Bergen County, New Jersey • Official Land Records Guide • October 2026
Bergen County Recorder of Deeds: Property Records Search, Copies, Recording Fees & Office
Looking for a deed, mortgage, lien, or other recorded property document in Bergen County, New Jersey?
The office responsible is the Bergen County Clerk. New Jersey does not maintain a separate Bergen County office officially named “Recorder of Deeds.”
The County Clerk’s Land Records Management Division maintains recorded deeds, mortgages, mortgage discharges, liens, subdivision maps, and other real-estate instruments.
You can search many of these records online, request copies, or visit the Clerk’s Office in Hackensack.
Start here
Bergen County Recorder of Deeds Quick Facts
The Land Records Division handles public research and copies. The Registry Counter receives documents for recording.
These counters have different office hours. Check the correct schedule before visiting.
Bergen County’s official search website provides access to deeds, mortgages, and other recorded land documents beginning January 1, 1970.
The county also holds more than 300 years of historical land records, although not every older document is available through the public web search.
Government services
Which Bergen County Office Handles Your Property Question?
Many homeowners contact the Recorder when they actually need a municipal tax assessor or tax collector.
Using the correct office prevents unnecessary calls and visits.
County Clerk — Land Records
Recorded deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, liens, land-record copies, and recording references.
Municipal Tax Assessor
Property assessment, block and lot information, municipal assessment records, and valuation questions.
Municipal Tax Collector
Local property-tax bills, current tax balances, tax payments, and municipal tax-account questions.
Attorney or Title Company
Ownership disputes, title searches, defective deeds, foreclosure questions, estate transfers, and legal interpretations.
Property assessment and taxation are primarily handled at the municipal level in New Jersey.
A home in Hackensack, Paramus, Fort Lee, Ridgewood, or Teaneck may have municipal tax records, while the deed is recorded with the Bergen County Clerk.
Official document lookup
How to Search Bergen County Deeds and Land Records Online
The Bergen County Clerk provides a public land-record search at its official county-hosted website.
The online system covers recorded deeds and mortgages from January 1, 1970, to the present.
Search recorded instruments by using the basic search or the advanced search when your browser supports it.
Open Official Public Search ↗Open the land-record search
Visit the official Bergen County Clerk’s Public Search website.
Choose basic or advanced search
Start with the basic search, especially on a mobile phone.
The advanced search has additional browser requirements and may need an extension.
Enter the recorded party’s name
Search using the grantor or grantee name when available.
If the first search fails, try another spelling or the name of a previous owner.
Review the matching instruments
Compare document type, parties, recording date, and recording reference.
Check whether the entry represents a deed, mortgage, satisfaction, lien, or another instrument.
Open the record or request a copy
Use the document-access options available through the system.
For certified copies or older records, contact the Land Records Division.
Bergen County’s advanced search uses older browser technology.
The county states that advanced search may require Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Chrome with a ClickOnce-compatible extension.
On a phone, use the basic search first. If the advanced interface does not load, try a supported desktop browser.
What if no deed appears?
The county recommends searching multiple spelling variations of proper names.
Try a maiden name, previous owner, business name, trust name, or a different spacing of the surname.
If you are looking for a document older than 1970, contact the Land Records Management Division about historical records.
Clerk employees can assist with navigating the records but cannot perform a title search for you or provide a legal ownership opinion.
Address and block/lot searches
How to Find a Bergen County Deed Using a Property Address
Suppose you know a home’s street address but do not know who signed the deed.
The easiest starting point is usually the property’s municipal tax or assessment record.
Find the block and lot
New Jersey parcels are commonly identified by municipality, block, and lot.
The same block-and-lot numbers can exist in different municipalities. Always include the correct town or borough when researching a parcel.
Use municipal assessment records or available New Jersey property-tax databases to identify the owner and parcel details.
Then search the County Clerk
Return to the Bergen County Land Records Public Search.
Search the owner or prior owner’s name and compare any recorded deed’s legal description with the parcel you are researching.
An address may change, a property may have several lots, and a recorded instrument may describe land using a legal description rather than its current street address.
Understand the results
Types of Deeds and Property Records Bergen County Maintains
The County Clerk’s Land Records Management Division holds deeds, mortgages, assignments, mortgage cancellations, tax sale certificates, liens, and subdivision maps.
Documents a transfer or other conveyance of an interest in real property.
Records a lender’s security interest in real property.
Records the satisfaction or discharge of a mortgage when properly filed.
Records the transfer of certain mortgage rights between parties.
Provides notice of certain litigation involving an interest in real property.
May reflect a statutory claim related to unpaid construction work or services.
Documents an interest arising from a municipal tax sale process.
Shows recorded divisions or configurations of land, subject to the map’s legal effect.
