewater, Basking Ridge and surrounding communities.
Edison and New Brunswick
Edison, Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Piscataway, Old Bridge and other New Jersey communities.
Confirm the Correct Person Before Sharing the Obituary
| Check | Useful clue | When to recheck |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Middle name, maiden surname or nickname | Names clearly differ. |
| Age | Birth year or age at death | The age does not match. |
| Relatives | Spouse, parents, children and siblings | Known family details conflict. |
| Community | Newark, Elizabeth, Montclair or another known place | There is no known connection. |
| Funeral home | Named provider and original memorial | Service details concern another person. |
How to Find Funeral and Visitation Details
Once you find the obituary, the funeral home’s original memorial is usually the most useful source for current arrangements.
Check these details separately
Visitation
Date, start and end time, public or private status and location.
Funeral or memorial
Exact venue, address, time and any attendance instructions.
Graveside service
Cemetery name, burial time and whether attendance is invited.
Religious service
Follow the instructions provided by the family and service organizer.
Livestream
Use the original funeral-home, church or family-authorized link.
Flowers and donations
Confirm the family’s preference and the correct delivery destination.
The Star-Ledger obituary browse page also provides a Funeral Homes section. Use it to locate the original provider connected with a published notice.
What If You Cannot Find the Star-Ledger Obituary?
Search a different name
Try initials, maiden names, previous surnames and nicknames.
Search nearby dates
The obituary may have been published days after the death.
Check a different town
The funeral-home city may differ from the person’s last residence.
Use NJ.com more broadly
The notice may appear under another newspaper or publication.
Search the funeral home
A family may publish an original memorial without a newspaper notice.
Allow for privacy
A family may choose delayed publication or no public obituary.
How to Submit a Star-Ledger Obituary
The newspaper’s official obituary page provides a Submit an Obituary option. Families may also ask the funeral home to assist with publication.
Find Older Star-Ledger Obituaries and Newspaper Archives
Older obituaries often require newspaper archives rather than the current Legacy listing. Two especially useful resources are the New Jersey State Library and Newark Public Library.
New Jersey State Library: Star-Ledger archive coverage
| Collection | Available period | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| NewsBank full text | May 10, 1989–present | Search newspaper text and historical articles by name. |
| NewsBank digital microfilm | 1945–1989 | Review images of historical newspaper pages. |
| Later digital newspaper | 2017–present | View later digital newspaper editions where coverage is supplied. |
Newark Public Library: historical microfilm
The Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center at Newark Public Library has a large historical newspaper collection.
It reports Star-Ledger and predecessor-title microfilm coverage from 1916–2019, plus digital coverage after 2017.
Newark Public Library — New Jersey Information Center
Third Floor
5 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-733-7775
Email: njreference@npl.org
The library says its staff can help with newspaper-article lookups by email.
Historic newspaper names to try
- Newark Star-Ledger.
- Newark Star-Eagle.
- Newark Star.
- Newark Evening Star.
- Newark Evening News.
How to search an older obituary
New Jersey Historical Death Records and State Archives
Historical government death records are different from newspaper obituaries. The New Jersey State Archives is useful for genealogical research.
| Record years | Starting source | Research note |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1848 | Church, cemetery and other historical records | New Jersey did not have a statewide government death-record filing system for this earlier period. |
| May 1848–1950 | New Jersey State Archives | State-owned historical death records; some early indexes can be searched online. |
| 1951–1965 | State Archives research microfilm | The Archives lists in-person microfilm research access. The Department of Health owns the underlying newer vital records. |
| Recent records | New Jersey Vital Statistics | Certified copies require the state’s eligibility and ID process. |
New Jersey State Archives
225 West State Street, Second Floor
Trenton, NJ
Telephone: 609-292-6260
The Archives offers appointments and limited walk-in research when space is available. Check its current visitor rules.
How to Order a New Jersey Death Certificate
New Jersey issues certified death certificates through the state Office of Vital Statistics and Registry and local municipal registrars.
State death-certificate fees
| State record service | Current charge | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Initial search and copy | $25 | Includes the first certified copy, certification or a no-record statement. |
| Additional same record | $2 each | Applies when ordered in the same transaction. |
| Municipal registrar | Varies | Each municipality sets its own copy fees. |
| Online or telephone | Extra service fees | Confirm processing and delivery charges before paying. |
Certified copy or informational certification?
Certified copy
Issued on New Jersey security paper with the official seal.
Appropriate for authorized legal and administrative uses when a certified record is required.
Certification
An informational copy on plain paper without the official seal.
It is not valid for establishing identity or for legal purposes.
Who can request a certified copy?
New Jersey restricts certified copies of recent death records. Eligible requesters must meet the state’s identity and relationship rules.
Qualifying categories include:
- Spouse or civil-union partner.
- Adult child or grandchild.
