The Hudson County Register is elected by the people of Hudson County for a five-year term. The Office of the Register is responsible for the recording of all formal written documents which affect real property throughout the 12 municipalities that make up the County. The primary reason for recording is a safeguard to the ownership of land so that persons planning to purchase or otherwise deal with land might be more fully informed as to the ownership and condition of the title. The effect of recording an instrument is to give constructive notice of the content of any instrument or document filed for record. All formal legal written documents which affect real property may be required or permitted by law to be recorded. These documents include Deeds, Mortgages, Assignments, Letters of Attorney to convey lands and all instruments of writing relating to the title of real estate and any document claiming an interest in land. Honorable Military Discharge papers (DD214) can also be recorded in the Register’s Office free of charge.