Search All Union County Public Records for Free

Search Free Public Records in Union County, NJ
Access Union County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

Conduct a free lookup of Union County public records to uncover details about another person or make sure that everything in your own files is accurate and up to date.

The US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and New Jersey’s Open Public Record Act (OPRA) allow everyone to access public records kept by government agencies unless exempted by law. These records include information about arrests, criminal records, marriages, divorces, and court cases.

However, knowing exactly where to search and how to submit record requests is key to obtaining this information efficiently.

This resource offers instructions for searching records in Union County, New Jersey, and will help you track down the information you’re seeking — whether you’re looking for prisoner information, warrant or probation records, property ownership data, and more. It even includes instructions for conducting background check reports.

How To Look Up Inmate Information & View Mugshots in Union County New Jersey for Free

Arrests are usually made by local police departments within the county and they report this information to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Therefore, the first place to check is on the county level as it allows for the broadest search and applicable links and contact information can be found below.

Regardless of which agency you check with, it’s important to know the person’s first and last name as well as the approximate location of the arrest.

Conduct an Arrest Records Search via the Union County Sheriff’s Office

The Division of Corrections of the Union County Sheriff’s Office runs the county’s jail. Currently, the Union County Jail primarily houses pre-trial suspects.

After trial, they’re sent to the Essex County Correctional Facility or the Hudson County Correctional Center (for short-term sentences) or to a state-run facility (for longer sentences).

That said, the website of the sheriff’s office contains an Inmate Lookup Tool that allows researchers to track down the jail records for both current and released inmates in Union County.1

You can use the tool to search by inmate name or booking, case, or ID number. Check the “Include released inmates” box for records on previously incarcerated persons. You can also leave the name fields blank to see a full list of inmates.

A screenshot showing an inmate database search tool that can be used to find an inmate using two options: by entering the first and last name of the inmate in the text boxes provided or by selecting an identifier from the drop-down list, or by entering a value in the field provided from the Union County Sheriff's Office website.
Source: Union County Sheriff’s Office1

Once you’ve entered your criteria and hit “Search,” the website will display a public index of Union County bookings, including the name, ID numbers, and birth date of each inmate.

A screenshot displaying the inmate search results on the inmate database search tab to access an inmate's profile information shows the inmate's full name, booking number, permanent ID, date of birth and release date from the Union County Sheriff's Office website.
Source: Union County Sheriff’s Office1

The hot-linked name of an inmate will yield more information, including their physical characteristics, charges, and potential aliases. For most inmates, you’ll also see booking photographs — making this a good way to find someone’s mugshot.

A screenshot displaying a sample of an inmate's information on the inmate database search tab showing the inmate's full name, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair color, hair length, eye color, complexion, and other information such as incarceration, alias, detainer, charge and hearing information from the Union County Sheriff's Office website.
Source: Union County Sheriff’s Office1

For more information about past and previously incarcerated persons at the Union County Jail, you can contact the Divisions of Corrections by phone at 908.558.2600 or write to or visit this address:

Union County Sheriff’s Office
Division of Corrections
15 Elizabethtown Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

Additionally, you can contact the Sheriff’s Office directly to inquire about inmates, as well as about Union County offenders who have been moved to facilities in other counties.

Union County Sheriff’s Office
10 Elizabethtown Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

Phone: 908.528.4450

Thanks to New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), state, county, and municipal agencies must honor or deny any request to view the public records they maintain within seven days.2

That means anyone can contact law enforcement agencies within the county to enquire about Union County public records concerning arrests and arrestees.

You can use the official OPRA form, the Request for Access to Government Records, to make a written request to view records in person, request them via email or fax, or to order photocopies of official documents. This form can be used with any county agency, including the sheriff’s office.

Unless stated otherwise, there is no cost for the first 10 pages of a copy of a Union County record. Every page thereafter costs 5 cents per page for letter-size documents and 7 cents per page for legal-size documents. In addition, there may be a fee of $2 for the retrieval of archived records.