- Adult sibling.
- Parent or legal representative.
- Authorized government agency.
- Person with a court order.
- Properly documented estate representative.
How to request the record
New Jersey state walk-in office
Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
140 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ
The state lists same-day walk-in processing for eligible non-genealogical requests. Processing conditions and office hours should be confirmed before visiting.
Payment change: Cash is no longer accepted at the Trenton state walk-in office, effective June 18, 2026.
Newark Death Certificates: Local Fees and Office
Newark’s Vital Statistics office maintains death records for vital events occurring within the City of Newark.
Newark Vital Statistics
394 University Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-733-6510
Posted public hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., except applicable holidays.
Newark’s municipal certificate fees
| Office | First copy | Additional same-record copy |
|---|---|---|
| Newark Vital Statistics | $25 | $4 each |
| New Jersey state office | $25 | $2 each |
Newark lists walk-in, mail and online ordering options. The city says eligible walk-in requests can receive same-day service.
Correct an Obituary or Death Certificate
Correction to an obituary
Contact the original newspaper publisher or funeral home responsible for the notice.
Save the obituary URL, identify the exact error and prepare the family-approved replacement wording.
Correction to a death record
Contact New Jersey Vital Statistics or the responsible registrar.
A public obituary correction does not amend the official death certificate. The state may require specific documents.
Verify a New Jersey Funeral Home or Funeral Director
New Jersey’s State Board of Mortuary Science regulates funeral professionals and registered mortuaries.
The Division of Consumer Affairs provides a real-time public license verification system.
Funeral Pricing and Prepaid Funeral Rights
New Jersey families have protections when arranging or prepaying for funeral services.
Ask for a price list
Request the General Price List, casket prices and applicable outer burial-container prices.
Review selected services
The funeral provider should give a written statement showing the goods and services selected.
Check prepaid funds
New Jersey requires prepaid funeral money to be held through a proper trust or insurance arrangement, not simply placed in the funeral home’s general account.
Understand cancellation
Most revocable prepaid funeral arrangements can be canceled or transferred, subject to the contract and legal rules.
Funeral and Burial Financial Assistance in New Jersey
Some families may qualify for public assistance with funeral or burial expenses. Eligibility depends on the deceased person’s circumstances and the relevant county program.
Public-assistance funeral
New Jersey has assistance routes for certain people receiving qualifying public benefits.
The county board of social services reviews the deceased person’s eligibility and available resources.
Indigent burial
New Jersey law provides certain county responsibilities when a person dies without sufficient resources for burial.
The responsible county and covered costs depend on the circumstances and applicable law.
How to check funeral assistance
Find the correct county social-services office
New Jersey’s Department of Human Services maintains an official county directory. Use the deceased person’s resident county as the starting point.
Example: Essex County assistance
Essex County Division of
Family Assistance and Benefits
320 University Avenue, Second Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone: 973-395-8000
Ask whether the circumstances qualify for public-assistance funeral funding and what documents the funeral director must submit.
New Jersey Veterans Burial and Memorial Benefits
Eligible Veterans and certain family members may qualify for burial services through New Jersey’s state veterans cemetery system.
BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery
BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery
350 Province Line Road
Wrightstown, NJ 08562
Telephone: 609-738-2400
Cemetery grounds: daily, 8:00 a.m. until dusk.
Office: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., except state holidays.
What may be provided at no cost?
New Jersey lists no interment charge for eligible burials at Doyle Cemetery when the state-provided grave liner and standard services are used.
Some eligible Veterans, spouses and dependents may qualify, subject to military-service, relationship and other requirements.
What the family may still need to pay
- Funeral-home services.
- Preparation of remains.
- Transport to the cemetery.
- Optional private burial vault upgrades.
- Other selected goods or services.
Prepare these documents
- DD-214 or accepted military-service documentation.
- Death documentation required by the cemetery.
- Marriage or dependent-status documents if applicable.
- Funeral-home contact details.
- Any other cemetery-required eligibility evidence.
How to arrange burial
How to Find a New Jersey Cemetery or Grave Record
The Star-Ledger may report the funeral location, but that does not always identify the cemetery. Burial arrangements can be in another town, county or state.
For Veterans buried at Doyle Cemetery, the state provides a grave-location information route through the cemetery office at 609-738-2400.
Flowers, Donations, Guestbooks and Livestream Safety
Flowers
Confirm the person and delivery destination before placing an order.
Memorial donations
Verify the named organization through its official website before paying.
Guestbooks
Assume messages are public. Do not post private financial, medical or family information.
Livestreams
Use the official funeral-home or family-authorized link.
Unexpected payments
Call the funeral home if someone demands urgent payment to access service information.
Travel arrangements
Confirm the exact address and service time before leaving.
After Finding the Obituary: Important Next Tasks
- Save the full obituary and original funeral-home link.
