How To Find Court Records In New Jersey

CourtCaseFinder gives you a smarter, faster way to access New Jersey court records, all in one place. Instead of navigating complex county systems, you can quickly find information, whether it's a foreclosure case in Camden or a divorce proceeding in Morris County's Family Division.

Just enter a name, case number, or docket, and you'll get instant access to case status, court dates, filings, and decisions for accessible cases. Covering criminal, civil, family, and tax matters, it's designed to put much of the state's legal system at your fingertips.

New Jersey court records are official documents that capture most steps of a legal case, including complaints, motions, hearings, and outcomes. You can use them to follow active cases, resolve legal issues, or stay informed about decisions that affect you directly.

How To Access New Jersey Public Court Records

CourtCaseFinder provides a major advantage by saving you time and money. Instead of visiting courthouses or manually searching through multiple court websites, CourtCaseFinder lets you quickly access case records anywhere and anytime using any device.

Still, New Jersey courts provide official methods for accessing these records if you prefer an alternative option.

Remote Lookup

The New Jersey Judiciary makes it possible to review case details online. By subscribing to the Electronic Access Program (EAP), you can access several case management systems for a fee of $4 per minute. These systems provide extensive information across different types of cases:

• Promis/Gavel Public Access (PGPA) website: Tracks indictable criminal cases from the point of arrest through every stage, including appeals.
• Automated Case Management System (ACMS): Opens access to Superior Court records for civil, special civil, foreclosure, and general equity cases.
• Family Automated Case Tracking System (FACTS): Focused on family matters, with online access available for divorce records.

You can also use the Municipal Court Case Search (MCCS) portal, which is available to the public without a subscription, for traffic, ticket, or minor complaint searches.

Other online case lookup tools include:

• Civil Search application (civil and foreclosure matters)
• Criminal Judgments Public Access database (criminal judgment records)
• eCourts Civil Case Jacket (judgment liens)
• eCourts Tax Case Jacket (Tax Court cases)

By Mail

Access to court records by mail is available through the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO) in Trenton. Download and complete the Record Request Form from the New Jersey Judiciary website to request records.

Copy fees are $0.05 per letter-size page or $0.07 per legal-size page. A certified copy carries an additional $15 fee. Payments must be submitted by check or money order.

Mail the completed form and payment to:

Attention: Customer Access

Superior Court Clerk's Office

Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex

P.O. Box 971

Trenton, NJ 08625-0971

In Person

If you know the location of the court where a case was filed, you can visit the courthouse and request records directly from the Clerk of Court.

Many New Jersey courthouses provide self-service computer terminals for viewing docket information. Records can be inspected at no cost, though the court charges fees for copies or certified documents.

New Jersey Court Records: What is Public and What is Not?

Citizens of New Jersey are generally entitled to access, view, and copy court records under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). This right, however, is not absolute. Certain records are restricted to the parties involved and other authorized individuals, particularly when the information is deemed confidential.

Typically, the public can access the following types of information:

• Names and statuses of litigants, such as active, defaulted, or settled
• Attorneys representing the parties
• Motion outcomes and dispositions
• Scheduled court proceedings
• Case filings and document lists

However, under New Jersey Court Rule 1:38, several categories of records are restricted and cannot be publicly accessed, including:

• Discovery materials provided by the prosecutor to the Criminal Division Manager
• Writs directing the production of prisoners pending enforcement
• Juvenile delinquency case files and related reports
• Adoption records and reports, as governed by New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) Section 9:3-52
• Medical, psychiatric, psychological, and substance use records concerning child custody, support, or parenting time matters

Who Oversees the Courts in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the courts are overseen by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who serves as both the head of the state's highest court and the chief administrator of the judiciary.

To carry out administrative responsibilities, the Chief Justice relies on the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The Administrative Director of the Courts, appointed pursuant to NJSA Section 2A:12-1, leads this office and manages its statewide functions. The AOC has the following duties:

• Supervising court clerks, probation officers, and support staff
• Managing budgets, payroll, and court facilities
• Overseeing case management systems and technology
• Coordinating jury services and probation programs
• Providing judicial training, research, and policy development

What Types of Courts Exist in New Jersey?

