You Are Here : Home / Government/ Open Government / Open Public Records Request (OPRA)

Open Public Records Request (OPRA)

Do you want to request a public record from Morris County? Follow the instructions below to file your request.

Please read A Citizen’s Guide to the Open Public Records Act before submitting your request.

Requests from Other Agencies

This page is for requests from Morris County government departments ONLY. Use these links to make requests from other agencies:

Online

Step 1.Visit Our OPRA Portal

Morris County uses GovQA to manage OPRA requests.

Go to the portal

Step 2.Click on "Submit OPRA Request"

You'll be asked to enter a username and password. If you've forgotten your password, click "forgot password." If you're a new user of GovQA, click "Create Account" to create your account.

Step 3.Enter your request and submit

You'll be asked to describe the request, pick a topic area (what department the request is referencing, for example), and attach any relevant files.

Then hit "Submit" to send us your request!

Step 4.Next Steps

You'll receive an automated email from GovQA to let you know that we've received your request.

If we need more time to fulfill your request, you'll get an email from GovQA to explain it, and possibly a phone call from our office as well.

Once the request is complete, you'll receive another email, instructing you to log into GovQA to retrieve your data.

Mail/Fax

Step 1.Send us your request

Download and print out the request form(PDF, 285KB), fill it out, and mail it to:

County of Morris
OPRA Officer Sheila Leary
PO Box 900
Morristown, NJ 07963-0900

Or fax it to: 973-285-5266

Step 2.Next steps

Your information will be entered into GovQA, the system we use to manage OPRA requests. If you've provided us an email address, you'll receive an email from GovQA to let you know that we've received the request.

If we need more time to fulfill your request, you'll get an email from GovQA to explain it, and possibly a phone call from our office as well.

Step 3.Retrieving your records

Once the records are ready for release, you'll get an email from GovQA with a link to view the records.

If you don't have a GovQA account yet, you'll be asked to create one in order to view your records.

Phone

Step 1.Call us

If you'd like to make an OPRA request over the phone, call Sheila Leary at 973-829-8126.

Step 2.Next steps

If we need more time to fulfill your request, you'll get an email from GovQA to explain it, and possibly a phone call from our office as well.

Step 3.Retrieving your records

Once the records are ready for release, you'll get an email from GovQA with a link to view the records.

If you don't have a GovQA account yet, you'll be asked to create one in order to view your records.

In-Person

Due to COVID-19, appointments for in-person OPRA requests are required.

Call Sheila Leary at 973-829-8126 to set up an appointment.

About the Open Public Records Act

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is a New Jersey statute that governs the public’s access to government records in New Jersey.

The OPRA was enacted in order to:

Expand the public’s right of access to government records;
Create an administrative appeals process if access is denied; and
Define what records are and are not “government records”.
- Generally stated, a “government record” means any record that has been made, maintained, or kept on file in the course of official business, or that has been received in the course of official business.
Note: not all government records are subject to OPRA. Some government records that are subject to OPRA may be redacted.

COVID-19 and OPRA Request Response Time

The County of Morris will make any effort possible to respond in a timely manner during this crisis.

On March 20, 2020, Governor Murphy took action modifying the deadline by which public agency is required to respond to requests for government records during a period of emergency.

Please see NJ Bill A-3849/S-2302. Page 5, line 30 reads:

During a period declared pursuant to the laws of this State as a state of emergency, public health emergency, or state of local disaster emergency, the deadlines by which to respond to a request for, or grant or deny access to, a government record under paragraph (1) of this subsection or subsection e. of this section shall not apply, provided, however, that the custodian of a government record shall make a reasonable effort, as the circumstances permit, to respond to a request for access to a government record within seven business days or as soon as possible thereafter.