N.J. Stat. tit. 47, ch. 2

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 47:2-3 Custody and control of records of extinct offices and bodies

The public record office shall have general and exclusive supervision, care, custody and control of all public records, books, pamphlets, documents, manuscripts, archives, maps and papers of any public office, body, board, institution or society which has or may become extinct, unless the care, custody and control of the same is otherwise provided for by law.

N.J. Stat. § 47:2-4 Examination of records of counties, municipalities or public bodies and institutions; indexing and preservation

The public record office, through its director, shall examine into the condition of the records, books, pamphlets, documents, manuscripts, archives, maps and papers, now or hereafter kept, filed or recorded in the several public offices of every county or municipality, or required by law to be kept by any public body, board, institution or society created under any law of the state in any county or municipality. Any public official may prescribe such system of indexing, and establish such rules and regulations concerning the care and preservation of such records as to him shall seem proper in any department of which he is in charge.

N.J. Stat. § 47:2-5 Preservation and restoration of certain records

The public record office shall take such action as may be necessary to put the records it shall examine pursuant to section 47:2-4 of this title, or over which it shall obtain control pursuant to section 47:2-3 of this title, into the custody and condition contemplated by the various laws relating thereto, and shall provide for their restoration and preservation. The public record office shall cause copies of such records to be made whenever, by reason of age, use, exposure or any casualty, it shall be deemed necessary.

N.J. Stat. § 47:2-6 Copies of records as evidence; certification; originals preserved

Whenever a copy of any record is made in accordance with the provisions of section 47:2-5 of this title, and after it has been compared with the original, it shall be certified by the public official or board having the legal custody and control of the original. Thereafter, the copy shall be considered and accepted as evidence, and treated for all other purposes, as though it were the original. The original shall be cared for and preserved, as if no copy had been made, for such examination as may be directed by an order of court in any action or proceeding in which the accuracy of the copy is questioned.

N.J. Stat. § 47:2-7 Transfer of records

The officers of any state department, or of any county or municipality, or of any institution or society created under any law of this state, may transfer to the public record office public records or other records, books, papers, documents, archives, maps or plans which are not in general use, and the record office shall receive the same when so transferred and shall provide for the custody and preservation thereof.

N.J. Stat. § 47:2-8 Historical records; acquisition and preservation

The public record office may acquire, preserve, classify and collate official records, letters and other material bearing upon the history of the government and the people of New Jersey, or transcripts of such records and papers whenever the board of commissioners cannot or may not desire to acquire the originals thereof.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026