COUNTY, NJ
Welcome to Essex County’s OPRA (Open Public Records Act) site.
The County of Essex is committed to transparency in government and has launched this website to facilitate the public’s access to government records in compliance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., which is the statute that governs the public's access to government records in New Jersey.
The most efficient way to request public records from the County of Essex is through this site. The County of Essex administers and manages OPRA requests through this site and it provides the public with convenient 24-hour access to request status.
The County of Essex does NOT have marriage certificates or birth certificates.
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FAQ's
1) How can I submit an OPRA request?
2) How can I get a birth, death, marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership certificate?
3) Who is the Essex County OPRA Custodian or Records?
4) What does a valid OPRA request look like?
5) Does the County of Essex keep records on 911 calls?
6) How can I avoid submitting a broad and vague request?
7) Who may file an OPRA request?
8) What is a "public agency" under OPRA?
9) What if I don't know the name of the records I want to access?
10) Do I have to include payment with my request?
11) Can I request records in a specific medium?
12) What happens if an employee other than the custodian receives my OPRA request?
13) When should I expect a response to my OPRA request?
14) Can the custodian take more than seven (7) business days to respond to my OPRA request?
15) How should I receive a response to my request?
16) How much can the custodian charge me for my OPRA request?
17) Do I have to submit a deposit?
18) What is a special service charge?
19) Is there a fee to convert records to a specific medium?
20) What can I do if a custodian denies me access to government records?
OPRA Overview
The Open Public Records Act provides procedures for the public (the "requester') to review or copy government records. This Records Note provides a summary of these procedures and guidance for requesting records.
OPRA's 24 Exemptions
Click here for a list of government records or information exempt from disclosure which should not be provided to requestors of government records.
FAQ's
The list of frequently asked questions below will help records requestors understand some of the most common issues regarding the Open Public Records Act.