Morris County Property Search
Morris County property records are documents that provide detailed information about real estate property in Morris County, New Jersey. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Tax Board, or the County Clerk’s Office are the principal offices in charge of maintaining and making these records available to the public.
The Prosecutor’s Office receives access request applications from inquirers and informs them of records availability and disclosure. The Tax Board is mainly responsible for handling the county's real estate tax records and tax assessments. The County Clerk’s Office maintains several types of Morris County Public Records, including property records. Individuals who seek to gain access to property records can do so through the various ways provided by Morris County officials.
Property searches are necessary for various reasons. Potential buyers obtain property records to determine the property’s value. Families and courts can check property ownership to settle disputes during legal proceedings. Investors can also analyze a property’s value and profitability by accessing the property tax records. Access to property records allows for informed decisions, transparency, and accurate record-keeping in Morris County.
Are Morris County Property Records Public?
Yes. According to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act defined in the New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) section 47:1A, property records are disclosed to the general public. The public is entitled to request and access these records. However, some exemptions listed in the Open Public Records Act restrict certain information from being disclosed to the public. These include records containing:
- Social Security Numbers
- Victim Name or Address
- Drivers’ License Numbers
- Pension and Personnel Records
- Unlisted Phone Numbers
- Electronic Surveillance Materials
- Sealed Court Records
- Pre Sentence Investigations
- Safety of Persons or Public
- Personal Income or Tax Return
What Do Morris County Property Records Contain?
Property records typically include detailed information about property ownership, location, legal description, building size, etc. The different types of property records include:
- Deeds and Title Records: These contain information that establishes the property ownership, including the history and any transfers made.
- Land Records: These documents detail the land the property is on, its dimensions, use, and any restrictions legally placed on it.
- Tax Records: These provide information on property tax value, assessments, payments, and delinquent tax.
- Mortgage Records: Any mortgages taken out on the property are included in these documents, including the lender, amount, and agreed terms.
- Liens and Judgements: These show legal claims or burdens that have been put against the property, such as unpaid debt, dispute decisions, etc.
- Survey Records: These records include detailed maps, pictures, and descriptions of the property’s features and boundaries.
- Building and Construction Records: These contain information about the construction permits, zoning records and compliances, and building modifications.
Where to Perform a Morris County Property Lookup
In Morris County, individuals can perform a property lookup in various ways, either online or offline. For offline methods, inquirers can visit the Morris County Office of the Prosecutor, Tax Board, or the County Clerk’s Office in person. They can also make a request to the Prosecutor’s Custodian of Records by filling out the form available online or downloading it and handing it in person or by mail. The Custodian will notify the individual within seven business days whether the request has been granted or denied.
For online methods, inquirers can make use of the county’s online search applications maintained by the Tax Board and the County Clerk’s Office. The online tax records search portal enables individuals to gain access to property tax information by searching with the property’s location, address, block, lot, etc.
Similarly, the online property records search portal allows users to obtain property documents dating back to 1964. Individuals can search by owner name, record year, and instrument number and access documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, etc.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Morris County
Inquirers may use any of the following methods to perform a property owner lookup in Morris County:
- Search using the Online Tax Records application by providing property location, street name, block, lot, qual code, etc.
- Search with the Online Property Records application using the property’s instrument number.
- Fill in the request form and provide the relevant information, then submit it online, by mail, or in person to the Prosecutor’s Custodian of Records office.
- Visit the County Clerk’s Office or the Tax Board’s office and request property ownership information by providing the property address and other details.
- Conduct a phone or mail inquiry to these offices stating the request in detail.
How to Find Morris County Property Records Online
The Morris County Clerk’s Office provides an online property records search application that allows individuals to search for property records.
- Visit the online property records search page
- Click on “Web Browser Search”
- Under the “Party” tab, provide the property owner’s last and first name
- Alternatively, click the “Instrument Number” tab and input the Instrument Number
- Select the document type and include the date range, if required
- Click search to get results based on the search
- Click on the desired result to view the property document.
The Morris County Tax Board maintains an online tax records search website for individuals to access tax records, tax maps, or GIS Buffer List online.
- Go to the tax records search tool
- Input the property tax year, district, house number, or street name to search by property location
- Or click on the “Search by Owner” tab to provide the property owner’s name.
- Alternatively, click on the “Search by Block and Lot” tab to search using the block, lot, and qual code details
- Click search and choose among the displayed results for the property information
Besides the aforementioned online options, several third-party websites provide access to Morris County property records by searching using the property owner's name or location. Users can also obtain property sales information by searching for the buyer or seller's names. Some websites charge to access their database by subscription or a one-time fee upon request. The charge varies depending on the document types and the amount of data required.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
To find the property owner by address, individuals can conduct a search using the Morris County Records Tax Board’s search application for free. The platform allows users to search by property location, including the district, house number, and street name. Individuals may visit the County Clerk’s Office and request access to a property record by providing the address.
Morris County Property Tax Lookup
Individuals can access property tax information through online search platforms provided by Morris County. Inquirers can also visit the Morris County Tax Board and request tax information by providing details that identify the property.
Individuals can use the tax records search tool, allowing users to search for tax records using information such as property owner, location, lot, etc. Inquirers can search Tax Maps and the GIS Buffer List to look up tax records. Several situations that would require a tax look-up involve:
- Property Purchase or Sale: Potential buyers and sellers need to know the tax information to understand the financial implications involved.
- Tax Payment: Property owners can look up tax information to determine the value of their property and pay off any due tax.
- Mortgage and Refinancing: Mortgage lenders would require the property tax information to assess the mortgage viability or refinancing request.
- Estate Planning or Settlement: Tax information is needed when planning to settle estate affairs and distribute the assets of a property.
How to Find Morris County Property Appraiser
Individuals can find Morris County Property Appraisers by contacting real estate agencies in the county and checking professional appraisal organizations. They can also search online or contact the Morris County Clerk’s Office. A list was provided by Morris County in 2021 that provides public contact information of several real property appraisers, which can be found in the real property appraisers list.
Property appraisers usually offer these services:
- Assess properties' current market value
- Conduct inspections to evaluate property conditions
- Assist in tax assessment appeals
- Deliver appraisals for mortgage and refinancing purposes
- Valuate property for estate plans, settlements, and probates.
Morris County Property Assessor
The Morris County property accessor is referred to officially as the Morris County Tax Board, and they offer various services including:
- Set tax rates and equalization ratios in the county across all municipalities
- Supervise municipal tax assessors
- Maintain and disseminate taxable real estate property records and sales information
- Review property tax assessments
- Rule on tax assessment appeals
The commissioners of the board can be contacted using the following information:
30 Schuyler Place
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: (973) 285-6707
Fax: (973) 993-9618
