Essex County Recorder Information

Land records in Essex County are recorded by the Register of Deeds and Mortgages. The office is held by Juan M. Rivera, Jr..

Copies of every deed and mortgage recorded since 1637 are on file. Electronic images have been available since May 2001. Recorded document images are viewable on computers in the office's Record Room.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Contact Us - Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages · Records & Indexing - Essex County Register

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 July 1, 2003.

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).

Office schedule also lists: cancellation of mortgage and tax certificate $25.00 per book & page; mortgage assignments $40.00 first page including marginal notation, $10.00 each additional page; power of attorney and tax sale certificate $35.00 first page, $10.00 each additional page; redemption or assignment of tax sale certificate $45.00 first page, $10.00 each additional page; lis pendens foreclosures $40.00; maps: record $55.00, map $10.00, area map $4.00; notice of settlement two parties $20.00, three parties $40.00; federal tax lien or release $25.00; UCC $25.00, third party assignee $50.00; veteran's discharge recording no charge; certified copies $8.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page. As of July 1, 2015, the homelessness trust fund has been included in the various recording fees.

Paying the office

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 · Fees - Essex County Register · FAQ - Essex County Register

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.

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: P.L.2011, c.217 (A2565 1R), N.J.S. 46:26A-5 · NJ Division of Taxation - Realty Transfer Fee · Essex County Register Public Notice, February 24, 2020 - Cover Sheet Requirement