From everyday disputes to high-stakes appeals, New Jersey's courts cover the full spectrum of justice. Municipal Courts handle local issues, while the Superior, Tax, and Supreme Courts address more complex legal challenges.

Below is a detailed look at each court's specific jurisdiction and the kinds of cases they typically handle:

Court Type	Jurisdiction	Common Case Types
New Jersey Supreme Court	The state's highest appellate court in Trenton with six justices and one chief justice. No original jurisdiction except in rare cases; issues final rulings and advisory opinions.	Appeals from Appellate Division, constitutional questions, death penalty, rare direct cases, and statutory interpretation
Appellate Division of Superior Court	Intermediate appellate court with 32 judges in 2-3 judge panels. Reviews trial court and administrative agency decisions without juries or new evidence.	Appeals involving jury verdicts, attorney competence, judicial fairness, jury instructions, and application of law
Superior Courts	General jurisdiction trial courts with ~460 judges. Hear appeals from municipal courts and are divided into different divisions and subdivisions (Law Division: Civil, Special Civil, Criminal; Chancery Division: General Equity, Probate, Family)	Civil cases over $20,000, special civil cases $5,000-$20,000, probate, adoption, family, juvenile, felonies, misdemeanors
Municipal Courts	Local courts operating in about 510 municipalities (cities, townships, boroughs)	Motor vehicle violations, disorderly persons offenses, minor criminal cases, hunting/fishing violations, neighbor disputes
Tax Courts	Limited jurisdiction courts with 12 judges. Reviews decisions of county boards of taxation and the state Division of Taxation.	Property tax, state income, sales, and business tax disputes

What Federal Courts Are In New Jersey

When you bring a case in New Jersey, you usually go through the state courts, which apply New Jersey law.

Yet, if your lawsuit involves a federal statute like intellectual property, employment discrimination, antitrust, or securities, or if you and the other party live in different states and the dispute is worth over $75,000, you move into the federal system.

Here are the federal courts in New Jersey:

Federal Court	Jurisdiction	Location & Contact Information
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey	New Jersey's only federal trial court, established in 1789 and has 17 judges. Handles federal civil and criminal cases, constitutional claims, multi-district litigation, agency disputes, and serious crimes like securities fraud and drug trafficking.	Camden: Mitchell H. Cohen Building & U.S. Courthouse 4th and Cooper Streets, Camden, NJ 08101 Phone: 856-757-5021 Newark: Martin Luther King Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ 07102 Phone: 973-645-3730 Trenton: Clarkson S. Fisher Building and the U.S. Courthouse 402 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 Phone: 609-989-2065
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey	Specialized court in three vicinages (Newark, Camden, Trenton). Oversees Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcies, including corporate reorganizations, consumer filings, and disputes over creditor claims or repayment plans.	Camden: U.S. Post Office and Courthouse 401 Market St., Camden, NJ 08101 Phone: (856) 361-2300 Newark and Trenton: Shares courthouse facilities with the District Court in Newark and Trenton. Phone: 973-645-4764; 609-858-9333

Once a case is decided in the U.S. District Court or the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, you may appeal if you believe the decision was wrong. You can take your case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, whether it is a constitutional question, a statutory claim, a bankruptcy matter, or a major commercial dispute.

How Many Cases Are Handled Annually in New Jersey Courts?

Recent statistics show that New Jersey Superior Courts handle approximately 661,300 cases annually. Many cases involve small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, automobile-related claims, and contract issues, which are heard in the Special Civil Division of the Superior Court.

Meanwhile, Municipal Courts receive millions of filings annually, around 5,405,000, mostly for traffic and parking violations.