Obtain Police Reports & Arrest Data via the Union County Law Enforcement Agencies

In addition to the sheriff’s office, you can also contact the Union County Police Department to inquire about arrests and criminal activity in the county.3 The police department has jurisdiction over the entire county and assists local police agencies.

Because it’s a county agency, you can make a written request for information from the department using the Union County OPRA form, the Request for Access to Government Records. Here’s the mailing address, as well as a phone number for record inquiries:

Union County Police Department
400 N. Ave. East
Westfield, NJ 07090

Phone: 908.654.9809 (records division)

Plus, there are also dozens of municipal police departments in Union County. Here’s the contact information for the 10 largest law enforcement agencies in the county to start your search:

Local Police Department Address Phone Number
Elizabeth Police Department 1 Police Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
908.557.2000
Union Township Police Department 981 Caldwell Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908.851.5000
Linden Police Department 301 N. Wood Ave.
Linden, NJ 07036
908.474.8500
Westfield Police Department 425 E. Broad St.
Westfield, NJ 07090
908.789.4000
Rahway Police Department 1 City Hall Pla.
Rahway, NJ 07065
732.388.1900
Scotch Plains Police Department 430 Park Ave.
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
908.322.7100
Cranford Police Department 8 Springfield Ave.
Cranford, NJ 07016
908.272.2222
Hillside Police Department 1409 Liberty Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
973.926.5800
Summit Police Department 512 Springfield Ave.
Summit, NJ 07901
908.273.0051
Roselle Police Department 210 Chestnut St.
Roselle, NJ 07203
908.245.2000

You can find the contact information of other law enforcement agencies in Union County by typing “[city name] New Jersey police department contact information” into Google or any other search engine.

How To Access Criminal Records in Union County NJ for Free

In addition to Union County arrest records, you can find out more about someone else by running a free criminal record check through county and state agencies. By checking Union County criminal records, you can find out information charges, convictions, sentences, prisoners and even warrants.

While there are many agencies who host this information and each is outlined below, the best place to start is the New Jersey Court System’s Public Access site. If you can’t find the public records you’re looking for there, you can also contact the various trial courts within the county.

Run a Criminal Records Search via the NJ Courts’ Public Access Site

New Jersey’s unified Courts Public Access site is an efficient way to look up criminal records in Union County, as well as other counties within the state.

You can search both criminal convictions and judgments using the site. However, because a search of judgments also includes information about convictions, this is the most exhaustive search option.

The Criminal Judgments Public Access page allows users to access records for Union County’s Superior Court dating back to June 30, 2017.4 The Superior Court tries all cases in Union County related to felonies and indictable misdemeanors — which are lesser crimes still punishable by jail sentencing.

When using the lookup tool, make sure to turn off your pop-up blocker when using the site, or else it won’t function properly. Once you’ve read the disclaimer and accepted its terms, you can begin your search by selecting “Union” from the “Search in County” dropdown menu. You can then choose to search by the defendant’s name, indictment/accusation number, state ID number, complaint number, or PROMIS case/defendant number.

If searching by name, you must enter both a first and a last name. If you know a date range for when the person in question may have received a sentence, you can enter it to narrow down the search.

A screenshot showing a search tool that can be used to access records for Union County's Superior Court by entering the county, search by criterion drop-down box, first and last name, and sentence date from the New Jersey Courts website.
Source: New Jersey Courts Criminal Judgments Public Access4

After entering your criteria, you’ll be taken to a page with see an online directory of Union County judicial records that match your criteria. From here, you can click on a defendant’s name to get a downloadable and printable copy of a court document with details of the case. Typically, these documents include a lot of details, such as information about the charges, as well as the court date and any fines or sentences related to the case.

If you wish to find information involving criminal court cases tried before June 30, 2017, you must contact the Superior Court Criminal Division Record Room.

