County Clerk

Elizabeth Business Office Operations – The Union County Clerk’s Elizabeth Business Office will be temporarily closed for renovations from May 16, 2022 to May 20, 2022. Please address any questions regarding passports, notaries, trade names, veterans or clerk certificates to the Westfield office at 908-654-9859.

Union Joanne Rajoppi, County Clerk

Address: Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207

Click here for Union County Election Resources

Union County Clerk Advises Residents on Passport Fees

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises residents seeking passport services that the U.S. Department of State has raised the fees for passport books by $20.00 effective Monday, December 27.

  • Fee for an adult passport book, for ages 16 and up, will be raised from $110.00 to $130.00.
  • Fee for a child passport book, for ages 15 and younger, will be raised from $80.00 to $100.00.

Convenient Online Appointment System now available from the Union County Clerk

Click here to make your Appointment for Passports, Notary Services, or Trade Names

Drawing for the Ballot Positions

The drawing for the ballot positions for the 2021 General Election will be held on Monday, August 9 at 3pm at the Union County Courthouse. The drawing will be live streamed on the County’s Facebook page. The video will appear when we go live at 3:00 pm

Request your 2022 County Clerk Calendar

Click here

Union County Clerk’s Westfield Office Resumes Extra Hours

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds residents that the County Clerk’s annex office in the Colleen Fraser Building at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield is resuming its regular schedule of extra hours for in-person appointment for all services by appointment only.

  • Monday  8:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday  8:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 am to 7:30 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces effective immediately, the County Clerk’s offices will begin accepting appointments to swear in notaries and assist persons seeking to register trade names, tax waivers and clerk’s certificates.

Everyone seeking these services in person is required to make an appointment in advance and wear a face mask at all times, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. No other in-person services are available at this time.

Elizabeth – Effective Immediately – Appointments can be made for the County Clerk’s main office in Elizabeth, by calling the Business Division at 908-527-4966 (office hours are 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday):

  • Notary swearing-in
  • Tax waivers
  • Clerk’s certificates
  • Trade names

Westfield – Effective Immediately –  Appointments can be made for the County Clerks’ annex office in Westfield, by calling 908-654-9859 (office hours are 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday):

  • Notary swearing-in
  • Clerk’s certificates
  • Trade names

Any Notaries whose commission date has expired should call the New Jersey Department of the Treasury at 609-292-9292 for assistance. Website.

Passport Operations

In accordance with U.S. State Department guidelines, please note that the County Clerk’s passport services at the Elizabeth and Westfield offices are temporarily suspended. In life or death emergencies within three days of travel, call the State Department at 877-487-2778 (8:00 am – 5:00 pm).  After 5:00 pm call 202-647-4000.

Passport applicants and holders are further advised that the U.S. Department of State will honor all expedited service of passports submitted prior to March 18 with two – to four – week service. Regular passport renewals and new passports will be delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Frequent land records submitters (such as law firms and banks)

Encouraged to use an e-filing service. The vendors used by the County Clerk are:

As the County Clerk I am pleased to acquaint you with the broad range of services and functions our office performs. From the recording and filing of all land transactions within the 21 municipalities of our county to the processing of Passports and elections, we are always available to assist and direct you in your needs.

We invite you to download our free Union County Votes App for ioS, android phones and tablets. It will give you instant access to the vital tools of voting and accurate election information.

– Joanne Rajoppi

Recording Fee Changes Effective January 1, 2020

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders pursuant to P.L 2009, Chapter 123 amending N.J .S. 22A:4~17 and supplementing P.L 1984, c.180(c.52.27D~ 280 et seq., has by Resolution, amended the Union County Homeless Trust Fund. Effective January 1, 2020 there will be a surcharge increase from three dollars ($3.00) to five dollars ($5.00) for each document recorded by the Union County Clerk’s Office. The $2.00 increase will offset the cost associated with Code Blue Alert plans. The documents affected by this surcharge are as follows:

  • Deeds (All Types)
  • Mortgages (All types)
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Mortgage Cancellations
  • Releases Satisfactions
  • Vacations Discharges
  • Tax Sale Certificates
  • Postponements & Subordinations
  • Redemptions
  • Lis Pendens (Recorded)