How to read a deed search result
Check the grantor, grantee, document date, recording date, instrument reference, and legal description.
A recorded deed may document a historical transaction. It does not necessarily identify the current owner if later transfers occurred.
Similarly, an old mortgage record does not automatically mean a mortgage remains outstanding.
Search for satisfactions, discharges, and later documents. For legal title confirmation, obtain a professional title search.
Copies and certification
How to Get a Bergen County Deed Copy
You can view available records through the public search system or research records at the Land Records Management Division.
The Clerk’s Office also offers certified copies when an agency, lender, court, or other institution requires official certification.
First page $10 + three additional pages at $2 each = $16.
This is a certified-copy example, not a deed recording fee.
Information to have before requesting a copy
Grantor or grantee name
Document type
Recording date or approximate year
Instrument or book/page reference, if available
Municipality, block, and lot, if relevant
Whether you need an ordinary or certified copy
Review the county’s copy information. Contact Room 150 for certified-copy arrangements or help locating older records.
New Jersey deed recording
How to Record a Deed in Bergen County
Bergen County’s Registry Division receives deeds, mortgages, and other recordable land documents.
Document preparation and recording are different tasks. If you are changing ownership, use a qualified New Jersey real-estate attorney or title professional where appropriate.
Prepare the correct deed
Confirm the parties, legal description, municipality, block and lot, and the intended transfer.
Complete signatures and acknowledgment
Follow New Jersey execution and acknowledgment requirements for the particular instrument.
Prepare the recording cover sheet
The County Clerk provides a Land Records Cover Sheet, also called a Recording Data Page.
A missing cover sheet can cause an additional $20 county fee.
Review Realty Transfer Fee requirements
Determine whether the deed is subject to New Jersey Realty Transfer Fee, the Graduated Percent Fee, or an exemption.
Use current state forms such as RTF-1 or RTF-1EE where applicable.
Calculate recording charges
Count the pages, additional names, document types, and other applicable charges.
Submit through the Registry Division
Use the applicable counter, approved eRecording service, or a county-accepted delivery method.
Check payment requirements before submission.
Confirm that recording was completed
Retain the recording reference and search the public index after the document is processed.
Download the Bergen County Recording Data Page
The county’s form includes document date, document type, party names, municipality, block, lot, consideration, and other indexing details.
Open Official Recording Data Page (PDF) ↗Complete the applicable document information. For deeds, provide municipality, block, lot, consideration, and grantee mailing address.
Do not detach the recording page once it becomes part of the official recorded instrument.
The County Clerk records legally recordable documents. Recording does not automatically cure a defective deed or guarantee marketable title.
Official recording costs
Bergen County Recorder of Deeds Fees
The County Clerk publishes a document-specific recording fee schedule.
These charges are separate from state Realty Transfer Fees and other transaction-related taxes.
First page $45 + two additional pages at $10 each = $65 basic county recording charge.
Realty Transfer Fee, other taxes, extra indexing, missing-cover-sheet charges, and applicable services are additional.
Find the exact document type under Real Estate Documents. Add additional-page and indexing charges, then review transfer taxes separately.
New Jersey-specific requirement
Realty Transfer Fee and the Updated Million-Dollar Transfer Rules
New Jersey generally imposes a Realty Transfer Fee (RTF) when a deed transfers real property for consideration, unless an exemption applies.
The amount depends on the transaction value, property classification, and applicable exemptions.
Who pays the Realty Transfer Fee?
Under New Jersey law, the seller or grantor is generally responsible for the Realty Transfer Fee.
Certain qualified seniors, people with disabilities, blind persons, and qualifying housing transactions may receive reduced rates.
Important July 2025 law change
Effective July 10, 2025, New Jersey changed the additional fee for certain property transfers over $1 million.
The former additional buyer-paid 1% fee was replaced with a seller-paid Graduated Percent Fee.
The new fee applies to specified property classes and is calculated using the total consideration.
The applicable Graduated Percent Fee percentage applies to the total consideration, not just the amount over the threshold.
The fee is separate from the ordinary Realty Transfer Fee and county recording charges.
The 2% Graduated Percent Fee would equal $45,000, before the ordinary Realty Transfer Fee and other charges.
The result assumes the transaction is subject to this fee and no statutory exemption applies.
Review the standard RTF rates, partial exemptions, and Graduated Percent Fee.
Check the current RTF-1 and RTF-1EE forms when the transaction requires them.
Bergen County payment requirements
The County Clerk’s payment page says Realty Transfer Fee payments must use attorney trust account, certified, or bank checks.
Checks totaling $10,000 or more must be certified or bank checks.
Some wording on the county payment page still refers to the former buyer-paid mansion tax. For current tax liability and rates, follow the updated New Jersey Division of Taxation rules.