Here’s the contact information:

Union County Superior Court Criminal Division
2 Broad St., Tower Building, Floor 5
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

Phone: 908.787.1650, ext. 21250

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Find Out if Someone Has a History of Crime via the Union County Superior Court Clerk’s Office

You can also order copies of criminal records through the Union County Superior Court Clerk’s Office using the online Record Request Form.5

A screenshot showing a New Jersey judiciary records request form that requires filling out some information such as request date and request needed by, preferred delivery, requestor identification such as first, middle and last name, address, city, daytime telephone, state, zip code, fax/email and other information such as records request processing location, case identification, and records requested by division from the New Jersey Judiciary website.
Source: New Jersey Judiciary5

You may download the form and complete it to the best of your knowledge. Make sure you enter “Union” on the line for “County” and “Criminal” for the “Division” line. Also be sure to check “Superior Court Clerk’s Office.”

Once you’ve completed the form, you can save it to your computer. Then you must register for a free Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) account, if you don’t already have one. The JEDS registration page will walk you through the process.6 You’ll need to supply a username, password, and three security questions and answers, as well as your full name and contact details.

Once you’ve registered for an account, the next step for uploading your request is to select “Judiciary Electronic Document Submission” on the homepage.

Then select “Create a New Filing.”

This will take you to a page where you can select what kind of document you’re uploading. To request information on Union County criminal cases, you can select the following from the dropdown menus:

  • Court: “Criminal”
  • Docket type: “Criminal cases”
  • Venue: “UNN – UNION”
  • Filing category: “Record requests”

You can then choose whether you wish to request a digital plain copy or a plain paper of the record for free. Certification, official seals, and exemplification (which are signed and sealed) cost additional fees.

On the next page, you must enter the year and case number for the record you’re requesting. If you don’t know this information, clicking “Look Up Case Number” will take you to a court case lookup tool.

Once you’ve entered the year and number, you can hit the “Search” button to see a list of results that match the criteria.

On the next page, you can upload the completed record request document and hit “Next.”

Finally, the website allows you to review all of the request details. After your request has been submitted, you’ll receive a confirmation email to the address you provided. Once your order has been processed, you’ll receive the document.

For questions about requesting documents using the JEDS system, email [email protected].

View Criminal Case Records in Union County Through the Municipal Courts

The municipal courts in Union County try cases related to misdemeanor offenses that are not punishable by jail sentences. These offenses are called “petty disorderly persons offenses” in New Jersey.

Because Union County is so populous, there are numerous municipal courts within its borders. Here’s a list of the five largest jurisdictions to jumpstart your search:

Municipal Court Address Phone Number
Elizabeth Municipal Court 1 Police Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
908.558.6800
Union Township Municipal Court 981 Caldwell Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908.851.5400
Linden Municipal Court 301 N. Wood Ave.
Linden, NJ 07036
908.474.8429
Westfield Municipal Court 425 East Broad St.
Westfield, NJ 07090
908.789.4060
Rahway Municipal Court 1 City Hall Plz.
Rahway, NJ 07065
732.827.2039

To find the contact information for other municipal courts in Union County, you can search “[city name] New Jersey municipal court” using Google or any other search engine.

Alternatively, you can use the New Jersey Judiciary Records Request Form to submit a record request online. The section in this article on requesting copies of Union County court records contains instructions for using this method.

How To Conduct a Warrant Search in Union County

The most efficient way to find out if someone has an open warrant is by contacting the Union County Sheriff’s Office. In particular, requesters should call the office’s Fugitives and Warrants division at 908.527.4480.

Alternatively, you can complete the official Request for Access to Government Records Form to track down records about Union County warrants. You can then mail the form or take it in person to the sheriff’s office at the following address:

Union County Sheriff’s Office
10 Elizabethtown Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

In addition, you can use the contact information for the Union County Police Department and other municipal police departments found in the section on criminal records above to ask about potential warrants.

However, keep in mind that if you have an open warrant against you and visit the sheriff’s office or any other law enforcement agency building, you’ll likely be arrested on the spot.

For a more comprehensive approach, you can also follow these steps for searching warrant details across New Jersey, which may provide additional information beyond Union County.

