New Jersey Court Records Search

New Jersey Court Records & Case Lookup

Every year, the courts in New Jersey preside over 6 million cases. Incoming cases from civil courts account for over 10% of lawsuits in the state at over 660,000 cases. Legal proceedings from criminal cases amount to over 1.1 million cases, representing almost 18% of lawsuits filed within a year. The state records over 4.8 million Incoming cases from traffic court cases within the year, representing 77% of cases tried in New Jersey court.

Generally, court records are public records in New Jersey. Per the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), all government records, including those originating from the courts, are readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by citizens of the state with some exemptions. Therefore, all public records, including court records, are open to the public in New Jersey.

Although the Act grants public access to court records, certain documents from the courts are sealed or closed to the public by state or federal laws. In addition, confidential information contained in court records is redacted from public court records. These restrictions exist to ensure that personal privacy and sensitive information are protected.

State of New Jersey Court System

New Jersey's court system is structured into several levels, each having distinct functions and responsibilities. The court system ensures that justice is served according to state law. New Jersey has a two-tier appellate system comprising the Appellate Division of the Superior Court and the New Jersey Supreme Court. The Appellate Division is the state's intermediate appellate court. The court reverses decisions made by the lower courts and provides clarification of state laws. The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest in the state and has the final say on all legal cases in New Jersey.

New Jersey Trial Courts

The trial courts are the foundation of the New Jersey judicial system. Most legal cases begin here. The trial courts preside over a wide range of cases, including civil, criminal, small claims, and contract cases. Trial courts examine the evidence in a case and determine the outcomes based on facts, applicable laws, and legal precedents. New Jersey trial courts comprises of the following:

New Jersey Superior Courts

The Superior Court of New Jersey is the state's trial court of general jurisdiction, handling nearly all legal disputes. Superior Courts hear a variety of cases, including criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. The Superior Court is divided into Civil, Criminal, and Family Divisions to handle different types of cases and appeals.

New Jersey has 15 Superior Court vicinage divisions Vicinage are judicial districts based on county boundaries. Each county in New Jersey has its courthouse serving as part of one of the state's 15 vicinages. There are 51 Superior Courts, with larger counties having their vicinage, while smaller counties may be grouped.

State of New Jersey Surrogate's Courts

The Surrogate Court in New Jersey is a specialized court within the court system that presides over matters related to probate, wills, guardianships, and estates. The court manages the administration of estates after a person's death, including administration of estate according to New Jersey's intestacy laws and guardianship cases involving minors and incapacitated adults. It also handles trusts, adoptions, and disputes over will validity, ensuring that the deceased person's assets are distributed according to their wishes.

New Jersey Municipal Courts

The New Jersey Municipal Courts are local courts that handle cases involving minor offenses and local ordinance violations, ensuring that legal matters are resolved quickly and fairly. Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction in handling specific cases occurring within the municipality's geographic area. Usually, Municipal Courts preside over crimes punishable by a one-year jail term and crimes of the fourth degree.

Generally, Municipal Courts focus on traffic violations, such as speeding, parking violations, and driving without license or insurance. The courts also preside over city ordinance violations, such as zoning violations, and minor criminal offenses, including simple drug possession.

New Jersey Tax Courts

The Tax Court of New Jersey is a specialized court designed to handle legal matters and disputes related to state and local taxes. Primarily, the New Jersey Tax Court's function is to ensure taxes are assessed and collected fairly according to New Jersey law. The court has jurisdiction over state income tax, corporate business taxes, sales tax, property taxes, and other tax-related issues.

What are the Specialty Courts in New Jersey?

The specialty courts in New Jersey focus on specific types of cases or populations within the justice system. Specialty courts provide alternatives to traditional prosecution In New Jersey. Typically, they focus more on rehabilitation, treatment, or specialized handling of cases rather than punishment for crimes. New Jersey has a variety of specialty courts, including:

• Recovery (Drug) Courts
• Mental health Courts
• Veteran Courts
• Pretrial Intervention

New Jersey State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

New Jersey state court records refer to official documents and files related to legal proceedings processed within the state's judicial system. The records are created and maintained by the state courts and contain information about the proceedings, filings, rulings, and outcomes of various cases heard in New Jersey state court. Federal Court records are official documents related to cases filed in the federal court system, specifically in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

The types of cases heard at the state court, include criminal law, contract disputes, torts, family law, and local regulations. The federal courts, on the other hand, oversee cases involving federal statutes, constitutional issues, immigration, patent law, and international disputes. Consequently, state court records in New Jersey are accessible through the New Jersey Courts website, while court records from the federal courts in New Jersey are accessible through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER).

