Monmouth County Clerk announces one millionth electronic recording

FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French announced today that one million documents have been recorded through the New Jersey County Recording electronic portal. The system was established in October 2003 by Mrs. French to streamline the document recording process, and it is now used by 13 New Jersey counties.

“The electronic recording of documents in New Jersey has become the preeminent example of efficient shared services,” says Mrs. French. “I created this system because I knew it would be a huge benefit to Monmouth County residents and businesses, then I offered it to my counterparts in other counties.”

“Currently, 13 New Jersey counties share in the portal usage, which makes document recording faster for everyone,” she adds. “It really is a win-win for New Jersey.”

Mrs. French explains that prior to the portal’s creation, all documents such as mortgages, deeds, assignments and land records were recorded in person or by mail. During the real estate “boom years,” it could take several months for a document to be recorded. 

With the new electronic system, over 150 types of documents can now be recorded over the Internet from anywhere in the world, resulting in a substantial cost savings and greatly increased efficiency and security. Currently, all Monmouth County documents are recorded within 24 hours of receipt. The site is designed to support a wide range of submitters including banks, law firms, mortgage lenders, and title companies.

“In our office alone, roughly 30 percent of all documents presented for recording this year have been e-recorded, which has allowed us to reduce staff and expense while increasing service,” the County Clerk says.

Mrs. French has accepted awards from the Center for Digital Government for outstanding use of technology in government. The award-winning portal continues to be a showcase of best practices for shared services among counties big and small.

Current portal partners include Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic and Sussex counties. The site conforms to guidelines published by the State of New Jersey Division of Archives and Record Management (NJDARM) and also incorporates standards published by Property Records Industry Association (PRIA).

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