How To Check if an Individual Is on Probation in Union County

The Union County Probation Division oversees programs for offenders who are serving out their sentences at home, instead of incarceration in jail.

The Probation Division doesn’t have its own website; however, the most efficient way of finding out if someone is on probation in Union County is by calling the office, sending an inquiry by mail (using the Request for Access to Government Records),or visiting in person.

Here’s the contact information:

Union County Probation Division (Albender Building)
1143 E. Jersey St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201

Phone: 908.787.1650, ext. 21617

In addition, researchers can use the Criminal Judgments Public Access database to find out if a particular criminal case involves a probation sentence. The database can search court records dating back to June 30, 2017. See the section in this resource on searching criminal records for instructions on how to use the court case lookup tool.

Once you’ve found a case record involving the party in question, you can find details of any probation sentence associated with the case in the section of the document labeled “Sentencing Statement.”

A screenshot displaying a Judgment of Conviction & Order for Commitment form from the New Jersey Courts.
Source: New Jersey Courts7

How To Perform a Background Check in Union County NJ

Reasons why someone would want to obtain a background check report on themselves or another person include checking your own files to make sure they’re accurate.

Or you may want to conduct a free Union County public records search to find out more about a new colleague, neighbor, or potential love interest.

These are examples of personal background checks. Background checks completed for personal reasons do not require the written consent of the subject.

On the flip side, professional background checks are those undertaken on the behalf of a company, nonprofit, landlord, or licensing agency, or other entity. They can be part of pre-employment, volunteer, or tenant screenings, as well as for licensing purposes.

There are several types of professional checks, including Level 1 checks that are based on the subject’s name and Level 2 checks that use fingerprinting to look up someone’s records.

And unlike personal background checks, by law, you must have the written consent of the subject prior to undertaking a professional check. That’s according to the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).8

If you suspect that you’ve been the victim of a background check that violates FCRA, you can contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Federal Trade Commission for help. The last section of this article also contains more information about protections for workers and consumers.

Conduct a Personal Background Check in Union County — Conducting a personal background check can be done by checking public records through the agencies seen here or through third party providers — however, keep in mind that it’s illegal to use any of the information gained from a public records search to harass or stalk another person.

Request a Professional New Jersey Background Check — Researchers can also order a professional background check from the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). The NJSP conducts name- and fingerprint-based checks for companies, nonprofits, and licensing agencies. Individuals can also request a personal record check to make sure there are no inaccuracies in their own files.

The NJSP conducts five types of checks that are based on the state’s Criminal History Record Information (CHRI):

  1. Personal record request for New Jersey residents
  2. Personal record request for out-of-state residents
  3. Volunteer Review Operation (VRO) for nonprofit organizations serving youths
  4. Noncriminal justice volunteer background checks
  5. Name-based checks of state criminal records for both companies and volunteer organizations

Whether or not you live in New Jersey, you can follow the same steps to request a personal record check. The first step is to schedule a fingerprinting appointment through the IdentoGO website or by calling +1.877.503.5981 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. You can select the request service code from the NJSP website that best fits your situation.

Once you’ve attended the IdentoGO appointment and your fingerprints have been collected, you will be able to download a Personal Record Request letter with the results within 24 to 72 hours.9 This service costs $45.73 per background check, payable only by debit or credit card.

A screenshot displaying the New Jersey fingerprint-based personal record request criminal history record check or authentication by entering the PCN/TCN and applicant's last name and date of birth from the State of New Jersey State Police website.
Source: New Jersey State Police9

If a company, volunteer organization, or any other entity requires you to undergo a fingerprint-based background check, you will be emailed a 212B Name-Check Criminal History Record Request. You’ll also be sent a service code to use to set up an appointment with IdentoGO. You may be required to cover the costs of this record check.

Fees for employment screenings are $58.98, whereas volunteer checks cost $26.98.

