Hudson County Court Records Search
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Hudson County is one of the most densely populated counties in New Jersey, encompassing Jersey City, Bayonne, Hoboken, Union City, North Bergen, and nine other municipalities along the western bank of the Hudson River. The county’s court system processes a high volume of criminal, civil, family, and probate matters each year through its Superior Court — the general jurisdiction trial court — along with a Surrogate’s Court and thirteen Municipal Courts serving individual municipalities. Court records generated across these venues include docket entries, pleadings, motions, judgments, orders, opinions, transcripts, and witness testimony, all of which form the documented record of the county’s judicial proceedings.
For anyone searching New Jersey court records, several official resources are available. The New Jersey Judiciary maintains statewide online case-search databases, and individual court clerk’s offices provide in-person inspection and copies of filed documents. Public-access computer terminals are available at some courthouse locations, and the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system accepts record requests electronically around the clock. NewJerseyCourts.us may also help users find publicly accessible court case information across the state’s judicial system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Hudson County?
Hudson County case records can be searched online, requested electronically, or obtained in person at the relevant court. The method depends on the type of case and the court that handled it.
Online Case Databases
The New Jersey Judiciary operates several free public-access tools through its Find a Case page:
- PROMIS/Gavel Public Access — Search indictable (felony) criminal cases statewide. Select “Hudson” from the county dropdown and search by defendant name, indictment number, or complaint number. Available at the PROMIS/Gavel portal.
- Criminal Judgments Public Access — Look up judgments of conviction, acquittal, and dismissal (June 2017 to present) by defendant name, case number, or indictment number through the Criminal Judgments database.
- Civil and Foreclosure Public Access — Search civil, special civil, and foreclosure dockets by party name or docket number via the NJ Civil Case Public Access system. Registration is required.
- Municipal Court Case Search — Search traffic tickets and municipal complaints by name, ticket number, complaint number, or driver’s license number through the NJMCdirect portal.
The Electronic Access Program (EAP) offers subscriber-based remote access to additional judiciary case systems, including PROMIS/Gavel data, civil case management, and family case information.
Submitting a Records Request
To obtain copies of court documents:
- Download the Records Request Form (CN 10200).
- Complete the form, specifying the processing location (county Superior Court division for open cases, or SCCO for closed/archived cases).
- Submit electronically through the JEDS system.
- Copies are sent to the email address provided on the form.
- Fees for certified, exemplified, or sealed copies can be paid by credit card.
For questions about submitted requests, contact the Superior Court Clerk’s Office at SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov or call (609) 421-6100.
In-Person Access
Walk-in visitors can inspect records or use public-access terminals at the Hudson County courthouse complex during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main courthouse buildings are:
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson County Administration Building | 595 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306 | (201) 748-4400 |
| William J. Brennan Jr. Courthouse | 583 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306 | (201) 748-4400 |
Are Court Records Public in Hudson County?
New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) establishes a general right of public access to government records. However, court records are primarily governed by Court Rule 1:38, which sets out the New Jersey Judiciary’s own framework for public access to court records and administrative records.
Records Open to the Public
Under Rule 1:38, the following categories of court records are generally available for public inspection:
- Civil division records (including general equity)
- Special civil part records (small claims, landlord-tenant)
- Criminal division records
- Family division records (with specific exceptions)
- Municipal court records
- Tax court records
Records Excluded from Public Access
Rule 1:38-3 enumerates specific categories of confidential records that are not available to the general public:
- Medical and psychological records
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Domestic violence records (temporary restraining orders and related filings)
- Child abuse and neglect records
- Adoption records (sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 52)
- Grand jury proceedings
- Expunged records
- Records involving minor victims of sexual assault or abuse
- Internal court administrative records
- Pre-sentence investigation reports
Redaction Requirements
State law and court rules require that certain personal identifiers be redacted from publicly accessible court records, including Social Security numbers, credit card and financial account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and unlisted telephone numbers. Parties filing documents are responsible for redacting this information before submission.
Impoundment and Sealing
A judge may impound or seal specific records upon motion and a showing of good cause. Sealed records, unlike merely impounded records, are entirely inaccessible to the public and typically require a court order to unseal.
Hudson County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Hudson County are heard in two tiers: the Superior Court, Criminal Division handles all indictable offenses (equivalent to felonies), while Municipal Courts handle disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and ordinance violations.
Searching Criminal Cases Online
Three free tools cover Hudson County criminal cases:
- PROMIS/Gavel Public Access — for indictable offenses. Accept the disclaimer, select Hudson County, and search by name, indictment number, or complaint number.
- Criminal Judgments Public Access — for judgments of conviction, acquittal, or dismissal from June 2017 forward. Select “Hudson” in the county dropdown.
- Municipal Court Case Search (NJMCdirect) — for traffic tickets, municipal complaints, and disorderly persons offenses.
In-Person Criminal Records
The Criminal Division Records Room is located at:
Room 101, 595 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 748-4400, ext. 60170 (Customer Service/Records Requests)
Public-access terminals are available for on-site searches.
Hudson County Sheriff’s Office
The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, accident reports, and motor vehicle crash reports. The Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) processes criminal record requests at:
Hudson County Administration Building
595 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 795-6300, ext. 7304
The Records Bureau is separately located at:
257 Cornelison Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: (201) 915-1300
BCI processes requests weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Expungement
Individuals seeking to expunge a criminal or juvenile record may use the Judiciary’s expungement pro se kit. Expunged records are removed from public databases and are treated as confidential under Rule 1:38.
Hudson County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Hudson County is handled by the Civil Division of the Superior Court, which includes several parts based on the amount in controversy and the nature of the claim.
