Plainfield Residents Directory for Public Records
The Plainfield residents directory provides access to public records in this Union County city. Plainfield has about 54,000 residents and sits in the central part of New Jersey. The City Clerk's Office at 515 Watchung Avenue serves as the custodian of all municipal records and handles OPRA requests from the public. Deputy City Clerk Marilyn Nieves, R.M.C., assists with daily operations. This residents directory page covers how to search for and request records in Plainfield through city, county, and state offices.
Plainfield Quick Facts
Plainfield Residents Directory at the Clerk's Office
The City Clerk's Office is the main source for the Plainfield residents directory. Located at 515 Watchung Avenue, 1st Floor, Plainfield, NJ 07060, the office manages all official city records. The clerk serves as custodian of municipal records and processes all OPRA requests that come in.
Plainfield accepts electronic OPRA requests through the OPRA Machine platform. This lets people submit requests online without having to visit the office in person. You can also call or visit the clerk's office during business hours. The city has processed many OPRA requests through various platforms, showing a strong commitment to public access.
Records held by the Plainfield residents directory include city council minutes, municipal ordinances, contracts, budget documents, and other government files. The clerk coordinates with other city departments to gather records when a request covers more than one area. This makes the clerk's office your best starting point for any search.
Requesting Records from the Plainfield Directory
Public records in Plainfield are available under the Open Public Records Act, codified at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. You can submit requests in person at the clerk's office, by mail, by email, or through the OPRA Machine online platform. Be specific about what records you need. Name the document type, dates, and any relevant details.
The custodian has seven business days to respond after receiving your request. Standard copy fees are five cents per letter-size page and seven cents per legal-size page. Special service charges may apply for requests that take extra time or effort. If you need records mailed, postage costs are added.
If your request is denied, the clerk must give you the reason in writing. You can appeal to the Government Records Council or file a case in Superior Court. The GRC handles complaints at no charge. Their toll-free number is 866-850-0511.
Note: The Plainfield residents directory benefits from the city's use of online platforms. Electronic requests often get faster responses.
Plainfield Residents Directory and OPRA Case Law
The landmark case of Michelson v. Wyatt involved the City of Plainfield and set important rules for OPRA across New Jersey. On January 31, 2003, plaintiff William H. Michelson filed an OPRA request with City Clerk Laddie Wyatt seeking documents about the city's employee group medical insurance program. The request included nine specific items.
The Appellate Division ruled that while health insurance benefit data is generally subject to disclosure under OPRA, individual health information is protected by HIPAA. The court ordered the release of some records but denied access to others that contained protected health details. This decision, published at 379 N.J. Super. 611, 880 A.2d 458, has been widely cited in OPRA cases across the state.
This case matters for the Plainfield residents directory because it helped define the line between public access and private information. Government spending data is open to the public, but personal health details of individual workers remain private. The ruling gives both requestors and custodians clear guidance on what can and cannot be shared.
Plainfield Community and the Residents Directory
Plainfield has several community resources that tie into the residents directory. The city operates three fire stations, with headquarters at 315 Central Avenue. The Police Department can be reached for non-emergency matters at (908) 753-3131. The city maintains eleven community parks and playgrounds for public use.
The Union County website and the Plainfield Public Schools site offer additional resources for residents. The Plainfield Public Library at 800 Park Avenue is another source of public information. The library can help with research and may have historical records or local archives.
Plainfield also has a Community Emergency Response Team that trains residents in disaster preparedness. Records from these programs, along with budget documents, vendor contracts, and meeting minutes from boards and commissions, are all part of the public record. The Plainfield residents directory gives you a path to access these files.
Union County Records for Plainfield Residents
Plainfield is in Union County, and the county clerk's office holds property records, land deeds, mortgages, and other documents that support the residents directory. The Union County Clerk's main office is at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. A satellite office is at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield. The main phone is 908-527-4787.
County clerk hours in Elizabeth are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The Westfield office offers extended hours, including Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 7:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This gives Plainfield residents flexible options for accessing county records.
For statewide vital records, the New Jersey Department of Health is the central source. Certified copies cost $25 for the first copy and $10 for additional copies of the same record. The New Jersey State Archives holds older historical records for genealogy and research.
Note: Marriage records less than 50 years old have restricted access in New Jersey. Only close family members can request copies.
Union County Records Resources
Plainfield is in Union County. For county-level records, property searches, and court filings, visit the Union County page in our residents directory.