Cape May County Court Records Search
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Cape May County occupies the southernmost tip of New Jersey and is home to a year-round population that swells significantly during summer months. The county seat is located in the borough of Cape May Court House, where the primary judicial facilities are concentrated. Cape May County falls within the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage of the New Jersey Superior Court, which means that administrative oversight of the county’s trial-level courts is shared with neighboring Atlantic County. The court system operating within Cape May County includes the Superior Court (with its Civil, Criminal, and Family divisions), a network of municipal courts across the county’s sixteen municipalities, a Surrogate’s Court handling probate matters, and a Tax Court. Together, these courts generate a wide variety of records—from criminal indictments and civil complaints to divorce judgments, estate filings, and traffic dispositions.
For those seeking to locate court records in New Jersey, several official resources are available. The New Jersey Judiciary website provides statewide case search tools, downloadable record request forms, and information about court operations across all vicinages. The Cape May County Clerk’s Office and the Surrogate’s Office each maintain distinct categories of records at the county level. Municipal courts handle traffic and local ordinance matters independently. Public-access case search databases, clerk offices, and online request systems collectively provide multiple pathways for obtaining court records. NewJerseyCourts.us may also assist users in locating publicly available court case information for New Jersey counties.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Cape May County?
Cape May County court cases can be located through online databases, formal written requests, or in-person visits depending on the type of case and the court division involved.
Online case searches
The New Jersey Judiciary offers several electronic tools for locating case information:
- Civil and foreclosure cases can be searched through the Civil and Foreclosure Public Access system, which allows registered users to look up case jackets by party name or docket number.
- Criminal cases are searchable through a separate criminal case search available on the Find a Case page of the NJ Courts website.
- Municipal court tickets (traffic and parking violations) can be found through NJMCDirect, which also allows online payment and plea entry.
- Tax Court cases can be searched by party name, docket number, or block/lot number through the judiciary’s tax case search tool.
Formal records requests
To obtain copies of court documents, the New Jersey Judiciary requires completion of the Records Request Form (CN 10200). The process works as follows:
- Download the form and save it to your computer.
- Complete all required fields, including the processing location. For open Superior Court cases, select the appropriate division (Civil, Criminal, or Family) and then Cape May County. For closed or archived cases and statewide judgment liens, select the Superior Court Clerk’s Office (SCCO).
- Submit the completed form electronically through the NJ Courts submission portal.
- Records are delivered electronically to the email address provided on the form.
- Fees for certified, exemplified, and sealed copies can be paid by credit card.
Copy fees set by the judiciary are:
| Copy 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 (plus plain copy fees) | $50.00 |
| Triple exemplified copy | $60.00 |
| Certificate of Divorce | $10.00 |
| Certified copy of Final Judgment of Divorce | $25.00 |
Payment is accepted by check or money order payable to “Treasurer–State of New Jersey”. Cash is accepted only for in-person transactions. Attorneys may use their Superior Court Attorney Collateral Account.
In-person and telephone inquiries
The Cape May County Clerk’s Office accepts walk-in requests and phone inquiries regarding court records:
Cape May County Clerk’s Office
7 North Main Street
P.O. Box 5000
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210-5000
Phone: (609) 465-1010
Fax: (609) 465-8625
For questions about submitted records requests, contact the Superior Court Clerk’s Office customer service line at (609) 421-6100 or email SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov.
Are Court Records Public in Cape May County?
New Jersey provides two overlapping legal frameworks governing public access to government and court records. The Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., establishes a broad right of public access to government records held by state and local agencies. Court Rule 1:38, adopted by the New Jersey Supreme Court, specifically governs public access to court records and administrative records maintained by the judiciary.
Under Rule 1:38, the following categories of court records are generally open for public inspection: civil division records (including general equity), special civil part records, criminal division records, family division records, municipal court records, and Tax Court records.
Significant categories of records are exempt from public disclosure, however:
- Juvenile records — Proceedings involving juveniles are confidential under New Jersey law.
- Sealed and expunged records — Criminal records that have been sealed or expunged by court order are not publicly accessible.
- Adoption records — All judgments of adoption and related proceedings are sealed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 9:3-52. They cannot be inspected, copied, or made public without a court order. The Surrogate’s Court enters and maintains these records.
- Domestic violence records — Certain filings in domestic violence cases are restricted.
- Sexual assault and mental health records — Records involving sexual offenses or mental health proceedings carry additional confidentiality protections.
- Grand jury information — Materials presented to or generated by a grand jury remain confidential.
- Child custody and support records — Some family law documents carry access restrictions to protect the privacy of minors and family members.
- Guardianship records — Records concerning incapacitated persons are subject to confidentiality limitations.
