New Jersey Statutes Title 46. Property .46 § 17-3.1

Every mortgage or conveyance in the nature of a mortgage of and for any lands, shall be void and of no effect against a subsequent judgment creditor, or bona fide purchaser, or mortgagee for a valuable consideration, not having notice thereof, unless such mortgage shall be acknowledged or proved according to law, and be recorded, either by registry as hereinbefore provided or by recording in full, or lodged for that purpose with the county recording officer of the county in which such lands are situated, at or before the time of entering such judgment or of recording or lodging with said county recording officer, the said mortgage or conveyance to such subsequent purchaser or mortgagee, provided nevertheless, that such mortgage as between the parties and their heirs shall be valid and operative.