Middlesex County Court Records
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Middlesex County is one of New Jersey's largest and most densely populated counties, with more than 825,000 residents spread across 25 municipalities. The county seat in New Brunswick is the hub for Superior Court operations, handling the bulk of criminal, civil, and family proceedings. A separate Surrogate's Court manages probate and estate matters, and a network of municipal courts addresses local traffic and ordinance violations. If you're trying to track down a case file, obtain copies of court documents, or check the status of a legal proceeding, knowing which office holds the records — and how to reach it — makes all the difference.
New Jersey court records can be searched through a combination of official resources: clerk offices, public-access terminals at courthouses, and electronic databases operated by the state judiciary. NewJerseyCourts.us can help you locate publicly available case information across the state, including records from Middlesex County courts.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Middlesex County?
Middlesex County maintains court records across several offices and buildings depending on the case type. Whether you're looking for a criminal matter, civil dispute, family proceeding, or probate filing, your starting point will vary.
Online Case Search Systems
The New Jersey Judiciary runs several public databases that cover Middlesex County cases:
- Criminal cases — The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access portal allows searching by defendant name or docket number for indictable criminal matters processed through Superior Court.
- Criminal judgments — A separate criminal judgments search tool provides disposition information for criminal cases.
- Civil and family cases — The Civil Case Public Access system lets registered users search civil and limited family case docket information by party name, attorney/firm, docket number, or property address.
- Municipal court cases — Traffic tickets, ordinance violations, and disorderly persons offenses can be looked up through the statewide municipal court case search portal.
- Probate records — The Middlesex County Surrogate maintains a separate online estate records search for probate filings.
- General case lookup — The New Jersey Courts Find a Case page consolidates links to all judiciary search tools.
In-Person Searches
The main courthouse facilities in Middlesex County are in New Brunswick:
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County Courthouse | 56 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 | (732) 645-4300 |
| Family Courthouse | 120 New Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 | (732) 645-4300 |
| Surrogate's Court | 75 Bayard Street, 1st Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 | (732) 745-3055 |
Courthouse hours are generally 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The criminal records room at the Middlesex County Courthouse can be reached at (732) 645-4300 ext. 88155 for questions about viewing criminal case files in person.
Requesting Copies of Court Records
The New Jersey Judiciary provides a uniform system for requesting copies of court documents. To obtain records from a Middlesex County case:
- Download the Records Request Form and save it to your computer.
- Complete all required fields, selecting the appropriate division and county.
- Submit the completed form through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system.
- Records will be delivered electronically to the email address you provide.
- Fees for certified, exemplified, and sealed copies can be paid by credit card.
Copy and Authentication Fees
| Copy Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Checks and money orders must be payable to Treasurer-State of New Jersey. For questions about pending requests, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office at (609) 421-6100.
Are Court Records Public in Middlesex County?
New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) establishes a broad right of access to government records, and most court files generated in Middlesex County fall under that presumption of openness. The judiciary's own public-access rules are set by Court Rule 1:38, which specifies which records are available and which must remain confidential.
Records Generally Open to the Public
- Criminal case dockets, complaints, indictments, and dispositions
- Civil complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments
- Special civil part records (small claims, landlord/tenant)
- Municipal court records for non-expunged matters
- Probate filings, including wills admitted to probate
- Property records filed through the County Clerk
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
- Juvenile delinquency records
- Adoption records, sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 9:3-52
- Medical and mental health records introduced in proceedings
- Witness protection records
- Records sealed or impounded by court order
- Drug dependency evaluations and pretrial services records
- Probation records
- Records containing personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers)
Divorce records carry additional restrictions: the Superior Court Clerk's Office releases divorce documents only to parties in the case or their attorneys of record, who must present valid state identification. Third parties need a court order to access these files.
Individuals seeking to clear eligible criminal records can apply for expungement through the Middlesex County Superior Court. The judiciary provides a pro se expungement kit with instructions and forms for self-represented applicants.