Divorce records warrant special attention. When requesting copies of divorce documents from the Superior Court Clerk’s Office, those documents will only be released to a party to the case or the attorney of record. A party making the request must include a valid state-issued identification. Any other person must provide a court order directing the clerk to release the documents.
Cape May County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Cape May County are adjudicated at two levels: the Criminal Division of the Superior Court handles indictable offenses (the New Jersey equivalent of felonies), while municipal courts process disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and motor vehicle violations.
Superior Court criminal records
The Cape May County Superior Court’s Criminal Division operates from the county courthouse:
Cape May County Superior Court
Cape May County Courthouse
9 North Main Street
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 402-0100
Criminal case records from the Superior Court can be searched through the NJ Courts’ online criminal case search tool. Copies of criminal filings, judgments, and sentencing records can be requested using the CN 10200 Records Request Form described above.
The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office maintains records related to criminal investigations and prosecutions:
Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office
110 Justice Way
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 465-1135
Requests for law enforcement records held by the Prosecutor’s Office must generally be made through the OPRA process and will be handled in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.
Sheriff’s Office records
The Cape May County Sheriff’s Office maintains incident reports, motor vehicle accident reports, and arrest-related records. Reports can be obtained by emailing Records@cmcsheriff.net with the case number or date and officer’s name, along with the requester’s full name, address, and telephone number. Requests beyond accident or incident reports must be submitted through the OPRA process.
Cape May County Sheriff’s Office
9 North Main Street
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 465-1233
The Sheriff’s Office also provides an Inmate Lookup portal where current inmates can be searched by name, booking number, or permanent number.
Municipal court criminal records
Cape May County’s sixteen municipal courts handle disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance infractions. Municipal court tickets and complaints can be looked up through NJMCDirect. For copies of municipal court records, contact the specific municipal court where the case was heard. The county’s municipal courts and their contact information are listed below:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Avalon Municipal Court | 3100 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202 | (609) 967-4457 |
| Cape May City Municipal Court | 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204 | (609) 884-9525 |
| Cape May Point Municipal Court | 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204 | (609) 884-9552 |
| Dennis Township Municipal Court | 2100 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg, NJ 08270 | (609) 628-2015 |
| Lower Township Municipal Court | 401 Breakwater Road, North Cape May, NJ 08204 | (609) 886-6040 |
| Middle Township Municipal Court | 2 South Boyd Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 | (609) 465-8729 |
| North Wildwood Municipal Court | 901 Atlantic Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ 08260 | (609) 729-3818 |
| Ocean City Municipal Court | 821 Central Avenue, 3rd Floor, Ocean City, NJ 08226 | (609) 525-9386 |
| Sea Isle City Municipal Court | 233 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243 | (609) 263-6101 |
| Stone Harbor Municipal Court | 9508 2nd Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 | (609) 368-2411 |
| Upper Township Municipal Court | 2100 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg, NJ 08270 | (609) 628-2011 |
| West Cape May Municipal Court | 732 Broadway, West Cape May, NJ 08204 | (609) 884-1005 ext. 111 |
| West Wildwood Municipal Court | 115 West Davis Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260 | (609) 522-4924 |
| Wildwood Municipal Court | 115 West Davis Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260 | (609) 522-4924 |
| Wildwood Crest Municipal Court | 6101 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260 | (609) 729-8035 |
| Woodbine Municipal Court | 2 South Boyd Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 | (609) 465-8729 |
Cape May County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Cape May County is handled by the Civil Division of the Superior Court. This includes the Law Division (for cases exceeding $20,000), the Special Civil Part (for cases up to $20,000, including small claims up to $5,000), and the General Equity Part (for injunctions, foreclosures, and other equitable relief). The Cape May County Clerk’s Office and the Superior Court jointly serve as custodians of civil records.
Searching civil records online
The Civil and Foreclosure Public Access system on the NJ Courts website allows users to search case jackets by party name or docket number after registering for an account. Attorneys with existing eCourts credentials can use those to log in.
Requesting copies
Civil case documents—including complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments—can be obtained by submitting the Records Request Form. For open civil cases, select the Civil Division and Cape May County as the processing location. Closed and archived civil cases are processed by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office (SCCO) in Trenton.
The Cape May County Clerk’s Office also provides access to civil records and can be contacted directly:
Cape May County Clerk’s Office
7 North Main Street
P.O. Box 5000
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210-5000
Phone: (609) 465-1010
Property and land records
While distinct from court records, property records frequently intersect with civil litigation. The Cape May County Clerk maintains land records including deeds and mortgages. The online Land Records Public Search portal contains documents dating back to January 1996 for deeds and mortgages, and August 2000 for other recorded documents. A Consolidated Records Search system pairs tax parcel data with land records and Google Maps for property-level searches. For tax assessment information on a specific property, contact the municipal Tax Assessor’s Office where the property is located.