How To Access New Jersey Criminal Records Through State & Federal Resources

Beyond Union County, there are agencies throughout New Jersey and the U.S. that you can contact to look up someone’s criminal record. They include:

Obtain Court Documents in Union County New Jersey

To get ahold of court records, it’s best to know that the Union County Superior Court is the county-level trial court. The court consists of the following divisions:

  • Criminal Division: Tries felony and serious misdemeanor cases
  • Civil Division: Tries cases related to small- and large-claim lawsuits, probate, contract, and other civil matters.
  • Family Division: Tries juvenile cases, as well as any cases involving family relationships, including child support and divorce cases.

The New Jersey Court system’s website provides the contact information for all three divisions of the Union County Superior Court.12

There are also numerous municipal courts within Union County that try cases related to traffic violations, ordinance violations, and “disorderly persons offenses” (misdemeanors punishable by fine). The municipal courts also often hold arraignments and other preliminary events for criminal cases that will eventually be sent to the Superior Court.

In New Jersey, there’s also the state-level Supreme Court (which handles appeals for all county courts), as well as a Tax Court.

To request copies of records from any court in the county, you can use the New Jersey Judicial Records Request Form. This form can be submitted by mail, fax, email, or in-person drop-off. You can also submit it online using a JEDS account.

See the section above on requesting copies of criminal case records for a detailed walkthrough of uploading a JEDS request.

It’s also possible to perform a Union County case search by using the New Jersey Courts Public Access site.13 Researchers can use the site to look up criminal and civil cases — but not those tried by the Superior Court’s Family Division.

A screenshot showing a search page that can be used to find different cases and information such as civil and foreclosure, criminal convictions, criminal judgments, judgments liens, tax court cases, municipal court cases, supreme court cases, court opinions, request court records, find an attorney discipline case and find a judicial discipline case from the New Jersey Courts website.
Source: New Jersey Courts13

How To View & Acquire Union County NJ Vital Records: Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death

Vital records are records maintained by government agencies that have to do with significant life events such as births, marriages, and deaths.

There are many reasons why you may want to look up New Jersey public records involving these events in Union County. For example, you may want to access your own birth certificate in order to apply for a passport. Or you may want to find out if someone is married before agreeing to a date.

New Jersey law restricts who can access different types of vital records. This article will cover the most efficient legal ways of obtaining this information.

View Marital Records (Marriage, Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage) via Official Channels

In New Jersey, access to marriage records less than 50 years old is restricted to the registrants named on the document, as well as their parents or legal guardians, spouses, children, grandchildren, and siblings.

Records older than 50 years can be accessed by any member of the public for genealogical or historical purposes.

Marriage certificates are maintained by the municipalities in which the marriage was solemnized, as well as by the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics & Registry.14 If you are not authorized to access marriage records in New Jersey, you may still find out this information by using a third-party records search service.

A screenshot displaying the vital statistics and registry information, such as ways customers can order vital records and the vital records that the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry registers vital events and maintains from the State of New Jersey Department of Health website.
Source: State of New Jersey Department of Health14

Order Marriage Records From Municipal Registrars — If you’re authorized to access a marriage certificate in the state of New Jersey, you can do so by directly contacting a registrar serving the municipality in which the marriage took place.

The New Jersey Department of Health website contains a list of all municipal registrars in Union County, along with their contact information.

Alternatively, authorized individuals may submit a request for marriage records through the Vital Statistics departments of several townships and cities in Union County. Here’s a list of the five largest municipality agencies that allow researchers to order marriage certificates:

Record Custodian Address Phone Number
City of Elizabeth Office of Vital Statistics 50 Winfield Scott Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
908.820.4082
Union Township Office of Vital Statistics 1976 Morris Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908.851.8507
Linden City Clerk’s Office 301 N. Wood Ave.
Linden, NJ 07036
908.474.8452
Westfield Office of Vital Statistics 425 E. Broad St.
Westfield, NJ 07090
908.789.4070, ext. 4077
City of Rahway Office of Vital Statistics 1 City Hall Plz.
Rahway, NJ 07065
732.827.2085

To find another municipal Vital Statistics office in Union County, search “[city or township] New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics” using Google or another search engine.