Middlesex County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Middlesex County move through two tiers: the Criminal Division of the Superior Court for indictable offenses, and the county's 25 municipal courts for lesser matters.
Superior Court Criminal Division
The Criminal Division processes all indictable criminal cases involving adult offenders — pre-adjudicatory proceedings, pretrial intervention (PTI) applications, pre-sentence investigations, post-conviction motions, and recovery court matters. Key contacts within the division:
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Criminal Assignment Office | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88099 |
| Criminal Reception | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88021 |
| Criminal Records Room | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88155 |
| Recovery Court | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88062 |
The criminal records room is at the Middlesex County Courthouse, 56 Paterson Street (P.O. Box 964), New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Public-access terminals are available there for reviewing criminal case information. Those appealing a municipal court sentence can obtain a pro se municipal appeal kit from the judiciary.
Criminal History Record Checks
Formal criminal history records in New Jersey are maintained by the New Jersey State Police and are available to record owners, employers, licensed attorneys, licensed private detectives, and government agencies. The fingerprint-based check process works as follows:
- Schedule a fingerprint appointment through IdentoGO or call IDEMIA at (877) 503-5981.
- Submit fingerprints electronically at the scheduled location.
- Complete a Personal Records Request online.
- The fingerprinting service costs $45.73, payable by credit/debit card or electronic fund transfer.
Name-based criminal history searches are available to eligible parties through the name-check portal for $20.
Middlesex County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office handles warrant enforcement, prisoner transport, and certain law enforcement functions. Arrest-related inquiries and records requests can be directed through the county's online request form or by contacting:
Office of the Sheriff
Address: 701 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 745-3271
Municipal Courts
Disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and ordinance infractions are all handled at the municipal level. Some of the larger municipal courts in the county include:
- Edison Township Municipal Court: 100 Municipal Boulevard, Edison, NJ 08817 — Phone: (732) 248-7328
- Woodbridge Municipal Court: 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ 07095 — Phone: (732) 636-6430
- Old Bridge Township Municipal Court: 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ 08857 — Phone: (732) 721-5600
- Perth Amboy Municipal Court: 361 New Brunswick Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 — Phone: (732) 442-6011
- Piscataway Township Municipal Court: 555 Sidney Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 — Phone: (732) 562-2330
Middlesex County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Middlesex County Superior Court resolves non-criminal disputes — contract claims, personal injury lawsuits, foreclosures, and landlord/tenant matters among them.
Jurisdictional Thresholds
| Case Category | Amount in Controversy |
|---|---|
| Civil Part (Law Division) | Over $20,000 |
| Special Civil Part | Over $5,000 up to $20,000 |
| Small Claims | $5,000 or less |
| Landlord/Tenant | Filed in Special Civil Part |
| General Equity | Non-monetary relief (foreclosures, injunctions, trade secrets) |
Civil Division Contact Numbers
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Civil Assignment Office | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88180 |
| Landlord Tenant/Small Claims | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88381 |
| Arbitration | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88170 |
| Foreclosure | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88372 |
| Post-Judgments/Collections | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88383 |
| Adult Name Change | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88371 |
| Multi-County Litigation | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88374 |
Searching Civil Records
Civil case docket information is available through the Civil Case Public Access system. First-time users need to create an account. Once registered, select Middlesex County and the appropriate docket type to search by party name, attorney, docket number, or property address.
The New Jersey Judiciary also maintains a forms catalog with downloadable documents for civil litigants. Self-represented parties can find guidance through the judiciary's pages for small claims, special civil matters, and civil lawsuits over $20,000.
Property Records
Land records in Middlesex County — deeds, mortgages, and liens — are maintained by the Office of the County Clerk. The Record Room is open to the public, and property documents can also be searched through the county's Land Records Search database, which includes deeds filed from 1929 to the present and mortgages from 1950 to the present. For foreclosure information, contact the Sheriff's Office at (732) 745-3271.