Cape May County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Cape May County fall under the Family Division of the Superior Court. This division handles divorce and dissolution cases, child custody and visitation disputes, child support enforcement, domestic violence restraining orders, adoption proceedings, paternity actions, and juvenile delinquency cases. Due to the sensitive nature of many family law proceedings, access to these records is more restricted than for general civil or criminal cases.
Accessing family court records
Family Division records for open cases can be requested using the CN 10200 Records Request Form, selecting the Family Division and Cape May County as the processing location. Closed family cases (except divorces, which are handled differently) are also requested through the same form.
Divorce records merit particular attention. Cape May County divorce case files from 2011 and earlier have been transferred to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office Records Information Center (RIC) in Trenton for archival storage. More recent closed divorce cases may still be held by the local Family Division. Divorce documents will only be released to a named party or the attorney of record; a party must provide valid state identification, and any other requester must obtain a court order.
A Certificate of Divorce—which contains the county of venue, docket number, names of the parties, and date of the Final Judgment of Divorce—can be issued by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for $10.00. This certificate often suffices for purposes that do not require the full judgment text.
For questions about locating a specific divorce case, the Superior Court Clerk’s Office customer service line at (609) 421-6100 can conduct a docket number search if the requester provides the county, approximate year of divorce, and the parties’ names.
Marriage records
Marriage certificates in Cape May County are maintained by the local registrar’s office in the municipality where the license was issued. Certified copies can also be ordered through the New Jersey Department of Health Vital Records portal or via the online certificate request page. Fees for ordering through the state system include $25.00 for the first certified copy, $2.00 for each additional copy of the same record, a $5.00 standard processing fee, and a $5.00 non-refundable identity verification fee.
Birth and death records
Birth and death certificates are maintained by the New Jersey Department of Health and local registrars. Under New Jersey law, birth records are restricted for 80 years from the date of birth, and death records are restricted for 40 years from the date of death. During these periods, access is limited to the individual named on the record, immediate family members, legal guardians, authorized legal representatives, and persons with a court order.
Certified copies can be ordered online through the NJ Department of Health – Vital Statistics page, or by downloading and mailing the REG-2 Form along with a check or money order to:
New Jersey Department of Health
Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
P.O. Box 370
Trenton, NJ 08625-0370
Phone: (609) 528-9316
Fees for birth and death certificates ordered by mail include $25.00 for the first certified copy, $2.00 for each additional copy of the same record, a $5.00 processing fee, a $5.00 authentication fee, and a $12.00 shipping fee.
Cape May County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in New Jersey are handled at the county level by the Surrogate’s Court, which functions as the probate court for the county. The Cape May County Surrogate’s Office manages the probate of wills, issuance of letters testamentary and letters of administration, appointment of guardians, trust administration, conservatorship proceedings, and adoption records.
Probating an estate
To probate a will, the executor must submit the original will, an original death certificate, and a completed Surrogate’s Court Information Sheet to the Surrogate’s Office. If the decedent died without a will, family members applying to become administrator must also provide an original death certificate and the information sheet, along with detailed asset and liability information. A surety bond may be required for administrations. Small estate procedures are available for estates valued at $50,000 or less for surviving spouses, or $20,000 or less for next-of-kin, provided no will exists and very specific asset information is supplied.
Most persons contact the Surrogate’s Office to obtain short certificates, which authorize the holder to conduct estate business such as accessing bank accounts or transferring motor vehicles.
Surrogate’s fees
Fees for probate services are established by N.J.S.A. 22A:2-30 and are detailed in the Surrogate’s Fee Schedule. Key fees include:
- Probate of a will (up to two pages) — $100.00
- Each additional page of will — $5.00
- Short certificate — $5.00
- Letters of Administration (general) — $125.00
- Letters of Guardianship — $50.00
- Probate of codicil (up to one page) — $25.00
- Certified extra copy of will — $5.00 per page plus $5.00 for certificate
- Filing complaint and one page of accounting — $175.00
- Searching fee, per estate — $10.00
- Adoption of minors (filing and entering proceedings) — $175.00
Contacting the Surrogate’s Office
The Surrogate’s Office can be reached by phone to discuss what is needed for a particular estate matter. Staff will often gather preliminary information by phone or email, prepare the necessary forms, and mail or email them for signature.
Cape May County Surrogate’s Office
Physical Address: 9 North Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Mailing Address: 4 Moore Road, Dept. 207, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone: (609) 463-6666
Fax: (609) 463-6454
For expedited processing, documents can be mailed to the physical courthouse address at 9 North Main Street. Standard mailings should be directed to 4 Moore Road. Additional forms for probate proceedings, including pro se litigant motion packets and intermingled trust fund forms, are available on the county website.
Pursuant to state law, the Surrogate’s Office must retain the original will and death certificate. Certified copies of the will are provided to the executor or administrator for use with financial institutions and other parties.