There is a researcher in New Jersey who will get the death record quickly from the NJ Department of Health. However, it is expensive at $55. You will need to know the exact date of death and mother's maiden name. The certificate will not include the cause of death. May I suggest a few alternate approaches? You may wish to contact the Bergen County Surrogate's Court at Hackensack to inquire if this person left a will. It will provide information on living relatives. Sometimes, the certificate of death (including cause of death) is attached to the probate record. You are entitled to acquire a copy of the will and related documentation as a matter of public record. If you can find the obituary of this individual, it may include the name / location of the funeral director and place of burial. The funeral director may be willing to tell you the name of the individual who made the "final" arrangements. Don't be afraid to call the funeral home. I have found them to be extremely polite and helpful. Next, contact the cemetery to verify the interment. Ask them who owns the plot. The cemetery should always have an AFFIDAVIT OF OWNERSHIP on file. If they refuse to give you this information, ask them if they would be willing to forward a letter, written by you, to the plot owners. Also, ask them the names of all individuals who are buried in the same plot as your ancestor. Good luck in your genealogical endeavors! Beverly G. Kirby-McDonough ----- Original Message ----- From: <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> To: <NJBERGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:38 PM Subject: [NJBERGEN] How to obtain 1997 Death Cert if not directly related? > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Author: lawful11 > Surnames: Budd > Classification: queries > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newjersey.counties.bergen/3271/mb.ashx > > Message Board Post: > > I am trying to locate living cousins and believe the only way to do so may > be by obtaining their father's death certificate and hope they are the > source listed (we don't know their names anymore). > > Does anybody know if it is possible to obtain this if our only connection > to the deceased is a common great-grandparent? > > This person died in 1997 in Emerson, Bergen County, NJ. > > Thanks in advance. > > Important Note: > The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you > would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link > above and respond on the board. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NJBERGEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >