Author: Web Site Administrator

Effective Monday, March 23, the Union County Surrogates office located in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth will close to the public due to COVID 19.

For questions and/or concerns email sbadri@ucnj.org or send a fax to 908-351-9212.

For general information about COVID-19 call the New Jersey Department of Health at 800-222-1222 or 800-962-1253.

A toll free emotional support line is also available at 877-294-HELP (4357).

This press release and its information are outdated. View updated press release.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in conjunction with governmental, educational and healthcare partners,  have opened the state’s first County-run, drive-through facility for testing of the COVID-19 virus at Kean University.

The testing center is only for residents of Union County.

If you have a VALID PRESCRIPTION for Covid-19 testing please email COVID19TEST@UCNJ.ORG with the following information:

Your full name, home address, phone number, email address, gender, race, date of birth, photo of your script, the physician’s name, address and phone number and then you may directly go to our Union County Drive-Through Testing Center for COVID-19 at Kean University.

The testing Center is open Monday-Friday from 9 am – 5 pm. Please note that people with existing appointments will be seen first.

For the safety, health and security of the volunteers at the site, the testing location will not allow patients without vehicles to enter campus, even with a valid prescription and appointment. If you do not have your own transportation, please discuss with your healthcare provider before scheduling an appointment.

Also, if you believe you may have symptoms of COVID-19, there is a self-assessment tool that you should use that has been developed by the State of New Jersey. This tool will assist you to determine what actions you can take to protect you and your loved ones’ health and help determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19, and can be accessed at https://self.covid19.nj.gov/

The Union County COVID 19 drive-through facility is being run by the County through a partnership with the Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) in Summit, the Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ Barnabas Health) in Rahway. The Freeholder Board, County Manager and his staff worked with State Senators Joseph P. Cryan, Nicholas P. Scutari, Governor Phil Murphy’s office, Kean University, and the New Jersey State Department of Health in bringing the facility online.

In support of local businesses that have closed their doors or significantly curtailed operations during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents on ways to patronize local businesses within the precautionary guidelines recommended by health professionals.

“There are steps we can all take to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while continuing to ‘shop local’ in support of our local businesses and their employees,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Until a meaningful relief program comes from the federal government, let’s all pitch in and help.”

Social distancing is the primary strategy for halting the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing requires that people stay at least 6 feet away from others when outside of the home. With that in mind, suggestions for social distance shopping include:

• Purchase gift cards online or by phone to use later
• Buy takeout food from restaurants (call ahead for pickup)
• Order goods online or call for delivery
• Sign up for local online classes and programs
• Where available, pay now for manicures and other services to be used later

Other key strategies to avoid spreading or contracting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases include: wash hands frequently, avoid touching the face, stay away from sick people, and isolate oneself when sick.

For updates and information on Union County services impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

Effective Monday, March 23rd, the Union County Surrogate’s office located in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth will close to the public due to the COVID -19 public health emergency.

Any members of the public with inquiries can call the office at 908-527-4280, access the Surrogate’s website https://ucnj.org/surrogate/, email sbadri@ucnj.org or send a fax to 908-351-9212.

Anyone wishing to visit on non-essential matters will not be allowed access to public buildings, and we encourage our residents to use our website for any non-emergent, non-essential service they may require. Visitors for essential Social Services such as Food Stamps (SNAP), and emergency assistance will be allowed entry to the Division of Social Services Building at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth. For other essential services such as the County Clerk,  and the Surrogate offices in Elizabeth,  while their offices will be open, we encourage you to call ahead to make an appointment or see if you can conduct your business online first.

Effective immediately, the State of New Jersey is prohibiting gatherings larger than 50 people. Gyms will be closing at 8 PM and remain closed moving forward. Bars and Restaurants will be closing at 8 PM moving forward, with the ability to re-open each day to offer take-out and delivery services. Food establishments will be prohibited from offering eat-in services.                

Further information will be provided later today, including language on the upcoming Executive Orders.

Please immediately contact the Office of the Governor at 609-777-2500 to arrange for the return of this information.

In-person Superior Court proceedings scheduled for Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 will be postponed, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced Sunday night. During that time, the Judiciary will prepare to shift to virtual participation for attorneys, litigants and all court users, with extremely limited exceptions.

The postponements, detailed in a notice issued Sunday, are part of an ongoing series of actions taken in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Health to reduce the risk of public exposure to COVID-19 Coronavirus.

“On a typical court day, hundreds if not thousands of attorneys, litigants, and inmates appear in courts throughout the state. We are limiting physical interactions in our courts and shifting to video and phone conferencing options for attorneys, litigants and the public,” Chief Justice Rabner said.

Attorneys and litigants scheduled to appear for in-person matters at the trial level of the Superior Court and Tax Court on Monday and Tuesday should await notice of a new hearing date. Ongoing jury trials will continue as announced.

Critical court operations necessary to public safety or the administration of justice will continue. Emergent applications, as well as Extreme Risk Protective Orders and domestic violence temporary restraining orders submitted through local police departments, will continue to be accepted. The court also will continue to hold first appearance hearings and pretrial detention hearings.  

Questions about individual cases should be directed to the relevant court offices. Updated information regarding court operations will continue to be made available at njcourts.gov.