Hanlon: Don’t pay scammers for deed copies

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon

Private companies are mail soliciting Monmouth County homeowners to pay between $79 and $89 for certified copies of the deeds to their homes, according to a statement by County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. Those same copies can be had from Hanlon’s office for $10.00.

“It is unfortunate that companies would prey upon citizens who are sometimes already struggling financially, especially our senior citizens in Monmouth County who are living on fixed incomes,” Hanlon said, “for a very minimal fee, residential and commercial property owners can request and receive a copy of their deed, and other property documents, directly from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.”

Hanlon cautions property owners to be on the lookout for these solicitations because they appear as if they are coming from a government agency, but they are not.

A homeowner can obtain a plain copy for .05 cents per page at the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office or at no charge electronically from the County Clerk’s land records website. If a homeowner would like the Clerk’s Office to provide a certified copy, it is $10 for the certification, and $1.50 per page.

Homeowners who are interested in obtaining a certified copy of their deed in person should visit the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office located at 33 Mechanic St., Freehold, NJ, 07728. The Mortgage and Deed Room can be found on the first floor, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Property owners who are unable to come in person to the County Clerk’s Office can request a certified copy via letter request to the County Clerk at 33 Mechanic St., Freehold, NJ, 07728 or via email at [email protected]. The request must include the property owner’s name, the address, lot and block numbers, book and page or instrument number.

For additional information, contact the County Clerk’s Office at 732-431-7324.