Request Marriage Records via the N.J. Office of Vital Statistics & Registry — The New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics and Registry maintains Union County marriage records dating back to 1941, along with domestic partnership certificates from 2008 onwards and civil union records dating back to 2007.

If you’re authorized to request a copy of a marriage certificate, you may do so online using the Vital Records Online Service. The cost is $25 for the first copy, plus an extra $2 for each additional copy of the same record. In addition, every order incurs a $5 processing fee and a $5 identity verification fee. Payment can be made by debit or credit card.

To use the service, you must supply the following information:

  • Your full name
  • Your date of birth
  • Your mailing address
  • Your relationship to a registrant listed on the marriage record
  • The reason for your request
  • The number of copies you’d like
  • The full names of both registrants
  • The date when the marriage occurred
  • The city and county in which the marriage was solemnized

Once you’ve submitted your order, it takes four to six weeks for the copy of the record to be mailed to you.

In addition, it’s possible to visit the New Jersey DOH’s Office of Vital Statistics & Registry to order a copy of a marriage certificate in person and to pay by check or money order (the same fees apply).

DOH Office of Vital Statistics & Registry
140 East Front St.
Trenton, NJ 08625

Phone: 609.292.4087

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Find Marriage Records Through the N.J. State Archives — The New Jersey State Department also maintains marriage records dating back as far as 1665 in its archives.

Researchers can locate marriage records made between 1665 and 1799 in New Jersey through the Online Marriage Records Index. Copies of these records can be ordered for $5 apiece with a credit or debit card by using this online service.

In addition, the State Archives maintains marriage records for Union County made between 1857 and 1878. Copies of these certificates also cost $5 each and can be ordered through the mail by using the following contact information:

New Jersey State Archives
P.O. Box 307
Trenton, NJ 08625

Email: [email protected]

The State Archives is currently conserving marriage records dated from May 1, 1848, to 100 years before the current year.

These records can be ordered by check or money order (payable to “New Jersey General Treasury”) for $10 apiece. Use the Marriage Record Search Request Form to order one of these records.15

Find Divorce Records From the N.J. Superior Court Clerk — Unlike other counties, Union County doesn’t allow researchers to find out information on divorce cases through a court case search tool.

Therefore, if you want to check if someone is married or not in Union County, the most efficient method may be using a third-party records search service.

That said, if you need a copy of your own Certificate of Divorce or Final Judgment of Divorce, you can order one from the Superior Court.

The New Jersey Superior Court system allows authorized individuals (registrants, parents or guardians, siblings, children, and grandchildren) to request Union County divorce records for dissolutions made since 2015 from its centralized office.

Certificates of Divorce cost $10, while a certified copy of a Final Judgment of Divorce costs $25. Payment can be made in the form of check or money order (payable to “Treasurer – State of New Jersey”).

Requests must be made using the official New Jersey Judiciary Records Request Form.

To order a divorce record copy online, use the JEDS system. See the section on requesting criminal records for helpful instructions on how to use this service.

Alternatively, you can mail the request form and payment to the following address:

Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, NJ 08625

For more information, call the customer service line at 609.421.6100

If you need a copy of a divorce record dated prior to 2015 and are authorized to receive one, contact the Union County Superior Court Family Division for details:

Union County Superior Court – Family Division
Union Family Courthouse
2 Cherry St., Fl. 3
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

Phone: 908.787.1650, ext. 21320

Moreover, if you want to extend your search, check these guides to finding marital records all over the state — use either the New Jersey marriage record search tutorial or the overview of obtaining NJ divorce decrees for step-by-step instructions.

Request Birth & Death Certificate in Union County NJ via State & Municipal Agencies

In New Jersey, ordering a copy of a birth certificate or a death certificate is nearly the same as ordering a marriage certificate through the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics & Registry. This agency maintains birth records dating back to 1923 and death records going back to 1941.

