Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
New Jersey · New York Metro Area · #134 Most Populous County in the US
Passaic County, New Jersey
From Paterson's Great Falls and historic silk city legacy to the affluent lake communities of Wayne and Ringwood - one of New Jersey's most diverse and geographically varied counties. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Passaic County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Passaic County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Passaic County Office of Emergency Management – confirm current phone via passaiccountynj.org; coordinates with municipal health agencies, healthcare providers, police, fire, EMS, and the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff: Passaic County Sheriff’s Office – Law Enforcement Division (973) 389-5952/389-5900 | Court Services Division, 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07501, (973) 881-4200.
Roads: I-80 and NJ-20 serve Paterson, the county seat, in northeastern New Jersey.
Notes: Passaic County, formed February 7, 1837, is named for “Pasaeck,” a Lenape word meaning “valley.” Paterson holds over 30% of the county’s population; West Milford, at over 80 square miles, is the largest municipality by area.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Passaic County – confirm current phone via passaiccountynj.org.
Notes: Passaic County is genuinely home to Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park – a 77-foot waterfall on the Passaic River, one of the largest waterfalls in the United States, at the heart of Paterson, America’s first planned industrial city (established 1792 by Alexander Hamilton’s Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures, harnessing the falls’ hydropower). Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1976 and formally established as a National Historical Park when President Obama signed the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Act on March 30, 2009. General George Washington genuinely picnicked at the falls with Lafayette, Hamilton, and James McHenry on July 10, 1778, during the Revolutionary War.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Passaic County Veterans Service – confirm current contact via passaiccountynj.org.
Federal: East Orange VA Medical Center (nearby).
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Paterson Free Public Library / Danforth Memorial Library – 250 Broadway, Paterson, NJ; genuinely NRHP-listed (1984), built 1905, designed by noted architect Henry Bacon (designer of the Lincoln Memorial) in the Classical Revival style. Passaic is a participating county in the Bridging Communities, Connecting Library Services (BCCLS) consortium, though with only 1 of the consortium’s 78 member libraries (most are in Bergen County).
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Garret Mountain Reservation, and the historic S.U.M. mill district are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine Great Falls of the Passaic – one of the largest waterfalls in the US and the birthplace of American industrial planning – is one of the most historically significant local facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Passaic County Board of Taxation – confirm current contact via passaiccountynj.org.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Paterson Animal Control/Shelter – (973) 881-3640; serves Paterson, Haledon, North Haledon, and Totowa; officers on duty Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-7:30 PM, weekends 8:30 AM-3:30 PM; strays picked up outside these hours only for bites, injuries, or life-threatening situations via Paterson Police (973) 321-1111.
City of Passaic Animal Shelter – confirm current phone via cityofpassaic.com; limited public hours including Saturday noon-2 PM.
Wayne Animal Shelter – confirm current contact via waynetownship.com.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Passaic County – confirm current contact via passaiccountynj.org.
NOTES: Passaic County is the second county in the New Jersey v2 A+ sourced redo’s third and final batch (Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren). The genuine Great Falls of the Passaic – birthplace of American industrial planning – is one of the most historically significant local facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Passaic County
Passaic County is New Jersey’s seventh most populous county and the 134th most populous in the United States, covering 197 square miles from the dense urban landscape of Paterson and Clifton in the south to the lake communities and highlands of the Kittatinny Ridge in the north.
Paterson (population ~159,000, the county seat) is New Jersey’s third largest city and one of America’s most significant industrial heritage cities. Alexander Hamilton selected the Great Falls of the Passaic River as the site for the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (SUM) in 1791 – launching the nation’s first planned industrial city. The Great Falls National Historical Park preserves the 77-foot waterfall and surrounding industrial district. Paterson became the nation’s silk capital in the 19th century – the “Silk City” – and its mills produced locomotives, Colt revolvers, and submarine cables. Today Paterson is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in New Jersey, with large Dominican, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, and African American communities.
Clifton (population ~90,000) is Passaic County’s second largest municipality – a dense, diverse suburban city on the Passaic County-Essex County border with significant commercial development along Route 3 and Route 46 corridors.
Wayne (population ~55,000) is the county’s most affluent township – a large, suburban community with Willowbrook Mall (one of New Jersey’s largest regional malls), significant corporate employment, and residential neighborhoods ranging from modest to high-value lakefront properties.
Ringwood and West Milford anchor the county’s highland northern tier – communities with significant lake and woodland character, lower density, and dramatic topography along the Ramapo and Kittatinny ridges.
Totowa, Little Falls, and Woodland Park anchor the county’s central suburban tier along the Passaic River valley.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Each of Passaic County’s 16 municipalities has its own tax assessor with a local equalization ratio (ratio of assessed to true market value). Assessment notices – the green and white card – arrive in late January. The April 1 appeal deadline is absolute.
The appeal process: File with the Passaic County Board of Taxation at 401 Grand Street, Room 509, Paterson, NJ 07505, phone 973-247-5050. If the Board does not rule in your favor, appeal to the New Jersey Tax Court within 45 days. Properties over $1 million may bypass the County Board and appeal directly to Tax Court.
