Search Atlantic County Clerk Records

About the Atlantic County Clerk's Office

Joseph J. Giralo serves as Atlantic County Clerk. The Clerk is an elected official, separate from any judge or court administrator. The office is not part of the New Jersey Judiciary. It does not hold Superior Court case files, divorce judgments, or criminal records. Those are handled through the Judiciary's own systems and offices. What the Clerk does hold is the county's official record of land transactions and a range of other county-level filing services. If you are searching for a recorded deed, a mortgage, a tax lien, or a trade name filed in Atlantic County, the Clerk's office is the right place to start.

The County Clerk launched an updated website in May 2026. The new site at atlanticcountyclerk.org now serves as the primary source for recording information, fee schedules, forms, weddings, trade names, and office contacts. Two public office locations serve residents across the county.

Note: The Mays Landing main office sits inside the Historic Court House Complex at 5901 Main Street, which is different from the Superior Court buildings. Do not confuse this location with the Atlantic County Criminal Courts Complex at 4997 Unami Boulevard.

Atlantic County Clerk vs Clerk of Court

New Jersey uses a split-clerk structure. Two different offices use similar names, and mixing them up causes wasted trips and wrong calls. The Atlantic County Clerk is the elected recording official above. The office records land documents, issues trade name certificates, handles passports, and performs weddings. It is a county government office.

The Superior Court Clerk side is different. The Superior Court operates through the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage and its own clerk offices and staff. Superior Court case files, civil case jackets, criminal case records, and divorce records are managed through the Judiciary, not through the County Clerk. If you want a court docket, an indictment, a civil judgment, or a divorce certificate, you go through the court system. For details on that side, see the Clerk of Court page.

Atlantic County Clerk Recording Services

The Clerk's recording function is the office's most-used service for property owners, title companies, real estate attorneys, and lenders. When a deed transfers title, when a mortgage is executed, or when a lender files a release, those documents come to the County Clerk for recording. The recording date and instrument number assigned by the Clerk are the official markers of when a document entered the public record.

The recording fees page covers a wide set of instruments. Below is the fee schedule for the most common recording items in Atlantic County.

The recording fee schedule applies to all instruments submitted to the Atlantic County Clerk for recording. Verify current fees on the official page before submitting documents.

Types of instruments the Clerk records include deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, UCCs, federal tax liens, tax sale certificates, lis pendens, powers of attorney, and notices of settlement. Recording forms and cover sheets are available from the recording forms page.

Atlantic County Clerk Recording Forms

The Clerk's forms page provides the documents needed to prepare and submit recordings correctly. Getting the form right matters. A recording submitted without the required summary sheet or missing a required affidavit can be returned, which delays the official recording date.

The forms page includes a document summary sheet, deed requirements, the OPRA request form (for Clerk's Office-only requests), and tax-related forms used with deeds. Confirm the current form list on the Clerk's site before preparing a recording package.

The OPRA request form on the Clerk's site is specific to the County Clerk's Office. It is not used to request Superior Court case files. Court records go through the Judiciary's own process. The Clerk's OPRA form covers county agency records the Clerk maintains. Fields on that form include your name, mailing address, contact details, preferred delivery method, a description of the records you want, your signature, and the date. Paper copies may carry a fee under the applicable statute.

Atlantic County Clerk Official Records Public Search

The county's free online land-record portal is the Atlantic County Clerk Official Records Public Search. No account or password is needed for guest access. The Clerk's instructions state that guest users can search and view the full index, view all pages of a document, and view, print, download, or email PDF images. The database updates daily. Document images from March 2000 forward are viewable. Older recordings continue to be added as imaging progresses, so older instruments may require a book/page reference.

Advanced Search features in the portal require Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or later. A separate browser link is available for users on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and other browsers. The Clerk warns that users should search all possible spelling variations of proper names because indexing is phonetic or exact-match depending on the field.

The portal opens after users accept the disclaimer on the launch page. The Clerk makes no warranty about accuracy, and users are responsible for assessing the reliability of any result they find.

How to Search Atlantic County Recorded Documents

Searching the Clerk's public portal is straightforward once you know what you are looking for. The steps below follow the Clerk's own search instructions for guest users.

