Daniel's Law

Daniel’s Law was enacted to protect judges, prosecutors and law enforcement personnel from being targets of disgruntled individuals. These civil servants enforce our laws and protect and serve the citizens of Morris County and the State of New Jersey.

Daniel Anderl, the 20-year old son of Federal Court Judge Esther Salas and his father, Mark Anderl were gunned down when Daniel answered the front door of his parents' home. The perpetrator was disguised as a delivery person. It is believed that the intended target was Judge Salas. All efforts were made to save the lives of both Daniel and his father but young Daniel died as a result of his injuries. The father barely survived having been shot several times.

After this senseless attack, Judge Salas publicly called upon those in power to do something to protect her brothers and sisters on the bench. This was the impetus behind the enactment of Daniel’s Law. The law creates a “protected class” of persons by prohibiting the home address and phone numbers belonging to judges, prosecutors and law enforcement from being posted online. The law also includes and protects all the immediate family members residing in the home of the “protected person.”

Governor Murphy has also expanded the law to include language which states that if you knowingly and purposefully place the address and personal information on websites and other search engines, you may be both criminally and personally liable. 

Requirements for Requesting Removal/Redaction of Information from the Morris County Clerk's Office Public Records

Please provide the following information with each request:

1. Completion and submission of the Daniel’s Law Opt-In Request Form(PDF, 160KB) for the covered person/requester and for each family member residing in the primary residential home, whether related by blood or by law, is required. This authorization pertains to the prescribed judge and prosecutor and to any immediate family member residing in the household. Signatures of all protected persons are to be provided.
2. An itemization specifying those property records within Morris County and the address to be removed/redacted should be provided on the Opt-In Request Form(PDF, 160KB). Please note: If there is more than one property located in the county to be removed/redacted, a separate request must be filled out for each property.
3. If the request is related to new property documents being sent for recording, please attach the Opt-In Request Form(PDF, 160KB), which will be included in the page count for recording. This page charge applies to all additional documents submitted for filing. Please see our Registry fee schedule for more information.
4. A Waiver Form(PDF, 147KB) providing prior written consent must be obtained from the covered person/requester of the protected information before any document may be released.
5. The Revocation of Redacted Information Form(PDF, 148KB) must be filled out and submitted to the Morris County Clerk, if and when the property is sold and/or transferred.
6. The Property Owner Consent Form(PDF, 145KB) must be completed in order to allow other interested parties access to the property records previously redacted/removed from public access.
7. All forms are to be submitted via mail or in person and NOT submitted electronically.

Mailing address:

Morris County Clerk’s Office
PO Box 315
Morristown, NJ 07963-0315
Attn: Ann Bedkowski, Chief Clerk

Please mark envelope: CONFIDENTIAL

Disclaimers:

• Please be advised that the removal/redactions made by the County of Morris rely upon the accuracy and thoroughness of the information provided in documents that are in its possession and control.
• A separate Daniel’s Law redaction request must be submitted to the requester’s municipality to ensure their information is redacted (contact your municipality for more information).
• Information that has been transmitted to/by any party to third parties, such as title companies, law offices, banks and other offices/agencies, may result in your information being available in the public domain. Please contact and advise these third parties that, pursuant to Daniel's Law, your information shall NOT be made publicly available.