Cape May County Recorder Information

Land records in Cape May County are recorded by the County Clerk. The office is held by Rita M. Rothberg.

Online database extends back to August 2000, with deeds and mortgages back to January 1996. Physical records before 2000 are in the Record Room in the Hall of Records, open Mon. - Fri. 9am - 4pm; staff-assisted research by appointment. Searches of records of covered persons under Daniel's Law are done in person by appointment.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: County Clerk

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

Fee schedule effective February 20, 2025.

StatewideStatutory fees also include: lis pendens foreclosure filing $30.00; cancellation of any mortgage $20.00; notice of settlement $20.00; federal tax lien or discharge $25.00; each map, plat, plan or chart $55.00; tax sale certificate, lien, deed or related instrument recorded by a municipality $8.00; veteran's discharge papers, no fee. Part of the fee increase is paid to the New Jersey Public Records Preservation Account (N.J.S.A. 22A:4-4.2).

For hard copy recordings the cover sheet counts as a page. Bank merger or name change: first page $25, additional $5, plus Homelessness Trust Fund. Mortgage or tax sale certificate cancelation (original instrument endorsed): total fee $25.00. Religious corporation amendment or dissolution: $25. Notice of real estate settlement: $20.00 for 2 parties, $40.00 for 3 parties. Construction lien: $15.00. UCC documents: $25.00.

Paying the office

Visa and MasterCard accepted in person. All checks in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate must be a certified or bank official check. Checks returned unpaid are subject to a $60 service charge. No checks accepted after 60 days of issue date. Third-party checks accepted only from a party involved in the transaction.

Transfer tax

Realty Transfer Fee. For total consideration not in excess of $350,000: $2.00/$500 of consideration not in excess of $150,000; $3.35/$500 in excess of $150,000 but not in excess of $200,000; $3.90/$500 in excess of $200,000 but not in excess of $350,000. For total consideration in excess of $350,000: $2.90/$500 not in excess of $150,000; $4.25/$500 to $200,000; $4.80/$500 to $550,000; $5.30/$500 to $850,000; $5.80/$500 to $1,000,000; $6.05/$500 of consideration in excess of $1,000,000. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide)

StatewideGraduated Percent Fee (N.J.S.A. 46:15-7.2, as amended by P.L.2025, c.69, for deeds submitted on or after July 10, 2025): a supplemental fee to the RTF on deeds with consideration over $1,000,000 for Class 2, qualifying Class 3A, Class 4A and Class 4C property. It is 1% of total consideration over $1,000,000 up to $2,000,000; 2% over $2,000,000 up to $2,500,000; 2.5% over $2,500,000 up to $3,000,000; 3% over $3,000,000 up to $3,500,000; and 3.5% over $3,500,000. Partial-exemption RTF rates apply to qualifying senior citizens, blind persons, disabled persons and low and moderate income housing. Under N.J.S.A. 54A:8-9, a deed for the sale or transfer of real property is recorded only with the appropriate GIT/REP form and payment of any estimated gross income tax due. That payment is not less than 2% of the seller's consideration.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: P.L.2011, c.217 (A2565 1R), N.J.S. 46:26A-5 · P.L.2003, c.117, sections 38-40 (NJ Division of Archives) · NJ Division of Taxation - Realty Transfer Fee · Cape May County Clerk Fee Schedule 2025 · Document Copy Policy · Document Fee Policy · Deeds requirements

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideA document must be in English or accompanied by a translation into English, bear a signature, and be acknowledged or proved. An assignment, release or satisfaction of a mortgage, or an agreement respecting a mortgage, states the book and page number or document identifying number of the mortgage. The cover sheet or electronic synopsis includes the nature and date of the document, the names of the parties, and, for deeds, the lot and block, the consideration and the grantee's mailing address.

Document must be clear and legible print for accurate reproduction. New construction deeds bear the words "NEW CONSTRUCTION" in upper case at the top of the first page. Minor subdivision deeds carry signatures and approval dates from the Municipal Planning Board and Cape May County Planning Board.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Affidavit of Consideration for Use by Seller (RTF-1) Statewide NJ Division of Taxation
  Filed with any deed in which a full or partial exemption is claimed from the RTF
• Affidavit of Consideration for Graduated Percent Fee (RTF-1EE) Statewide NJ Division of Taxation
  Annexed to every deed for consideration over $1,000,000 and with every commercial property transfer
• GIT/REP form (GIT/REP-1, -2, -3, -4 or -4A) Statewide NJ Division of Taxation
  Accompanies any deed for the sale or transfer of real property; not needed for sheriff's foreclosure deeds or bankruptcy trustee deeds

Submitting documents

StatewideEvery document or map is to be recorded and indexed not later than two business days after its receipt; a rejected document is returned with a statement of all grounds for rejection within three business days after its receipt.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: County Clerk · P.L.2011, c.217 (A2565 1R), N.J.S. 46:26A-5 · NJ Division of Taxation - Realty Transfer Fee · Deeds requirements · Document Recording