Atlantic County Court Records Search

Atlantic County occupies the southeastern coastal section of New Jersey, with Mays Landing serving as the county seat and Atlantic City as its largest municipality. The county’s court system operates as part of the New Jersey Superior Court, a unified statewide trial court organized into vicinage areas. Atlantic County shares Vicinage 1 with Cape May County, and the Trial Court Administrator oversees all divisions from the county’s judicial facilities. Court proceedings span criminal, civil, family, and probate matters, with municipal courts separately handling traffic violations, disorderly persons offenses, and local ordinance cases across the county’s twenty-three municipalities.

Residents and attorneys searching for Atlantic County court records can begin through several channels. The New Jersey Judiciary maintains centralized online tools for locating case information, and NewJerseyCourts.us provides a starting point for navigating publicly available court case data. Beyond online portals, records may be obtained by contacting the appropriate division of the Superior Court, the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office, or the Surrogate’s Office, depending on the record type. Public access terminals at courthouse locations also allow in-person searches during business hours.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Atlantic County?

Atlantic County court cases can be searched through online databases, in-person visits, or written requests. The method depends on the type of case and whether it remains open or has been closed and archived.

Online Search Options

Civil cases — The Judiciary’s Civil Case Public Access system allows free searches of Superior Court civil docket information, including case status, parties, and filing dates.
Municipal court cases — The Municipal Court Case Search portal covers traffic tickets, disorderly persons offenses, and ordinance violations filed in any Atlantic County municipal court.
Criminal cases — Open criminal matters are maintained by the Criminal Division. While no dedicated statewide criminal-case search portal exists for Superior Court criminal dockets, case information can be obtained by contacting the Criminal Division directly.

In-Person Searches

Visitors may review records at either courthouse location during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.):

Atlantic City Courthouse — Civil Courts Building, 1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Mays Landing Courthouse — Criminal Courts Complex, 4997 Unami Blvd, Mays Landing, NJ 08330

The main court phone number for both locations is (609) 402-0100. Specific divisions can be reached through extensions listed on the Vicinage 1 contact page.

Written and Electronic Requests

To obtain copies of court documents, submit the Judiciary’s Records Request Form (Form 10200). Completed forms may be submitted electronically or mailed to the appropriate division. For closed or archived cases, direct requests to:

Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
25 Market Street, P.O. Box 971
Trenton, NJ 08625-0971
Phone: (609) 421-6100
Email: SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov

Copy Fees

Document Type	Fee
Plain copy (letter size)	$0.05 per page
Plain copy (legal size)	$0.07 per page
Certified copy	$15.00
Seal of the court	$10.00
Exemplified copy	$50.00 + copy fees
Triple exemplified copy	$60.00
Certificate of divorce	$10.00
Certified copy of final judgment of divorce	$25.00

Payments by check or money order should be made payable to “Treasurer—State of New Jersey”. Cash is accepted only for in-person transactions.

Are Court Records Public in Atlantic County?

New Jersey operates under a strong presumption of public access to court records. Two overlapping legal frameworks govern disclosure: the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) for government records broadly, and Court Rule 1:38 for records held by the Judiciary specifically.

Under Rule 1:38, most court filings, dockets, judgments, and orders in civil, criminal, and general equity cases are accessible to the public. Any person may inspect or request copies without demonstrating a particular interest in the matter. Records can be viewed at the courthouse, requested via Form 10200, or—where available—accessed through online search tools.

Categories of Restricted Records

Certain records are confidential by statute or court rule and cannot be released without a court order:

Juvenile delinquency and family crisis proceedings
Adoption records (sealed under Rule 1:38-3(16))
Child abuse and neglect investigation files
Grand jury proceedings and presentments
Juror questionnaires and deliberation notes
Search warrant applications (until executed and returned)
Domestic violence temporary restraining orders that are dismissed
Court-ordered mental health evaluations
Pre-sentence investigation reports
Records expunged under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq.

OPRA Requests to County Offices

Records maintained by county offices rather than the court system fall under OPRA. The Atlantic County Clerk’s Office accepts OPRA requests by phone, fax, email, or through its OPRA request form:

Atlantic County Clerk’s Office
5901 Main Street
Mays Landing, NJ 08330-1701
Phone: (609) 625-4011
Fax: (609) 909-5111
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Anonymous OPRA requests are permitted. Standard government-record copy fees range from $0.05 to $5.00 per page depending on the format and type. The county must respond within seven business days.

Atlantic County Criminal Court Records

The Criminal Division of the Atlantic County Superior Court processes all indictable offenses (felony-level crimes) filed in the county. The division operates from the Criminal Courts Complex in Mays Landing. Disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses are typically handled in the municipal courts of the municipality where the alleged offense occurred.

Criminal Division Contact Information

Criminal Division — Mays Landing
4997 Unami Blvd, Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 402-0100

Main line: ext. 47310
Criminal Records: ext. 47320
Expungements: ext. 47330
Pre-trial Services: ext. 47280
Recovery Court: ext. 47888

Searching Criminal Records

Open criminal case information can be obtained by contacting the Criminal Division directly or visiting the courthouse. For municipal-level criminal complaints (disorderly persons offenses, DWI), use the Municipal Court Case Search portal.

Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)

A comprehensive criminal background check requires fingerprint-based processing through the New Jersey State Police. This is distinct from court case records and covers arrests and dispositions statewide. Requests are submitted through the State Police Criminal History portal. The fee is $11 for fingerprint-based checks. A name-based search using Form DSSP-256 costs $25 per name. Fingerprinting must be completed through an approved live-scan vendor; the fee is forfeited if proper identification is not provided at the time of scanning.

Expungement

Individuals seeking to seal a criminal record in Atlantic County file an expungement petition under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq. with the Criminal Division. The expungement unit can be reached at ext. 47330. Once granted, expunged records are removed from public access and law enforcement databases, with limited exceptions for certain government agencies.

