Union County Land Records
Union County property records are managed by the County Clerk in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land instruments for all 21 municipalities in the county. You can search Union County property records online through the clerk's land records portal or visit the office in person. The clerk has earned national recognition for its recording systems, and the online tools make it straightforward to find the documents you need.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Clerk Office for Property Records
Joanne Rajoppi serves as the Union County Clerk. Her office is at 2 Broad Street, Room 113, in Elizabeth. This is where all property documents for Union County are recorded, indexed, and stored. The office handles new filings, processes copy requests, and maintains the public index of recorded instruments.
The Union County Clerk's office has received the national Trailblazer Award for its work with electronic recording. This recognition reflects the office's commitment to making property records more accessible to the public. The Union County Clerk's website gives full details on services, hours, and how to reach the office.
The clerk's website is a good starting point for anyone who needs to work with Union County property records.
The site covers all recording services and provides links to the online search tools available for Union County.
| Office |
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi 2 Broad Street, Room 113 Elizabeth, NJ 07202 Phone: (908) 527-4787 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | ucnj.org/county-clerk |
How to Search Union County Property Records Online
Union County provides a free online portal for searching property records. The Land Records search tool lets you look up recorded documents by name, document type, or recording date. The system covers deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments filed with the Union County Clerk.
The Union County Land Records portal is the main online search tool for property documents in this county.
Search results show the document type, recording date, parties involved, and book and page reference for each filing in Union County.
The online system displays index data for recorded documents. You can use this information to identify the exact document you need and then request copies from the clerk. The portal updates regularly, so recent Union County property records appear shortly after processing.
In-person searches are also available at the clerk's office at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. Bring the property address, owner name, or block and lot number to help staff locate the right records. The Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, guarantees your right to access these public documents in Union County.
Note: The online land records portal may not cover the oldest Union County property records, so contact the clerk for documents from earlier decades.
Union County Property Recording Fees
Recording fees in Union County follow the standard New Jersey schedule. A deed costs $40 for the first page and $10 for each page after that. Mortgages start at $30 for the first page, with $10 per added page. Certified copies of recorded documents are $10 each. Fees are due at the time of filing.
Union County was an early adopter of electronic recording. Title companies and attorneys can submit documents through approved eRecording vendors, which speeds up the process. The state's recording law, N.J.S.A. 46:26A-1, governs how instruments are filed across New Jersey. For eRecording options, visit njrecording.com.
Types of Property Records in Union County
The Union County Clerk records a wide range of property documents. Deeds and mortgages make up the bulk of the filings. A deed transfers ownership of real property. A mortgage places a lien on property to secure a loan. Both are recorded with the clerk to give public notice and protect the rights of all parties.
Other property records on file in Union County include:
- Mortgage discharges and satisfactions
- Lis pendens for lawsuits tied to real property
- Construction liens and mechanic's liens
- Federal and state tax liens
- Easements, covenants, and restrictions
- Powers of attorney related to property transactions
Title searchers use Union County property records to build a chain of title for each parcel. A clean chain shows that ownership passed properly with no gaps or competing claims. Lenders, buyers, and attorneys all rely on this research before a property sale closes in Union County.
Union County Property Fraud Alert
The Union County Clerk offers a free Property Fraud Alert service. This program watches for new recordings that use your name and sends you a notice when one appears. It does not block a filing, but it gives you early warning so you can act if something looks wrong.
You can sign up for the Union County Property Fraud Alert at no cost. Registration takes a few minutes. Once enrolled, you will get alerts whenever a document is recorded under your name in Union County.
Deed fraud is a real concern across New Jersey. Someone files a fake deed and tries to take ownership of a property. The real owner may not find out for months. This free alert service helps Union County property owners catch fraudulent filings early.
Note: The fraud alert monitors new recordings in Union County only and cannot reverse a document that has already been filed.
Property Tax Records in Union County
Each of the 21 municipalities in Union County has its own tax assessor who sets property values. The county tax board reviews and equalizes these assessments. Tax records are important when researching property because they show current values, exemptions, and any outstanding obligations that could affect a sale.
New Jersey property tax law under N.J.S.A. 54:4-1 governs assessments across the state. Union County sits in a densely populated part of New Jersey with higher-than-average property values. The Property Tax Transparency portal provides assessment data for all New Jersey counties, including Union. Statewide tax records are also available at taxrecords-nj.com.
Tax liens that go unpaid become recorded documents at the Union County Clerk's office. They show up in property records searches and must be resolved before a clean title can pass to a new owner.
Cities in Union County
Union County has 21 municipalities. All property records for these towns are filed with the Union County Clerk in Elizabeth. The county includes cities and boroughs of various sizes, from Elizabeth down to smaller communities like Mountainside and Garwood.
Other municipalities in Union County include Westfield, Cranford, Linden, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Clark, Kenilworth, Roselle, and Springfield. All property transactions in these towns are recorded with the Union County Clerk.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Union County. Each one keeps its own property records through its county clerk. Verify which county a property falls in before you search.