Franklin Township Deed Records
Franklin Township deed records are filed and stored at the Somerset County Clerk's office in Somerville. Franklin Township is the largest municipality in Somerset County by population with over 67,000 residents. All property transfers, land sales, and deed filings for the township go through the county. You can search these records online through the Clerk's public search tool or visit the office in person. This page explains how to find, view, and get copies of deed records for Franklin Township properties.
Franklin Township Quick Facts
Somerset County Clerk's Office
The Somerset County Clerk records all deeds for Franklin Township. The office is at 20 Grove Street in Somerville, NJ 08876. You can reach them by phone at 908-231-7000. The Clerk's staff can help you search for deed records, get copies, and file new documents for Franklin Township properties.
| Office | Somerset County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 Grove St Somerville, NJ 08876 |
| Phone | 908-231-7000 |
| Website | NJ State Archives – Somerset County |
The office is open during normal business hours on weekdays. Bring a valid ID when you visit. The Clerk can look up Franklin Township deed records by owner name, block and lot, or document number. Walk-ins are welcome, and staff will assist with basic searches at no charge.
Search Franklin Township Deed Records Online
The Somerset County Clerk's office handles property record searches for Franklin Township. You can contact the office at 908-231-7000 or visit in person at 20 Grove Street in Somerville. For historical records, check the New Jersey State Archives catalog for Somerset County holdings. You can search by name, date, or document type to find deed records for Franklin Township parcels.
The online system covers a wide range of dates and document types. It shows recording details like book and page, date recorded, and the names on the deed. For Franklin Township property owners, this tool makes it easy to check the current status of a deed or trace past transfers without leaving home. Results load quickly, and you can narrow your search with filters. The portal covers all of Somerset County, so you can find deed records for Franklin Township and every other town from the same interface.
The Clerk's website also has general details on recording fees and requirements for new documents in Somerset County.
Under N.J.S.A. 46:26A-8, recorded documents are public records. This means anyone can search for and get copies of Franklin Township deed records. The Open Public Records Act, OPRA, also supports this right of access for all county records in New Jersey.
Historical Deed Records for Franklin Township
Franklin Township has a long history, and so do its deed records. The New Jersey State Archives holds Somerset County deeds from 1779 to 1901 on 155 microfilm reels. These records cover the early years of Franklin Township and give researchers access to land transfers from before the modern recording system. You can view the catalog at nj.gov/state/archives to see what is available.
These historic deed records show how land in Franklin Township changed hands over more than a century. They include deeds from the post-Revolutionary War era through the late 1800s. Researchers looking into family history or old land disputes in Franklin Township often start with these reels. The State Archives is in Trenton, and you can visit in person or request copies by mail. Some of the older records use handwritten entries and legal language from that time period, so they may take patience to read.
For deed records from 1901 to the present, the Somerset County Clerk's office in Somerville is the place to go. Between the State Archives and the county office, you can trace Franklin Township property ownership across more than 240 years.
Note: The 155 microfilm reels at the State Archives cover all of Somerset County, not just Franklin Township, but township parcels are included in the set.
What Franklin Township Deed Records Show
A deed record for a Franklin Township property has several key details. It lists the grantor and grantee. It gives the legal description of the land, often by block and lot. The recording date and book and page are on every entry. Most deeds also show the sale price or transfer tax amount.
These details make Franklin Township deed records useful for many purposes. Buyers check them during a title search. Attorneys use them to verify ownership chains. Researchers look at them for family or local history. The county indexes each record by both grantor and grantee name, so you can search from either side of the sale. Deed records for Franklin Township also show the type of deed used, which tells you what level of protection the buyer received at the time of the transfer.
- Grantor and grantee names
- Legal description with block and lot
- Recording date and book and page number
- Sale price or transfer tax
- Deed type: warranty, bargain and sale, or quitclaim
Copies of Franklin Township Deed Records
You can get copies of deed records for Franklin Township properties in several ways. Visit the Somerset County Clerk at 20 Grove Street in Somerville during business hours. Ask for the deed by name, address, or book and page. The office charges a per-page fee for plain copies. Certified copies cost more.
You can also check the New Jersey State Archives for historical Somerset County deed records. For certified copies, you need to go through the Clerk's office. By mail, send a written request to the Somerset County Clerk at 20 Grove St, Somerville, NJ 08876. Include the property details, what you need, and a check for the fees. Call 908-231-7000 first to confirm the current cost for Franklin Township deed record copies.
The online portal is the fastest way to check if a deed exists before making the trip to the office in Somerville.
Recording Deeds in Franklin Township
New deeds for Franklin Township are recorded at the Somerset County Clerk's office. Your attorney or title company brings the deed to the office after closing. The document must meet state format rules, have proper signatures, and include the correct fees. The county records the deed, assigns a book and page, and adds it to the Franklin Township deed records.
Recording gives public notice of the transfer. Without it, the new owner's claim is weaker against third parties who might not know about the sale. New Jersey law strongly favors recording deeds promptly. The realty transfer fee, set under N.J.S.A. 46:15-7, is based on the sale price. The county also charges a per-page recording fee. Check with the Somerset County Clerk's office at 908-231-7000 for the latest fee schedule before you record a deed for a Franklin Township property.
Note: Deeds that do not meet New Jersey format requirements will be rejected by the Somerset County Clerk and returned for correction.
Somerset County Deed Records
Franklin Township is in Somerset County. All deed filings go through the Somerset County Clerk in Somerville. The county handles recordings for 21 municipalities. For more on recording fees, office hours, and related property records, visit the Somerset County deed records page.