- Confirm visitation, funeral and cemetery locations.
- Ask whether the funeral director reported the death to Social Security.
- Determine whether banks or insurers need certified death certificates.
- Gather estate, account and insurance paperwork securely.
- Check applicable county burial-assistance programs.
- Review VA or state veterans benefits if military service applies.
- Keep receipts and confirmation numbers together.
Official and Primary Sources Used
Star-Ledger Obituary Listings Current newspaper notices, funeral-home links and filters. Star-Ledger Name Search Search first name, last name and available categories. New Jersey State Library — Newspaper Collections Historic Star-Ledger digitization, years and database access. Newark Public Library — Star-Ledger Archive Original Newark newspaper collections and reference assistance. New Jersey State Archives Historical death-record indexes and research collections. New Jersey Vital Statistics Official certified records, eligibility and ordering methods. State Vital Records Fee Schedule State copy charges, additional-copy fees and services. Newark Vital Statistics Newark-specific records, municipal fees and contact. New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science Funeral regulation, consumer protections and complaints. New Jersey County Social Services Directory Local assistance offices and contact information. New Jersey Veterans Cemetery Directory Doyle Cemetery address, hours, burial and grave-location help.Star-Ledger Recent Obituaries: FAQs
Where can I find today’s Star-Ledger obituaries?
Use The Star-Ledger’s Today obituary page on NJ.com/Legacy. If the person does not appear, open the broader browse page and search nearby publication dates.
Does The Star-Ledger still publish obituaries in 2026?
Yes. The newspaper ended its print edition on February 2, 2025, but its obituary services continue online.
How do I search Star-Ledger obituaries by name?
Use the newspaper-specific name search. Enter the first and last name, then narrow the results by publish date, funeral home or location.
Why can’t I find a recent Star-Ledger obituary?
The notice may be delayed, published under another name, listed through a funeral home or associated with a different publication. Some families choose no public obituary.
Is The Star-Ledger the same as NJ.com?
The Star-Ledger is a newspaper brand associated with NJ Advance Media’s digital publishing. Its obituary pages are available through NJ.com and Legacy.
What is the difference between an obituary and In Memoriam?
An obituary usually announces a recent death. An In Memoriam notice is a remembrance that may appear months or years afterward.
Where can I find old Star-Ledger obituaries?
New Jersey State Library provides historical Star-Ledger newspaper databases. Newark Public Library has microfilm and digital newspaper research collections.
What years does Newark Public Library cover?
Newark Public Library reports Star-Ledger and predecessor-title microfilm coverage from 1916–2019, with digital coverage after 2017.
How much is a New Jersey death certificate?
The New Jersey state Vital Records office currently charges $25 for the first copy or search and $2 for each additional copy of the same record ordered together. Municipal fees may differ.
How much is a Newark death certificate?
Newark Vital Statistics currently lists $25 for the initial copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record.
Can anyone order a New Jersey death certificate?
Recent certified records are restricted. Applicants generally need acceptable identification and proof of a qualifying relationship or legal authority.
Where should I request a death certificate if the person died outside Newark?
Contact the municipal registrar where the death occurred or use the New Jersey state Vital Records office. Do not use Newark simply because the obituary appeared in The Star-Ledger.
Where can I research older New Jersey death records?
New Jersey State Archives owns historical state death records from May 1848 through 1950 and provides historical research services.
How can I verify a New Jersey funeral home?
Use the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs License Verification System. Select Business Search for a funeral home and Person Search for an individual licensed professional.
Can New Jersey help pay for a funeral?
Some qualifying families may receive public-assistance funeral funding through county social-services offices. Eligibility and payment amounts depend on the circumstances and applicable program.
Are burials at Doyle Veterans Cemetery free?
New Jersey lists no interment cost for eligible burials using standard state cemetery services. Funeral-home and transportation costs may still apply.
Where is the BG William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery?
The cemetery is at 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562. The official telephone number is 609-738-2400.
Can a published Star-Ledger obituary be corrected?
Contact the original newspaper publisher or funeral home responsible for the notice. Correcting an obituary does not change the official death certificate.
Before You Share, Travel or Pay
- Use the current online Star-Ledger obituary pages.
- Verify the correct person through multiple details.
- Open the original funeral-home memorial for current arrangements.
- Confirm visitation and cemetery addresses separately.
- Use municipal or state Vital Records for certified documents.
- Use library archives for older newspaper notices.
- Check funeral licenses and consumer-price rights.
- Ask about county assistance before assuming payment is available.
- Verify Veteran benefits and cemetery eligibility early.
- Protect private family, medical and financial information.
Independent resource: RecentObituaries.info is not The Star-Ledger, NJ.com, Legacy, a funeral home, cemetery, library or New Jersey government agency. Verify final information with the original organization responsible for the notice, service, record or benefit.