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in New Jersey

Generally, most court records are available to the public. However, certain records are restricted or sealed for privacy or legal reasons. State of New Jersey public court records are open to the general public and are typically accessible through the state's court system or in person at the relevant courthouse. Non-public court records are records that are restricted from public view and are only accessible to authorized parties or through a court order. The following differentiates public court records from non-public court records in New Jersey:

How To Seal or Expunge New Jersey Court Records

The New Jersey Expungement Law provides the legal basis for which residents may apply to get their court records erased. Sealing and expungement are legal processes that restrict access to court records, removing them from public view. Sealing refers to the process of hiding criminal records from the public. When a court record is sealed, the document is not destroyed. Sealed court records remain accessible to law enforcement officers and certain government agencies.

Expungement is the legal process of wiping off court records making them inaccessible to the public. Expungement completely erases the record as though it ever existed. Not all records qualify for expungement, per state law. Certain criminal convictions are not eligible for expungement in New Jersey, irrespective of how much time has elapsed since the arrest or conviction. They include:

• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Kidnapping
• Human trafficking
• Rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault
• Armed robbery
• Arson
• Perjury
• Terrorism
• Child endangerment
• Drug trafficking
• Abuse of public office
• Production of chemical or biological weapons
• Conspiracy to commit a crime not eligible for expungement

How To Expunge Court Records in New Jersey

The following court records qualify for expunction in New Jersey:

• Arrests that did not result in conviction
• Pretrial conditional discharge or dismissal
• Disorderly persons offenses equivalent to a misdemeanor
• Certain Indictable offenses equivalent to felonies
• Juvenile offenses
• Conviction for violating local municipal ordinances
• New Jersey drug court graduate
• Fourth-degree indictable marijuana convictions and disorderly persons marijuana convictions
• Third-degree indictable marijuana convictions

Persons eligible to expunge their court records may create an account on the eCourts Expungement portal to begin the process. After registration, provide all relevant information supporting the expungement petition. The petition may be submitted online. Petitioners may log in to their application to check the actions taken by the court - if the request to expunge the records was approved or denied.

How Do You Access State of New Jersey Court Records?

State of New Jersey court records are available to the public through the New Jersey Court website. The platform offers centralized access to court records statewide. Court records are also accessible at the courthouse where the case was filed. Record seekers may request the records in person from the clerk of court offices or submit written requests to the courts to obtain the records. There may be a fee for copying or retrieving documents.

Online Access to New Jersey Court Records

Online access to New Jersey court records is through:

• The Public Access System offers access to court records, including criminal convictions, criminal judgments, civil and foreclosure cases, and tax court records. Access to court records via this platform requires the full name or case number.
• The Record Request Form and submit the form electronically through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS). The platforms require record seekers to register to access or request court records. Generally, while basic information may be free, there are fees associated with downloading or requesting certified copies of the documents.
• The Municipal Court Case Search system provides online access to records of municipal court cases involving minor offenses, traffic violations, and municipal code violations in New Jersey. Searchers require the defendant's name, ticket number, or complaint number to access the records online.

In-Person Access to State of New Jersey Court Records

Accessing New Jersey court records can be done by visiting the courthouse where the case was heard. The clerk of courts is the record custodian, and record seekers may request copies and view documents that may not be available online. Most clerks of court offices provide public access terminals to view the records. Viewing records on public access terminals is generally free. However, obtaining physical or certified copies will incur a fee.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records

Judicial administrative records are the documents and files supporting the operation and management of the court system. These documents are not linked to judicial proceedings or a specific court case. Rather, the records provide insight into the judiciary's internal operations, policies, and procedures.

Requesting judicial administrative records in New Jersey requires record seekers to complete a Records Request form. Submit the form to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), via the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission System (JEDS).

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in New Jersey

Generally, each county is responsible for maintaining its historical records. Older court records are often stored at the County Clerk's Office or the Superior Court Clerk's Office of the county where the case was filed. Therefore, accessing older court records in New Jersey often involves identifying the correct county and contacting the clerk's office.

Generally, archived court records are accessible through the New Jersey State Archives. The database holds historical court records, especially those predating the 20th century. Record seekers may view the records online or in person at the archives location in Trenton, New Jersey.