Sheriff’s Office and Detention Records

Arrest and booking records may also be available through the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office or the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Inmate information and detention records for the county jail are accessible through the facility at:

Atlantic County Justice Facility
4997 Unami Blvd
Mays Landing, NJ 08330

Atlantic County Civil Court Records

The Civil Division handles a broad range of non-criminal disputes, including contract actions, personal injury claims, foreclosures, general equity matters, and landlord-tenant cases. Atlantic County’s Civil Division is one of the busiest in the state, processing civil filings at both the Law Division and Special Civil Part levels.

Civil Division Contact Information

Civil Division — Atlantic City
1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: (609) 402-0100

Civil Main: ext. 47593
General Equity: ext. 47790
Special Civil Part: ext. 47770
Small Claims / Landlord-Tenant: ext. 47760
Law Division Team 1: ext. 47780
Law Division Team 2: ext. 47790
Law Division Team 3: ext. 47810

Types of Civil Cases

The Civil Division is organized into tiers based on the amount in controversy:

Law Division — Claims exceeding $15,000; complex litigation; general equity (injunctions, foreclosures)
Special Civil Part — Claims up to $15,000; landlord-tenant disputes; small claims up to $3,000 (or $5,000 for security deposit disputes)

Searching Civil Records

The Civil Case Public Access system provides free online searches of Superior Court civil docket entries. Users can search by party name, attorney name, or docket number. Detailed documents (pleadings, motions, orders) typically require a formal records request using Form 10200 or an in-person visit.

Property and Land Records

The Atlantic County Clerk serves as the Register of Deeds and maintains all recorded property documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and lis pendens. These documents are searchable through the Clerk’s Official Records Public Search portal. The recording division can be reached at (609) 625-7000 ext. 5387.

Statewide Judgment Liens

Certificates of statewide judgment liens cost $10 and are available through the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Trenton. Judgment searches and docketed judgments for Atlantic County civil cases can also be retrieved through that office.

Atlantic County Family Court Records

The Family Division of the Superior Court handles all domestic relations and family-related legal proceedings in Atlantic County. New Jersey’s Family Division is part of the Chancery Division and covers matters ranging from divorce and custody to child protection and juvenile delinquency.

Family Division Contact Information

Family Division — Atlantic City
1201 Bacharach Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: (609) 402-0100

Family Division Main: ext. 47467
Matrimonial (Divorce): ext. 47590
Non-Dissolution (Custody/Support without divorce): ext. 47570
Domestic Violence: ext. 47580
Juvenile: ext. 47610
Children in Court (Abuse/Neglect): ext. 47620

Case Types

The Family Division exercises jurisdiction over dissolution of marriage (divorce), equitable distribution, alimony, child custody, parenting time, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect (Title 9 and Title 30 matters), non-dissolution custody and support matters, adoption, kinship legal guardianship, and termination of parental rights.

Accessing Family Court Records

Family court records carry heightened confidentiality protections. Under Rule 1:38, many family case documents—particularly those involving juveniles, domestic violence, and child welfare—are not publicly accessible. Matrimonial (divorce) dockets, however, are generally available to the parties and may be accessed by the public in limited form.

To request family court records, submit Form 10200 to the Family Division or, for closed cases, to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Divorce records that have been archived are stored at the Records Inventory Center in Trenton and can be requested through the SCCO at (609) 421-6100.

Vital Records

Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, birth certificates, and death certificates are maintained as vital records rather than court records. The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics processes requests online or by mail. At the county level, marriage licenses and certificates can be obtained through the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office. Only individuals named on a record—or their authorized representatives—may obtain certified copies of vital records.

Domestic Violence

Temporary restraining orders (TROs) are issued by the Family Division or, during non-business hours, by municipal court judges. Final restraining orders (FROs) are issued after a hearing in the Family Division. Dismissed TROs are confidential and not publicly accessible.

Atlantic County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Atlantic County are handled by the Surrogate’s Office, a county-level department that functions as a branch of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part. The elected Surrogate serves a five-year term and acts as Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court for probate proceedings.

Surrogate’s Office Contact Information

Mays Landing Office
5911 Main Street
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Phone: (609) 645-5800
Fax: (609) 645-5805

Atlantic City Office
1201 Bacharach Blvd
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: (609) 343-2341
Fax: (609) 343-2197

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (appointments encouraged)

Services and Jurisdiction

The Surrogate’s Office handles the following:

Probate of wills (admitting a decedent’s will to probate and appointing an executor)
Intestate estate administration (appointing an administrator when no will exists)
Guardianship of incapacitated persons
Guardianship of minors
Minor trust funds
Adoption proceedings
Declarations of death
Contested estate matters (referred to the Superior Court for trial)

Requesting Probate Records

Wills, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and other estate documents filed with the Surrogate are public records and may be inspected at either office location. Copies can be obtained in person or by submitting a government records request through the Atlantic County OPRA online request form. The Surrogate’s Office publishes a fee schedule for probate-related services.

Related Resources

Individuals administering an estate may need to contact the following agencies:

NJ Inheritance Tax Office: (609) 292-5033
NJ Division of Vital Statistics (death certificates): (609) 292-4087
Social Security Administration: (800) 772-1213
Atlantic County Intergenerational Services: (609) 645-5962 ext. 4741
Atlantic County Aging Services: (609) 645-7700
Atlantic County Bar Association (attorney referral): (609) 344-3444
South Jersey Legal Services: (609) 348-4200

The Surrogate’s Office also provides informational materials, including a Surrogate Information Sheet, a guide to the duties of an executor or administrator, sample refunding bond and release forms, and a sample will. These materials are available at either office or by calling ahead.