LAND RECORD SERVICES
One of the County Clerk’s most important and longstanding functions is the recording of legal documents associated with the buying and selling of property, such as mortgages and deeds, and other documents affecting real estate. Below is a list of all such documents and their associated fees.
DOCUMENT DIRECTORY & RECORDING FEES
Real Estate Documents:
| Deed (includes $10.00 tax abstract fee) | $43.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Mortgage | $33.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Contract of Sale | $33.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Leases – Landlord/Tenant | $33.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Tax Sale Certificate | $33.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Power of Attorney | $33.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Documents of Mortgage OR Tax Sale Certificate including: Assignment, Discharge, Extension, Modification, Postponement, Redemption, Release, Subordination. | $43.00 First page plus $10. each additional page, includes $10. marginal notation |
| Lis Pendens – Recorded | $30.00 First page plus $10. each additional page |
| Lis Pendens – Foreclosure | $40.00 |
| Discharge of Lis Pendens | $10.00 |
| Amendment of Lis Pendens | $10.00 |
| Cancellation of Mortgage OR Tax Sale Certificate | $23.00 |
| Cancellation of Re-Recorded Mortgage OR Tax Sale Certificate |
$23.00 For each recording |
| Vacation | $33.00 |
| Notice of Settlement | $20.00 |
| Notice of Settlements – Contract and Mortgage Commitment | $40.00 |
| Disclaimer |
$15.00 |
| Municipality Recording | $11.00 |
Certified Copies :
| Any Document (except Military) | $10.00 First page plus $2.00 for each page of the document |
| Military | $1.00 |
UCC Filings:
| Financing Statements – UCC-1 |
$25.00 |
| Financing Statement with an Assignment | $50.00 |
| Continuation – UCC-3 | $25.00 |
| Amendment | $25.00 |
| Subordination | $25.00 |
| Assignment | $25.00 |
| Assumption | $25.00 |
| Termination | $25.00 |
| Partial Release | $25.00 |
Contruction Lien:
| Construction Lien |
$15.00 First page plus $5.00 each additional page |
| Amended Construction Lien | $15.00 First page plus $5.00 each additional page |
| Notice of Unpaid Balance & Right to File (NUB) | $15.00 First page plus $5.00 each additional page |
| Discharge of Construction Lien | $30.00 First page plus $5.00 each additional page |
| Discharge Notice of Unpaid Balance and Right to File (NUB) |
$30.00 First page plus $5.00 each additional page |
| Discharge by Bond | $30.00 First page plus $5.00 each additional page |
| Inheritance Tax Waiver | $15.00 |
Tax Lien:
| Federal Tax Lien |
$25.00 |
| Release of Federal Tax Lien | $25.00 |
| Inadvertently Filed Federal Tax Lien | $25.00 |
| Withdrawal of Federal Tax Lien | $25.00 |
| Non Attachment of Federal Tax Lien | $25.00 |
| Certificate of Discharge of Property from Tax Lien | $25.00 |
| Institutional Lien | $15.00 |
| Discharge of Institutional Lien | $15.00 |
| Physician’s Lien | $15.00 |
| Discharge of Physician’s Lien | $15.00 |
| Discharge by Court Order | $10.00 |
NOTE:
| Any Document for Re-Recording |
$10.00 plus recording fees |
| For Each Additional Page | $10.00 |
| For Each Additional Marginal Notation (Mark Off) |
$10.00 |
| Indexing – Any Recorded Instrument in Excess of Five (5) Names | $6.00 Each additional name |
PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
The Bergen County Clerk's Office accepts attorney trust account, certified, or bank checks for payment of Realty Transfer Fees and the "1% Buyer/ Grantee Fee". Two separate checks (both made payable to the Bergen County Clerk) must be submitted. ALL checks $10,000.00 and over in the aggregate, MUST BE CERTIFIED or in the form of a BANK CHECK.
Please be advised that there are updated revisions to the RTF-1 and RTF-1EE Affidavit of Consideration forms. We urge you to go to the NJ DIVISION of TAXATION website at the link below to find updated information related to REALTY TRANSFER FEES.
click here: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/rtffaqs.shtml
To download the revised AFFIDAVIT of Consideration forms (RFT-1) and (RFT-1 EE) go to the NJ Division of Taxation website page: Local Property Tax Forms.
click here: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/prntlpt.shtml
For further information contact the County Clerk’s Registry Division at (201) 336-7007. However, please be advised that employees of the County Clerk’s Office are not permitted to provide recording information over the phone.
REAL ESTATE CLOSING SEMINAR
The following materials were distributed at a Real Estate Closing Seminar presented on March 26, 2008.
Click on the links to view or save any of the documents.
Closing Seminar Main Handout
click here: Real_Estate_Closing_Seminar.pdf
NJ Register Rule Adoptions
click here: New_Jersey_Register_Rule_Adoptions.pdf
County Clerk Office Recording Procedures and Information
click here:
RESIDENTIAL FORECLOSURE HELP & INFORMATION
As a result of the resetting of variable rate loans, predatory sub-prime lending, the loss of jobs and other factors, Bergen County has seen an upsurge in home mortgage foreclosures. This is a nationwide problem, and is not expected to be resolved for several years.
If you are facing imminent foreclosure you should consult an attorney immediately.
But until you receive legal assistance, or if you cannot afford it, please take advantage of the resources available here.
The New Jersey State Department of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance have developed materials to assist you in navigating the legal landscape of home foreclosure. These materials include downloadable booklets, answers to Frequently Asked Questions and schedules of seminars, all of which are available in English and Spanish.
These websites also contain links for refinancing programs available through the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and information on credit counseling.
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs - Information on Home Mortgage Foreclosures:
click here: http://www.nj.gov/dca/hmfa/
NJ Department of Banking and Insurance Consumer Alert - Home Mortgage Foreclosures:
click here: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_consumers/finance/foreclose_subprime.html
NJ Consumer Affairs Brochure on Foreclosure Scams and How to Avoid Them (PDF)
click here: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/brief/foreclosure.pdf
NJ Consumer Affairs Brochure on Foreclosure Surplus Funds Scams (PDF)
click here: www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/brief/surplus.pdf
The Department of Banking and Insurance has set up a toll-free hotline to offer guidance, direction, and schedules of foreclosure seminars: (800) 446-7467.
Also, In January 2009, the Governor, Chief Justice and Attorney General announced a program of mediation for residential foreclosures in New Jersey. Information is available at the links below.
click here: New_Jersey_Judiciary_Foreclosure_Mediation_Program_Single.pdf
click here: New_Jersey_Judiciary_Foreclosure_Mediation_Program_Tri-fold.pdf
SEARCHING VAULT
The County Clerk Searching Vault contains over 300 years of land recordings. This includes mortgages, deeds, assignments, cancellations or discharges of mortgages, lis pendens filings, construction and federal lien filings, tax sale certificates, subdivision and plat maps and many other documents. These records are available to the public for viewing and may be copied, in the vault, at a cost of 5 cents per page. You may also obtain a “certified” copy of any document on record, for an additional fee.
PLEASE NOTE: While County Clerk staff members are not permitted, by law, to perform searches of the records, they are there to assist you from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday through Friday, except holidays.