Middlesex County Family Court Records
All domestic and family-related legal proceedings in Middlesex County go through the Family Division of the Superior Court, located at the Family Courthouse at 120 New Street, New Brunswick.
Types of Family Court Cases
The Family Division has jurisdiction over divorce (dissolution), child support, paternity, custody and parenting time, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, family crisis interventions, foster care placement, kinship legal guardianship, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, and adoption.
Family Division Contact Numbers
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Matrimonial | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88580 |
| Domestic Violence | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88560 |
| Intake | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88530 |
| Non-Dissolution | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88380 |
| Juvenile | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88390 |
| Children in Court | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88570 |
| Family Division Manager | (732) 645-4300 ext. 88540 |
Access Restrictions
Family court records involving juvenile matters, adoption, and divorce are not open to the general public. Records containing sensitive or confidential information are also restricted. Parties to the case and their attorneys of record can access full case files. Limited docket information for certain family matters may appear in the Civil/Family Case Public Access system, but the underlying documents are held at the courthouse.
Divorce Records
Divorce cases in Middlesex County are docketed under the FM prefix in the Family Division. After judgment, closed files are eventually transferred to the Superior Court Clerk's Office Records Information Center (RIC) in Trenton. Middlesex County dissolution files through docket year 2016 are currently stored at the RIC. For cases filed after 2016, contact the Middlesex County Family Division directly at (732) 645-4300.
Divorce documents are released only to parties in the case or their attorneys of record with valid state identification. Third parties require a court order. A Certificate of Divorce — listing the county, docket number, party names, and date of final judgment — is available from the Superior Court Clerk's Office for $10.00. A certified copy of the full Final Judgment of Divorce costs $25.00.
Marriage Records
Marriage certificates in Middlesex County are issued by the municipal clerk where the marriage license was granted. They can also be obtained through the New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry, either by online request or by visiting a local registrar office in Middlesex County. You'll need the names on the record, the date and place of the marriage, proof of identity, and the applicable fees.
Marriage and divorce records more than 100 years old are open to the public and can be accessed through the New Jersey State Archives by scheduling an appointment.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records in Middlesex County are maintained by the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry and local municipal registrars. These records are restricted to the record owner, immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized agencies. Requests can be submitted online, in person at the relevant municipal vital records office, or by mail using the official request form.
Middlesex County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Middlesex County are handled by the Surrogate's Court, which operates out of the County Administration Building in New Brunswick. The Surrogate validates wills, appoints estate administrators, and oversees adoption hearings and guardianship filings.
Middlesex County Surrogate's Court
Address: County Administration Building, 1st Floor, 75 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 790, New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: (732) 745-3055
Fax: (732) 745-4125
The Surrogate's Office operates by appointment only. Appointments at the main New Brunswick office can be scheduled online through the county website or by calling (732) 745-3055. Satellite locations are also available.
Services Provided
The Surrogate handles probate of wills, issuance of letters testamentary and letters of administration, appointment of guardians, safekeeping of wills, management of minors' funds, and scheduling of adoption hearings. Probate Part motions are heard in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, by a designated judge.
Searching Probate Records
Probate records in Middlesex County are generally public. The Surrogate maintains a searchable online estate records index where you can look up filings by the decedent's name, docket number, or birth/death dates. Historical surrogate records may also be available through the New Jersey State Archives.
Requesting Probate Records
To request copies of probate documents, send your request by mail to:
Middlesex County Surrogate Court
Records Department
P.O. Box 790
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Phone: (732) 745-3310
The Records Department handles exemplified copies, records searches, updated certificates, and copies of filed documents. Updated certificates cost $5.00 each. Fees are established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 22A:2-30. The office accepts payment by check, money order, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) — but not cash or American Express. Checks should be made payable to Middlesex County Surrogate Court.
Those who prefer not to visit in person can handle most requests by mail or email rather than scheduling an appointment. However, original pleadings for Chancery Division Probate Part matters must be delivered directly to the Surrogate's Court — the JEDS electronic submission system is not currently used by this office.