Court Level	Case Type	Approx. Annual Filings
Superior Courts	Criminal	~38,000
	Post-Conviction Relief	~300
	Municipal Appeals	~300
	General Equity	~4,000
	Civil	~68,000
	Special Civil (Small Claims, Tenancy, Auto, Contract & All Other)	~380,000
	Probate	~7,000
	Dissolution (Family)	~78,000
	Non-Dissolution (Family)	~14,000
	Delinquency	~13,000
	Domestic Violence	~54,000
	Child Placement Review	~1,000
	Abuse/Neglect	~2,000
	Juvenile/Family Crisis Petition	~100
	Kinship	~300
	Adoption	~1,000
	Termination of Parental Rights	~300
	Criminal/Quasi-Criminal (Family)	~9,000
Municipals Courts	Indictables	~160,000
	Disorderly Persons & Petty Disorderly Persons	~340,000
	Other Criminal	~180,000
	Parking	~2,900,000
	Traffic (Moving)	~1,800,000
	Driving While Intoxicated	~25,000

Visit the New Jersey Judiciary's Publications, Reports, and Statistics page for more detailed statewide and county-level caseload statistics for both Superior and Municipal Courts.

How Do I File a Case in New Jersey Courts?

Being involved in a legal dispute can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with how the New Jersey court system works. If you find yourself in this situation, the step-by-step guide below will walk you through the process of pursuing your case:

1. Know Where to File Your Case

When starting a case in New Jersey, you must determine where to file it. If you are bringing a lawsuit for an amount between $5,000 and $20,000, you should go to the Special Civil Division of the Superior Court.

2. Fill Out Necessary Forms

Complete all required forms for your case using kits or packets available on the New Jersey Judiciary website. These packets include essential forms and specific filing instructions, which are especially helpful for individuals representing themselves.

For civil lawsuits, you should submit both the complaint form and the Civil Case Information Statement (CIS).

3. Submit Your Papers and Pay the Filing Fees

You have three filing options to choose from:

• Electronic Filing: Submit your documents through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system. Each document must be uploaded separately, and payment must be made by credit card.
• By Mail: Mail two copies of your documents to the court while keeping one for your own records. Include a check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey" and a stamped, self-addressed envelope so the court can return a filed copy to you.
• In Person: Deliver your documents at the courthouse in the county where you or the other party resides. Fees can be paid in cash, by check, or by money order.

Filing fees depend on the type of case. Civil lawsuits usually cost $250. For small claims, filing against one defendant is $35, with $5 for each additional defendant.

4. Serve the Defendant

Once your documents are filed and you have a copy of the complaint with the docket number, you're ready to serve the papers to the other party. The Sheriff's Office in your filing county can deliver them and send proof of service to both you and the court.

Alternatively, a private process server can be hired online, but you may need to file an "Acknowledgment of Service" with the court along with the server's receipt to confirm delivery.

How Is the New Jersey Court System Unique?

While many states completely merged their courts of law and equity, New Jersey followed a distinct path during its 1947 judicial reorganization. Instead of removing the distinction, it established the Superior Court, which unified both jurisdictions under one court but preserved two separate divisions: the Law Division and the Chancery Division.

The Law Division handles cases seeking legal remedies, such as monetary damages, while the Chancery Division addresses equitable relief, including injunctions, specific performance, and other non-monetary orders.

This structure is important because it preserves the specialized knowledge and procedures developed within each area of law, allowing judges to apply appropriate legal or equitable principles as needed. At the same time, it eliminates the jurisdictional confusion that existed before 1947, when separate courts often caused delays or inconsistent rulings.

New Jersey Courthouses, Sheriff's Offices, Police Departments, Jails, & Prisons

• Atlantic
• Bergen
• Burlington
• Camden
• Cape May
• Cumberland
• Essex
• Gloucester
• Hudson
• Hunterdon
• Mercer
• Middlesex
• Monmouth
• Morris
• Ocean
• Passaic
• Salem
• Somerset
• Sussex
• Union
• Warren

Where to Find Additional Information About New Jersey Courts?

• Official Website of the New Jersey Judiciary Court System
• New Jersey Court System Self Help Center
• Court Information | District of New Jersey | United States
• Municipal Court - City of Jersey City
• Court System - Morris County, NJ
• Copies of Court Records
• New Jersey Law Research Guide: Cases, Opinions & Dockets
• How to Find New Jersey Court Records

FAQs