Jurisdictional Breakdown
| Court/Part | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Civil Division, Law Division | Claims exceeding $20,000; personal injury; breach of contract; medical malpractice |
| Special Civil Part | Claims from $5,000.01 to $20,000; landlord-tenant disputes |
| Small Claims (within Special Civil Part) | Claims of $5,000 or less |
| General Equity | Non-monetary disputes; trade secrets; labor matters; foreclosures; injunctive relief |
Searching Civil Records
The Civil and Foreclosure Public Access system allows registered users to search Hudson County civil dockets by party name or docket number. Registration is free and uses existing eCourts credentials if applicable.
Copies of civil case documents can be requested by completing the Records Request Form (CN 10200) and submitting it through JEDS. For open civil cases, select the Civil Division and Hudson County on the form. For closed or archived civil cases, select SCCO (Superior Court Clerk’s Office) as the processing location.
Copy and Authentication Fees
Fees set by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office apply to all civil record copies:
| 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 |
Payment is accepted by check, money order (payable to “Treasurer-State of New Jersey”), credit card for certified/exemplified copies, or cash for in-person requests.
Property Records
Real property documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, maps, and UCC filings are maintained by the Hudson County Register of Deeds and Mortgages. An online property search tool allows searches by name, date range, and document type. The office is located at 257 Cornelison Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Per the register’s fee schedule, copies cost $10.00 for the first page and $1.50 per additional page.
Hudson County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Superior Court handles all matters arising from family or family-type relationships. The division operates out of the Hudson County courthouse complex on Newark Avenue in Jersey City.
Case Types
The Family Division has jurisdiction over divorce and dissolution, child custody and parenting time, child support, paternity, domestic violence (temporary and final restraining orders), juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, foster care placement, kinship legal guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption.
Accessing Family Court Records
Family Division records can be requested through the same Records Request Form submitted via JEDS. Select the Family Division and Hudson County on the form. For direct inquiries, contact the relevant office within the Hudson Vicinage Family Division:
| Office | Extension |
|---|---|
| Matrimonial | (201) 748-4400, ext. 60880 |
| Domestic Violence | (201) 748-4400, ext. 60830 |
| Non-Dissolution Intake | (201) 748-4400, ext. 60860 |
| Juvenile | (201) 748-4400, ext. 60850 |
| Children in Court | (201) 748-4400, ext. 60840 |
Divorce (Dissolution) Records
Divorce cases in New Jersey are formally called “dissolution” cases and carry an “FM” docket prefix. After a final judgment of divorce is entered, the case is eventually closed and archived by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Trenton. For Hudson County, archived dissolution files through case year 2015 are stored at the Records Information Center (RIC). To determine whether a specific divorce file is at the RIC, you need the docket number — the last two digits indicate the filing year, and county code “09” designates Hudson County.
A Certificate of Divorce — containing the county, docket number, party names, and judgment date, stamped with the court seal — can be obtained from the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for $10.00. A certified copy of the full Final Judgment of Divorce costs $25.00. Contact customer service at (609) 421-6100 for assistance locating divorce records.
Confidential Family Records
Juvenile delinquency records, domestic violence filings, adoption records, and child abuse or neglect records are confidential and not publicly available under Rule 1:38-3. Adoption records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and can only be opened by court order obtained through the Surrogate’s Court.
Marriage and Vital Records
Marriage certificates are maintained by the city or municipal clerk’s office where the ceremony was solemnized. Hudson County municipalities each have their own vital records office; a full list of local registrars is available through the state. Birth and death certificates can also be ordered through the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, either online or by mail to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. The fee is $25.00 for the first certified copy and $2.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Hudson County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Hudson County — including the probating of wills, appointment of estate administrators, adoption proceedings, and establishment of adult guardianships — are handled by the Hudson County Surrogate’s Court. The current Surrogate is Tilo E. Rivas.
Surrogate’s Court Location and Contact
Hudson County Surrogate’s Court
Hudson County Administration Building
595 Newark Avenue, 4th Floor, Room 407
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Phone: (201) 795-6378
Fax: (201) 795-5488
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) staff are available.
What the Surrogate’s Court Maintains
The Surrogate’s Court is the custodian of probate records for estates administered in Hudson County. These records include wills admitted to probate, letters testamentary, letters of administration, guardianship orders, adoption judgments, estate inventories, and related filings. Some records in the archives date back to the 1800s. Historical records predating the county’s formation in 1840 may be found through Bergen County records or the New Jersey State Archives.
How to Access Probate Records
In-person inspection requires an appointment, which can be scheduled online or by calling (201) 795-6378 during business hours. Copies of probate documents cost $3.00 per page.
Written requests can also be mailed to the Surrogate’s Court at the address above. Include the decedent’s full name, approximate date of death, and any known case or docket numbers to help staff locate the file.
Probate Filing Fees
Surrogate’s Court fees in New Jersey are established by statute (N.J.S.A. 22A:2). Common fees include probate of a will (up to two pages) starting around $100, with additional charges per page beyond two. Letters of Administration, guardianship petitions, and other filings each carry their own fee. Contact the Surrogate’s office directly for a current fee schedule, as amounts are set by statute and may be updated by the Legislature.
Adoption Records
All adoption judgments and related proceedings are sealed by law (N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 52) and are not open for public inspection. Opening sealed adoption records requires a court order from a Superior Court judge, Chancery Division, Family Part. The process typically involves filing a notarized petition through the Surrogate’s office and paying applicable fees. Contact the Hudson County Surrogate’s Court for specific filing procedures.