Monmouth County Property Search
Monmouth County property records refer to legal documents that provide valuable information about real estate within Monmouth County's jurisdiction. These records typically contain property ownership information, property description, information about liens and permits, etc.
Individuals typically search property documents to verify a property's legal owner and confirm that they are dealing with the right party before finalizing a real estate contract. Monmouth County property records are also important in determining whether outstanding liens, claims, or defects exist on a property.
Other reasons to conduct a Monmouth County property search include:
- Resolving boundary disputes
- Assessing the value of the property
- Checking for zoning restrictions and regulations
- Gathering evidence for a real estate litigation
- Solving wills and inheritance issues
The Office of the Monmouth County Clerk is responsible for recording, maintaining, and dispensing property records. The office has records as far back as 1675.
Are Monmouth County Property Records Public?
Yes. Monmouth County property records are public under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The Act allows anyone to inspect or copy a property record in Monmouth County and initiate legal proceedings in the Supreme Court against a custodian who denies access to requested records. A requester may also file a complaint with the Government Records Council (GRC). In such cases, the public agency must provide a valid reason for the refusal to honor the public records request.
Note, however, that the public's right to access public property records is not absolute. Some property records may be deemed private or confidential and restricted from public disclosure if a statute, regulation, or court order mandates it. For example, property records do not include the property owner's Social Security number (SSN), unlisted phone number(s), and other identifying information that will violate their privacy or security. Other information that may be confidential includes:
- Personal financial data like credit card numbers
- A building or facility's security information if it will jeopardize the security of the building or persons in it
- Property documents that form part of a criminal investigation record
- Home addresses of covered persons (including inactive, active, or retired judges; prosecutors; law enforcement members; and their immediate family members living with them) on government-controlled websites pursuant to Daniel's Law
What Do Monmouth County Property Records Contain?
Monmouth County property records include a wide range of documents and information about the local properties. Typically, they include:
- Deeds
- Mortgages
- Liens
- Plat maps
- Zoning maps
- Tax assessment records
- Releases and satisfactions
- Sales data
- Real property tax lists (address, owner, block & lot, exempt, railroad, telephone indexes, aggregate)
Note that the information in a property record varies by the document type.
Where to Perform a Monmouth County Property Lookup
Individuals can look up Monmouth County property records online, in person, or by email/mail through the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
In-Person
To conduct an in-person search, requesters should visit the Clerk's Record Room at the address below:
Market Yard
33 Mechanic Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
The office is open to the public during regular business hours. However, individuals may need to book an appointment to perform a property search or obtain copies. Appointments are scheduled by calling (732) 431-7324 ext. 7312 (for copies) or 732) 431-7324 ext. 7313 (for property searches). One may also email the Clerk's office.
To obtain copies of property records at the Clerk's office, a visitor may utilize the coin-operated photocopy machines for 5 cents per page.
Email/Mail
Alternatively, a person can submit a completed Copy Order Form via email (if paying by credit card) to ask the Monmouth County Clerk's office to search for and return plain/certified copies of property records. The following information must be included in the form:
- Name
- Address
- Tax map municipality
- The property's block and lot(s)
- Instrument number or book and page (if known)
The fee for obtaining plain document copies is $2 per page, while certified copies cost $10 for certification plus a $1.50 per page charge.
Payment can be made via check payable to "Monmouth County Clerk" or by credit card (VISA or Mastercard). Those paying by check should mail (rather than email) the request form to the following address:
Monmouth County Clerk
ATTENTION: COPY REQUEST
Market Yard
P.O. Box 1251
Freehold, NJ 07728-1251
Credit card requests should be emailed to the email address on the form or faxed to (732) 761-9371. Regardless of the submission method, each requester will receive the requested documents by mail, or they may opt for customer pick-up.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Monmouth County
Individuals may obtain property ownership information in Monmouth County by searching related property documents (for example, deeds) through the County Clerk's office. A person can also access the county's Consolidated Records Search portal to search for a property owner by address, map, or block and lot.
How to Find Monmouth County Property Records Online
The Monmouth County Clerk's Office grants the public free electronic access to permanent and public property records through an Open Public Records Search (OPRS) system.
On the website, individuals can access the Monmouth County Property Records Search to view or print property documents recorded in the Clerk's office from 1970 to date. The tool can be searched with an instrument number, name, document type, or block and lot. Alternatively, a user can find Monmouth County property records online by accessing the Consolidated Records Search tool on the OPRS system's left-hand menu.
One can also search Monmouth County property records online via a third-party website. Private sites typically charge a fee for their services and require the requester to provide specific information about the property to facilitate the search. Popular examples include a name and address.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
Anyone can find a property owner by address in Monmouth County using the Consolidated Records Search tool on the Monmouth County Clerk's website. To search the tool by address, one must enter a street name (part of a street name) and township name into the relevant search fields. The search results will include a property owner's name alongside other property information like the block and lot, year built, instrument number, sale information, and tax assessment details. The service is free of charge.
Monmouth County Property Tax Lookup
The Monmouth County Board of Taxation generates and maintains property tax information. As such, anyone who wants to conduct a Monmouth County property tax lookup can query this office. A Monmouth County property tax lookup is essential for several reasons, including:
- Verifying tax assessment information
- Budgeting yearly property tax payments
- Making informed projections on property tax increase rates
- Facilitating tax assessment appeals
Members of the public can view a Monmouth County property tax record via the Tax Board's Assessment Records Search system, accessible through the Monmouth County Clerk's OPRS website. Individuals can search using parameters such as the district, owner's name, location, block, lot, or qualifier. The database produces different categories of tax information, including:
- Tax map and list descriptions
- Assessed value of property
- Property class
- Exemptions
How to Find Monmouth County Property Appraiser
A property appraiser determines the market value of real estate. Lenders or credit institutions typically hire property appraisers to verify loan or mortgage applications. In other words, appraisers help such companies determine whether a property (as collateral) is valuable enough to justify a loan amount.
Other services a property appraiser provides include:
- Preparing real estate appraisal reports
- Reviewing legal descriptions of property
The New Jersey State Real Estate Appraiser Board, a division of the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, serves as the primary regulatory body for property appraisers in New Jersey. In addition to licensing and certifying applicants, the Board maintains an online database of qualified property appraisers in the state.
Individuals can find Monmouth County property appraisers or verify appraisal licenses by searching the Board's License Verification System. Users can search by business or person, or they can follow the system prompts to download an appraiser roster.
Monmouth County Property Assessor
The Board of Taxation assesses real property for taxation purposes in Monmouth County. The office also handles tax appeals and maintains data pertaining to property tax assessments. Below is the Board of Taxation's address:
Hall of Records
1 East Main Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 431-7404
Fax: (732) 409-4890
Contact details for Monmouth County municipal assessors can be retrieved from the county assessor's contact list.