New Jersey’s July 2025 changes materially affect qualifying transfers over $1 million.
Have a New Jersey title professional or attorney confirm the tax, exemptions, required forms, and payment method before recording.
Professional submission
Bergen County eRecording and Land Record Services
Bergen County supports electronic recording of qualifying land-record documents.
This option is useful for title companies, law firms, lenders, and other professional submitters.
It does not replace the need for proper document preparation, required taxes, or compliance with New Jersey recording law.
Open Land Record Services and eRecording Information ↗Select the eRecording resource or Agent Portal from the county’s Land Record Services options.
Confirm the accepted submission method and account requirements with the Registry Division.
Local office and directions
Bergen County Recorder Office Address, Hours & Google Map
The Bergen County Clerk’s Office is located at One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
United States
County Clerk: John S. Hogan
Main phone: 201-336-7000
Main email: countyclerk@bergencountynj.gov
Parking and arrival
The county identifies a visitor parking entrance off Hudson Street between One Bergen County Plaza and the Justice Center.
A security guard directs visitors to the appropriate parking area.
Accessible parking is available near the main lobby entrance.
Use Room 150 for public land-record research and Room 110 for submitting documents.
Bring recording details, required documents, valid payment, and any forms needed for your transaction.
Property protection
Free Bergen County Property Alert Service
Bergen County Clerk offers a free Property Alert Service.
The service notifies registered users by email when a newly recorded document includes a monitored name.
This can help owners notice unexpected deed, mortgage, or lien recordings sooner.
Open the Property Alert website
Use the official county-hosted registration page.
Create your account
Register the username and password requested by the service.
Enter the name you want monitored
Follow the portal instructions for the relevant name or names.
Watch for alerts
Investigate unfamiliar recording notices promptly.
The alert service does not prevent a fraudulent document from being filed.
If an unfamiliar recording appears, contact the County Clerk, a qualified attorney, your title insurer, or law enforcement as appropriate.
Practical troubleshooting
Common Bergen County Deed Search and Recording Problems
Use the basic search first. The advanced interface may require a supported desktop browser and extension.
Try spelling variations, former names, business entities, or previous owners.
Start with municipal assessment records to identify the owner and block/lot.
Contact Room 150 about historical records that are not covered by the online public index.
Check execution, acknowledgment, cover sheet, legal description, transfer-fee forms, and payment.
Search for a satisfaction, discharge, or later filing. Ask the lender or title professional to investigate.
A single online deed entry is not a complete title search. Use a qualified title professional.
Check the July 2025 Graduated Percent Fee changes and applicable New Jersey exemptions.
Choose your next action
Find a deed: Search the public land-record index.
Need certified copies: Contact Room 150.
Record a deed: Contact the Registry Division in Room 110.
Know only the address: Start with the municipal tax assessor.
Buying or refinancing: Obtain professional title review.
Concerned about deed fraud: Register for the Property Alert Service.
Frequently asked questions
Bergen County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Does Bergen County have a Recorder of Deeds?
The Bergen County Clerk performs the deed-recording function. There is not a separate county office officially named Recorder of Deeds.
Who is the Bergen County Clerk?
John S. Hogan is the Bergen County Clerk.
Where can I search Bergen County deeds online?
Use the official public search at bclrs.co.bergen.nj.us/landrecords/. The online database covers January 1, 1970, to the present.
Can I search Bergen County property records by address?
Begin with municipal assessment records to identify the block, lot, or relevant owner. Then search the County Clerk’s recorded-document index.
How much does it cost to record a deed?
Bergen County lists $45 for the first deed page, including the tax abstract fee, and $10 for each additional page. Transfer taxes and other charges are separate.
How much is a certified deed copy?
The county lists $10 for the first page and $2 for each additional page of a certified document.
What time does the Bergen County Registry Counter close?
The Registry Counter accepts land-document filings Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding closures.
Where is the Bergen County Clerk’s Office?
One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
Can County Clerk staff perform a title search?
No. The county states that Land Records staff can assist users but are not permitted to perform searches on their behalf.
Does Bergen County offer electronic deed recording?
Yes. The County Clerk provides eRecording services and an Agent Portal for qualifying professional submissions.
Who pays the New Jersey Realty Transfer Fee?
The seller or grantor is generally responsible. Effective July 10, 2025, the additional Graduated Percent Fee on certain transfers over $1 million is also imposed on the seller.
Does Bergen County offer property fraud alerts?
Yes. The Bergen County Clerk offers a free email-based Property Alert Service for newly recorded documents containing a monitored name.
Government resources
Official Bergen County and New Jersey Resources
Use these primary government resources to confirm recording requirements, fees, and current procedures.