1. Go to atlantic.newvisionsystems.com/ClerkSearch/ and accept the disclaimer to launch the search application.
2. Choose whether to search by name, instrument number, or book/page. If you have the instrument number (for documents recorded after March 1, 2000), use that for the fastest match.
3. Enter the name of the grantor or grantee. Try all likely spellings. Hyphens, nicknames, and initials can affect results, so run multiple name variations if the first search returns nothing.
4. Use the document-type filter or date range to narrow results if the name search returns too many hits. For example, filter by "deed" if you are looking only for a property transfer.
5. Highlight a result row and press F5 to open the document image in PDF format. You can then view, print, download, or email the image.
6. For older instruments without a viewable image, note the book and page number and contact the main Mays Landing office at 609-909-5839 for assistance.

Note: The Clerk's portal covers land records, not court case files. If a lis pendens or federal tax lien appears in the search results, it means that document was recorded with the Clerk. The underlying lawsuit is tracked separately through the Judiciary's portals.

Atlantic County Trade Name Filings

Any new Atlantic County business that operates under a name other than its owner's legal name must file a Trade Name Certificate with the County Clerk. The Clerk's office checks existing filings to confirm the name is not already in use before the certificate is issued. This step applies to sole proprietors and general partnerships doing business as a trade name.

There is an important distinction. Corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships file with the New Jersey Division of Revenue, not the County Clerk. If your business is one of those entity types, the County Clerk is the wrong office for the initial registration. Check with the Division of Revenue for that process.

The trade names page has the current filing requirements and forms. Fees for trade name filings are listed in the recording fee table above: $50 for a Trade Name Certificate, $50 for an Amendment, and $25 for a Dissolution.

Payment methods accepted by the Clerk's office for trade names and recordings include check or money order payable to the Atlantic County Clerk's Office, Mastercard, Visa, or cash. Personal checks are accepted at the Clerk's office; verify with the office if mailing a document submission.

Property Fraud Alerts and Other Services

The Clerk's office offers a property fraud alert service. Property owners can register to receive notifications when a document is recorded in their name. This service is aimed at detecting fraudulent deed transfers before they go unnoticed. Contact the Mays Landing office to ask about enrollment. There is no charge for the alert service as described in the Clerk's service listings.

Additional services available from the County Clerk include notary public services for notarizations, passport application acceptance, and elections-related services. Passport applications are handled at the main Mays Landing office. Contact the office ahead of time to confirm required documents for passport services because federal requirements can change.

For broader public records requests, the Clerk's office accepts OPRA requests for county agency records the Clerk maintains. Download the Clerk's OPRA request form from the office site. Keep in mind that this form is only for records the Clerk's office holds. Do not use it to request Superior Court case files, divorce judgments, or criminal records. Those are court records governed by Rule 1:38 and the Judiciary's process. For more about New Jersey's public records framework, see the public records page.

Atlantic County Clerk Wedding Ceremonies

The County Clerk provides free wedding ceremonies as a service of the office. The ceremony space at the Mays Landing office accommodates up to 30 indoor guests. Outdoor ceremonies are also possible when weather permits, with no guest limit. Couples must call ahead to schedule an appointment.

Ceremony times are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Other times may be available depending on the Clerk's schedule. To book, contact 609-625-7000 ext. 5338 or nolan_amanda@aclink.org. The couple must bring the marriage license, obtained from the municipal registrar in the town where either party lives, and two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. The ceremony itself is free. There is no charge from the Clerk's office. The $28 marriage license fee is paid separately to the municipal registrar when the license is applied for, not to the County Clerk.

Full details about the wedding ceremony process are on the weddings page. For more on marriage and divorce records, including where divorce records are kept and how to get a Certificate of Divorce, see the marriage and divorce records page.

Related Atlantic County Records Resources

The County Clerk's role is specific to recorded land documents, trade names, and the other county-level services described above. If you are researching Atlantic County court cases, criminal history, or probate, different offices and portals apply.

• Clerk of Court - covers the Superior Court's clerk offices and how to request court records, certified copies, and divorce certificates through the Judiciary.
• Court Records - explains the NJ Courts search portals for civil, criminal, family, and judgment records.
• Surrogate's Court - covers will probate, estate administration, and short certificates through the Atlantic County Surrogate's Office.
• Marriage and Divorce Records - covers marriage licensing through municipal registrars, divorce records in the Family Division, and Certificate of Divorce requests.
• Public Records - explains OPRA, what records different offices hold, how to file a records request, and what the Judiciary's Rule 1:38 covers for court files.

If you are not sure where to start, match the record to the custodian. NJ Courts handles court case files. The County Clerk handles recorded land instruments and trade names. The Surrogate handles estates. Municipal courts handle traffic tickets and local complaints. Each office has its own search tools and request process.