Divisions

The County Clerk’s Elections Division administers one third of the election process in Bergen County along with the Superintendent of Elections and the Board of Elections. Our office oversees ballot design and printing, the mailing of Vote by Mail and Sample Ballots, the certification and posting of election results, maintains County Committee lists, and receives and files county level candidate petitions as well as local and school candidates for the General Election. Information about the other Bergen County Election Officials and their responsibilities can be found here. 

Our goal is to provide Bergen County voters with a simple and secure website to find all election and voting information. As we continue to battle the rise of election misinformation, we hope to be your trusted source of Election Information in Bergen County. Please note, because our office does not manage all aspects involved in conducting elections, you may be redirected to another election official’s website for the information you are looking for.

The County Clerk Land Records Management Division contains over 300 years of land recordings. This includes mortgages, deeds, assignments, cancellations or satisfaction of mortgages, lis pendens filings, construction and federal lien filings, tax sale certificates, subdivision and file maps and many other documents.

Did you know the Bergen County Clerk’s Office is considered a pioneer in land records management in the nation? Our office is proud to be at the forefront of modernization and technological advancements to enhance the experience of those who rely on our services. After a massive ten year and labor-intensive project, our staff digitized millions of pages of historical deed and mortgage documents dating back to the 1800s which were made available for the public to access online. Most recently, the County Clerk’s Office has partnered with a leader in blockchain-based land record management which marked the largest blockchain initiative in the United States. Blockchain is a digital database that serves as a secure, public ledger for recording and verifying transactions. We are excited to bring these secure tools to our county over the next few years.

The Bergen County Clerk’s Office is a Passport Acceptance Facility. Our Passport Division reviews and accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. We have been repeatedly recognized for exemplary performance and compliance with the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of State. We pride ourselves on offering applicants the convenience of in-office passport photos and walk-in service with no appointments needed.

Bring your required documents and payment to Room 120. Every applicant, including children, must be present. This office does not process passport renewals. Eligible citizens renew online or by mail with the U.S. Department of State. For questions, call (201) 336-7011.

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. The Registry Division in Room 110 receives those filings by mail or electronically through a County Certified Vendor, assigns an instrument number and book and page, and enters them into the permanent public record.

Our goal is to record correctly submitted documents quickly and make them searchable. Documents need a complete coversheet, the parties (grantor/grantee), and the correct fee. Staff cannot give legal advice or fill out your forms—please work with a title company or attorney on preparation. After a document is verified, it appears in the online Land Records Search. You can also enroll in the free Property Alerts Program to get a notice when something new is recorded against a property.

The Service Counter is the walk-in desk in Room 120 at One Bergen County Plaza for notary oaths, County Clerk photo cards, trade-name and church filings, license recordings, and searches of records kept by this office. Most visits do not need an appointment. Bring a valid photo ID and the fee listed on the service you need.

Start with the cards below if you already know the filing. Business and Trade Names covers a new trade name, a church corporation, an owner change, or a closing. Notary Public and Certifications is for a new commission, a Clerk certificate on a notarized document, or an apostille question. Photo Cards are for seniors, veterans, Gold Star parents, and exempt firefighters. For a U.S. passport, use the Passport Division, which shares this counter. If you are not sure which form you need, use Contact.