Union County, NJ Property Records
Property records in Union, New Jersey document key information about real estate, including ownership history, deed transfers, mortgages, tax assessments, property boundaries, liens, and related recorded instruments. These records are useful for buyers, sellers, attorneys, lenders, title researchers, and residents who need to verify ownership, review property history, estimate tax obligations, or conduct due diligence before a transaction.
Official Union property records are maintained through local and county government offices. Deeds, mortgages, and other land records are typically recorded with the Union County Clerk, while assessment and tax information may be available through the municipal tax assessor or county tax offices. Users can access official records and guidance through the Union County Clerk’s official property records resources.
Union County, NJ Property Records & Statistics
Union County is a relatively costly, renter-heavy market. The median rent is $1,704, above the state median of $1,615 and about double the national median of $840.25. The median home value is $406,550, higher than the state's $374,450 and more than double the national value of $173,750.
The county's median property tax rate is 2.29%, exactly equal to the state rate and more than three times the national rate of 0.74%. With home values above the state median, that rate leads to larger annual tax bills than the typical New Jersey owner pays.
Median household income is $97,684.50, below the state median of $102,548 but well above the national median of $65,108. Because rents and home prices run above state levels, the income gap makes housing affordability a real consideration. The unemployment rate is 3.87%, slightly above the state's 3.81% and above the national rate of 2.87%.
Renter-occupied housing accounts for 36.97% of occupied homes, far above the state share of 22.76% and the national share of 21.81%. In all, Union County shows an urban, rental-oriented market with above-average housing costs, state-level property taxes, somewhat lower incomes than the state and slightly elevated unemployment.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Union
Union County property records cover tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, valuation data, and foreclosure filings. The county has 150,030 total parcels, including 131,777 residential and 7,335 commercial parcels, with tax records covering 95.53% of the population. The recorder holds 336,143 deed records and 384,994 mortgage records, and valuation data is available for 125,890 properties, last updated August 15, 2025.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 150,030 |
| Residential Parcels | 131,777 |
| Commercial Parcels | 7,335 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 95.53% |
| Assessment Year | 2024 |
| Deed Records | 336,143 |
| Mortgage Records | 384,994 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 125,890 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 15, 2025 |
| Lis Pendens Records | 119,763 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records show what happens to a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment documents the transfer of a mortgage from one lender or servicer to another, and a release documents that the loan was paid off and the lien removed from the property.
Union County has 342,081 assignment and release records available. They include 75,059 assignment documents recorded from April 23, 2004, through August 28, 2025, and 266,202 release documents recorded from February 1, 2001, through August 28, 2025, along with 820 other documents.
For property research, these records show which lenders have been involved with a property and whether earlier mortgages were satisfied. Buyers, owners and title researchers can use them to confirm that past liens were released, trace a loan as it moved between servicers, and identify mortgages that may still be open before a sale or refinance. Release records beginning in 2001 allow payoffs to be checked across more than two decades.
How to Search Union County, NJ Property Records
Union County deeds, mortgages and related recorded documents are maintained by the Union County Clerk, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and can be reached at 908-527-4787. Its records cover 150,030 parcels, with deeds recorded from January 1, 1989, and mortgages recorded from January 2, 1998.
The Union County Clerk page describes the office's services and how to reach its staff. To search recorded documents online, use the Union County document index search, which is the county's portal for looking up deeds, mortgages and related instruments.
In the document index, enter a party name such as the property owner or lender, then narrow the results by document type and recording date. Open a result to review the document type, recording date and the parties named. Searching by name with a date range generally gives the cleanest results.
If your search finds nothing, try alternate spellings or a wider date range, or call the Clerk's office with the owner's name and an approximate year so staff can help you locate the record. Keep the property address handy to confirm that the document you find matches the right parcel.
Union Registrar of Deeds
The Union County Probate Office is located at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ, 07207 and can be reached at 908-527-4787. Office hours are Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Records can be accessed through ucnj.org or the official website clerk.ucnj.org.
Union County Clerk
Union County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Union property records by address?
Use the Union County document index search to find recorded deeds and mortgages connected to a property by party name and date. For assessment details tied to a street address, contact the tax office of the municipality where the property is located. The Union County Clerk at 908-527-4787 can answer questions about recorded documents.
How can I find property owners in Union?
Owners are named on recorded deeds, so searching the Union County document index search by name is the most direct route. A deed lists the grantor, grantee and recording date. Union County has 336,143 deed records dating from January 1, 1989, covering most ownership transfers of the past several decades.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Union?
Assessed values are set by municipal tax assessors in New Jersey, so contact the assessor in the town where the property sits. Union County's tax records reflect the 2024 assessment year. The state's local property tax information explains how assessments and appeals work.
Where can I find Union property tax bills and payment records?
Property tax bills are issued and collected by each municipality, so the local tax collector is the right contact for bills and payment history. The County Clerk does not collect property taxes, but the office at 908-527-4787 can help you identify the correct municipality if you are unsure.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Union?
Deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases and similar instruments are recorded with the Union County Clerk. Search them online through the Union County document index search. You can also visit 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, or call 908-527-4787.
Where can I access Union parcel maps and GIS information?
Parcel maps and GIS information are typically maintained by the county or the municipality where the parcel is located, not by the Clerk's document index. Call 908-527-4787 to be directed to the right office. Union County has 150,030 parcels, so have the street address or block and lot number ready.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Union?
Permits and zoning are handled locally, usually by the construction and zoning offices of the municipality. The state's Division of Codes and Standards offers general information on New Jersey construction codes. Contact the town hall where the property is located for permit history and zoning rules.
How can I create a list of property owners in Union?
The document index is built for individual lookups rather than bulk lists. Use the Union County document index search to find owners one property at a time. If you need a larger list of property owners in Union County, call the Clerk's office at 908-527-4787 to ask what is available and how to request it.