Authorized persons can use the Vital Records Online Service to order copies of either a certificate of birth or a certificate of death.16 The cost is $25 for the first copy, plus $2 for each extra copy of the same record. Plus, there’s a $5 processing fee and a $5 identity verification fee for each transaction.

In New Jersey, only the following may order one of these vital records:

  • The Registrant (for birth certificates)
  • Their Parents
  • Their Children
  • Their Siblings
  • Their Spouses
  • Their Grandparents
  • Their Legal Guardians
  • Other Legal Representatives

In addition, authorized requesters can contact the different municipal Vital Statistics records in Union County to request copies of records. Use the contact information found in the section on requesting marriage records above.

If you’re not an authorized individual, you may want to use a third-party records search service to find out this information.

Find Out Who Owns Property & Any Unpaid Taxes in Union County New Jersey

The most efficient way to look up who owns a property in Union County is to use the Tax Assessment Records Search Tool.17 Although this tool is hosted by another county, it has an option to search Union County and others within the state.

You can use this tool to look up both current owners and related deeds. You can narrow down your search of Union County by selecting a district, or choose “All” from the drop-down menu.

A screenshot displaying the assessment records search that can be used to find assessment records by selecting database, county, district, search format, output format, list items per page, search criteria and process search from the Assessment Records Search website.
Source: Monmouth County, New Jersey Tax Board17

To check Union County public records concerning property, click “More Info” in the search results. You’ll see the property address, owner’s address, size of lot, and tax amount.

If you want to find out more information about property ownership in Union County, you can search for records through the Name Search Tool.18 This tool allows users to look up a variety of document types — including deeds, mortgages, and liens — by supplying a last name and a date range.

A screenshot showing a search tool can be used to find records by entering the required first and last name and selecting the required date range, required part type, and document types from the Union Clerk's Office website.
Source: Union County Clerk’s Office18

The search results won’t give you the address of the property in question. Instead, you will see the book and page number for the document kept by the Clerk’s Office. You can then submit a Request for Access to Government Records form to request a copy of the record.

Copies cost 5 cents per page for letter-size documents and 7 cents per page for legal-size documents.

Here’s the contact information for the Clerk’s Office for more details:

Union County Clerk
2 Broad St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207

Phone: 908.527.4787

Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

One other way to view property records is by contacting the relevant municipal tax assessor. Here’s a list of the tax assessors for the the five largest municipalities in Union County:

Record Custodian Address Phone Number
City of Elizabeth Tax Assessor 50 Winfield Scott Plz.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
908.820.4136
Union Township Tax Assessor 1976 Morris Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908.851.8505
Linden City Tax Assessor 301 N. Wood Ave.
Linden, NJ 07036
908.474.8544
Westfield Tax Assessor 425 E. Broad St.
Westfield, NJ 07090
908.789.4055
City of Rahway Tax Assessor 1 City Hall Plz.
Rahway, NJ 07065
732.827.2030

To find the contact information for any other municipal tax assessor in Union County, type “[city or township”] New Jersey tax assessor” into Google or another search engine.

Citizens’ Rights & Ethical Use of Union County Public Records

Thanks to the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), it’s relatively stress-free to find public records kept by Union County custodians.

That said, it’s imperative to always obey the law when it comes to public records. OPRA makes it illegal for anyone convicted of a crime to search public records to find out information about victims and their families.

In addition, the information gathered from a public records search must never be used to stalk, harass, or intimidate another person — nor to commit any type of crime, including identity theft.

Plus, as mentioned in the section of this resource on background checks, anyone looking up another person’s history for personal reasons must not use the information for pre-employment screenings, licensing purposes, or tenant decisions.

Researching public records for these purposes constitutes a professional background check, and you must have the written consent of the subject before the search can be started.

The U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the use of consumer information for professional background checks and other uses.19 FCRA grants everyone:

  • The right to know if personal information has been used against them
  • The right to find out what information is in their files
  • The right to request a credit score
  • The right to dispute any information in their files that is inaccurate
  • The right to seek damages for FCRA violations

If you believe you are a victim of a FCRA violation, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for help.