NJ inheritance tax: New Jersey eliminated its estate tax in 2018 but retains the inheritance tax – Class A beneficiaries (spouses, children, grandchildren, parents) are exempt. Class C (siblings): 11%–16%. Class D (all others): 15%–16%.
OWNWELL CTA: Passaic County April 1 appeal deadline – absolute. NJ highest property tax rates nationally. No NJ estate tax since 2018; inheritance tax 11%–16% for non-direct heirs. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Passaic County April 1 appeal deadline - absolute. NJ highest property tax rates nationally. No NJ estate tax since 2018; inheritance tax 11%–16% for non-direct heirs. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Surrogate’s Court (Probate): The Passaic County Surrogate at 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505, phone 973-225-3888, handles wills, estate administration, and guardianships.
Superior Court: The Passaic County Superior Court at 77 Hamilton Street handles civil, criminal, and family matters.
County Clerk: The Passaic County Clerk at 401 Grand Street, Paterson, maintains land records and election records. Land records searchable online.
Senior Services
The Passaic County Division of Senior Services at 930 Riverview Drive, Suite 200, Totowa, NJ 07512, phone 973-569-4060, serves the county’s senior population with in-home services, caregiver support, nutrition programs, transportation, and benefits counseling. The county operates senior centers across its municipalities.
Recommended
Assisted living, memory care, and independent living across Passaic County - from Paterson and Clifton to Wayne, Ringwood, and the Highland lake communities.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
401 Grand St., Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4000
COUNTY CLERK — ELECTIONS
401 Grand St., Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4025
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Passaic County Surrogate’s Court, Paterson (probate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Passaic County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Passaic County Surrogate’s Court Passaic County Courthouse, 71 Hamilton Street, Room 101, Paterson, NJ 07505 (973) 881-4760 Passaic County is in northern New Jersey, seated in Paterson.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
New Jersey probate is governed by Title 3B of the New Jersey Statutes. The elected Surrogate’s Court in each county handles uncontested probate matters; contested matters are referred to the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part.
Affidavit of Surviving Spouse (N.J.S.A. 3B:10-3) – available only when the decedent died WITHOUT a will (intestate) and the total value of real and personal assets does not exceed $50,000. The surviving spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner may file this affidavit with the Surrogate’s Court and receive the assets without formal administration. The first $10,000 of the estate is free from the decedent’s debts. There is no affidavit shortcut if a will exists – a will must always be probated regardless of estate size.
Affidavit of Next of Kin (N.J.S.A. 3B:10-4) – available only when the decedent died intestate, there is no surviving spouse/partner, and the estate does not exceed $20,000, held solely in the decedent’s name and not held jointly with a living person. One of the next of kin may file this affidavit upon receipt of consent forms from all other surviving heirs.
Regular (Formal) Probate – required whenever there’s a will, or when an intestate estate exceeds the small-estate thresholds above.
Step 2: filing for regular probate
File an Application for Probate with the Surrogate’s Court in the county where the decedent was domiciled (as soon as 10 days after death).
The Surrogate admits the will and issues Letters Testamentary, or – for intestate estates – appoints an administrator and issues Letters of Administration. A surety bond may be required for an administrator.
The Surrogate issues “short certificates,” which the executor/administrator uses as proof of authority – a certificate is typically needed for each asset that must be transferred or sold.
The personal representative notifies creditors and beneficiaries; New Jersey’s creditor claim period is 9 months from death.
The personal representative inventories assets, pays debts and taxes (including any New Jersey Inheritance Tax return, if applicable), and distributes the remaining assets according to the will or New Jersey’s intestacy statute.
The estate is closed with a final accounting filed with the court.
What it costs
Surrogate’s Court filing fees generally range from about $100 to $250 depending on the county and the complexity/value of the estate. Passaic County’s Surrogate Court accepts cash or check only; no credit or debit cards.
New Jersey does NOT require an attorney for probate, but one is commonly recommended for anything beyond the simplest estates.
UNIQUE TO NEW JERSEY: New Jersey has an INHERITANCE TAX that applies to transfers to “Class C” and “Class D” beneficiaries – nieces, nephews, friends, and other non-immediate relatives – even for relatively small inheritances; there is no minimum exemption threshold. Transfers to a spouse, civil union/domestic partner, parents, children, grandchildren, and stepchildren (“Class A” beneficiaries) are exempt.
New Jersey repealed its separate state ESTATE tax for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2018 – only the inheritance tax remains at the state level.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
11 Sheriff's Plaza, Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4700
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK — ELECTIONS
401 Grand St., Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4025
ELECTIONS
401 Grand St., Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4025
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
NJ DHHS — Passaic
(973) 977-4100
St. Joseph's Health
stjosephshealth.org (Paterson — Level II Trauma; major Passaic County anchor; quality academic medical center)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Passaic County Department of Health – confirm current contact via passaiccountynj.org.
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Recommended for New Jersey
Ownwell
Property tax appeal service. Contingency fee - no savings, no charge.