New Jersey’s Opportunity to Compete Act also forbids potential employers from asking about someone’s criminal history in the initial employment screening process.

The New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development can provide help for any worker who has a labor-related complaint.20 The New Jersey Attorney General’s Division on Civil Rights is another good resource for anyone who believes they have been discriminated against.

A screenshot displaying the New Jersey workers' protections on different categories such as wages and payments, independent contractors and misclassification, workers under 18, temporary workers, victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence, public construction jobs (prevailing wage), farm workers, paid sick time and others from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website.
Source: New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development20

That said, if you want to learn more about somebody else’s history — or want to double-check that there are no mistakes in your own files — a free search of Union County public records can prove invaluable; to broaden your search and explore methods for obtaining statewide public information, check this guide on accessing various New Jersey public records.


References

1Union County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Inmate Look-Up Tool. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from <https://ucnj.org/sheriff/corrections/inmate-look-up-disclaimer/>

2State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. (n.d.). Open Public Records Act and Records That Are Exempt From OPRA. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.nj.gov/dep/opra/exemptions.html>

3Union County New Jersey. (n.d.). Contact the Union County Police. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://ucnj.org/public-safety/division-of-police/contact-the-union-county-police/>

4New Jersey Courts. (n.d.). Criminal Judgments Public Access. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/jocpa_internet/jsp_public/home_public.jsp>

5Official Website of the New Jersey Judiciary. (n.d.). Records Request Form. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/10200_records_req.pdf>

6New Jersey Courts. (n.d.). Criminal Judgments Public Access. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://portalselfreg-cloud.njcourts.gov/prweb/PRServletPublicAuth/app/ESSOPortal/yq-No0lmafOUvv0O-O5GtbIFqEhzNFKZ*/!STANDARD?AppName=ESSO>

7New Jersey Courts. (n.d.). Judgment of Conviction and Order for Commitment. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/jocpa_internet/jsp_public/tomodule.joc?prefix=/view&page=/jocpdf.joc&method=chooseJOCPDF&selectionval=UNN~2019~24157~1*19-07-00484-A$null@40!C^false>

8Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (n.d.). Summary of Consumer Rights Model Form. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/bcfp_consumer-rights-summary_2018-09.pdf>

9New Jersey State Police. (n.d.). Personal Records Request. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.njportal.com/NJSP/prr>

10New Jersey State Police. (n.d.). Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://nj.gov/njsp/criminal-history-records/index.shtml>

11Federal Bureau of Prisons. (n.d.). Inmate Locator. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/>

12New Jersey Courts. (n.d.). Union Court Offices/Divisions. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.njcourts.gov/courts/vicinages/union/offices>

13Official Website of the New Jersey Judiciary. (n.d.). Find a Case. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.njcourts.gov/public/find-a-case>

14State of New Jersey Department of Health. (n.d.). New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/>

15Official Site of the State of New Jersey. (n.d.). Marriage Record Search Request. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/pdf/MarriageRequest.pdf>

16Office of Vital Statistics & Registry. (n.d.). Vital Records Online Service. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://vitalrecords.egov.com/CDC.VitalRecordsMVC.Web/Wizard/NJ/Municipality/SelectMunicipality>

17New Jersey Assessment Records Search. (n.d.). New Jersey Tax Assessment Records Search. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us/cgi-bin/prc6.cgi?&ms_user=monm&passwd=data&srch_type=0&adv=0&out_type=0&district=2000>

18Union County Clerk’s Office. (n.d.). Name Search. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://clerk.ucnj.org/UCPA/DocIndex?s=name>

19Federal Trade Commission. (n.d.). Fair Credit Reporting Act. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act>

20Official Site Of The State Of New Jersey  Department of Labor and Workforce. (n.d.). Worker Protections. Retrieved November 01, 2023, from <https://www.nj.gov/labor/worker-protections/myworkrights/>