Morris County Court Records
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Morris County, in northern New Jersey with its county seat in Morristown, has a court system that generates a wide range of accessible records. Whether you need to track down a civil lawsuit, review a criminal case docket, obtain a divorce decree, or search probate filings, several offices and online tools can help you get there. This guide walks you through practical, step-by-step instructions for locating and requesting court records throughout the Morris County judicial system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Morris County?
Start your search at NewJerseyCourts.us, which connects you to the state judiciary's official databases and case lookup tools. Beyond that statewide resource, Morris County court records are available directly from clerk offices, through public access terminals at the courthouse, and via several dedicated online search platforms run by the New Jersey Judiciary.
Morris County is part of the Morris/Sussex Vicinage, which administers all Superior Court operations for both Morris and Sussex counties. The primary courthouse is:
Morris County Courthouse
Washington and Court Streets
Morristown, NJ 07960-0910
Phone: (862) 397-5700
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
The best way to look up a case depends on what type of record you need:
- Criminal cases — Use the PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system. Enter the defendant's last name, first name, and select Morris County. Results show indictment information, charges, and case status.
- Civil cases — Access the Civil Case Public Access portal, which requires a user ID. Search by party name, docket number, or filing date.
- Municipal court cases — The Municipal Court Case Search (MCCS) tool lets you look up traffic tickets and municipal complaints.
- Family and divorce cases — The Family Automated Case Tracking System (FACTS) provides electronic access for a $1 remote access fee per search under the Electronic Access Program.
For any case type, you can also submit a formal records request form to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Complete the form and submit it electronically; copies are delivered to the email address you provide.
The courthouse also has a Court User Resource Center at (862) 397-5700 ext. 75160, where the Ombudsman's office can help members of the public navigate the case search process.
Are Court Records Public in Morris County?
Most court records in Morris County are open for public inspection. New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA), codified under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5, establishes a broad right to inspect, copy, and obtain government records, including court filings. Court Rule 1:38 specifically governs public access to court records and administrative records throughout the New Jersey Judiciary.
Under Rule 1:38, the following record categories are generally available for public inspection:
- Civil division records, including general equity
- Special civil part records
- Criminal division records
- Family division records (with significant exceptions)
- Municipal court records
- Tax court records
That said, a number of record types are sealed or restricted. These include:
- Adoption records — All judgments and proceedings are sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 9:3-52. Access requires a court order from a Superior Court judge.
- Juvenile delinquency records — Restricted to parties involved in the case.
- Recovery court program records — Sealed pursuant to statute.
- Child visitation and parenting time records — Limited access.
- Guardianship records — Available only to licensed New Jersey attorneys seeking appointment of a guardian for an incapacitated person, and to authorized volunteers in the Judiciary Guardianship Monitoring Program.
When requesting divorce records, the Superior Court Clerk's Office will only release documents to a party to the case or the attorney of record. You'll need to show a valid state-issued ID. Anyone else will need a court order directing the clerk to release the documents.
Copy and authentication fees set by the Superior Court Clerk's Office are as follows:
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Letter-size plain copy | $0.05/page |
| Legal-size plain copy | $0.07/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 |
Payments are accepted by check or money order payable to Treasurer—State of New Jersey. Cash is only accepted for in-person transactions. For questions about records requests, email SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov for open cases or SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov for archived records.
Morris County Criminal Court Records
Indictable offenses in Morris County are prosecuted and adjudicated in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. The Criminal Division main number is (862) 397-5700 ext. 75340, which also handles customer service and records requests.
To search criminal court cases online, use the New Jersey Judiciary's PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system. Search by defendant name, indictment number, or complaint number. Keep in mind that this database contains Superior Court criminal case information but is not a complete criminal history — full records are maintained by the New Jersey State Police.
Additional criminal division contacts for Morris County:
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Criminal Division Main | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75340 |
| Pretrial Services | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75370 |
| Recovery Court | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75360 |
If you need to expunge a criminal or juvenile record, the New Jersey Courts offers a pro se expungement kit. If you're appealing a municipal court sentence to the Superior Court, you can get a municipal appeal pro se kit as well.
Disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and motor vehicle violations are handled by municipal courts rather than the Superior Court Criminal Division. Morris County has municipal courts across its 39 municipalities. For example, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Court at 3333 Route 46 East, Parsippany, NJ 07054, can be reached at (973) 263-4290.
The Morris County Sheriff's Office is another source of arrest information and criminal records:
Morris County Sheriff's Office
Morris County Courthouse
56 Washington Street
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: (973) 285-6600
For arrest records, contact the Morristown Bureau of Police at 200 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, Phone: (973) 292-6600, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Morris County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Morris County runs across three tiers within the Superior Court's Civil Division, each determined by the dollar amount in dispute. Cases claiming more than $20,000 in damages are heard in the Civil Division. Disputes between $5,000 and $20,000 fall under the Special Civil Part. Claims of $5,000 or less are categorized as small claims and adjudicated within the Special Civil Part as well.
The Civil Division Manager for the Morris/Sussex Vicinage can be reached at (862) 397-5700 ext. 75345. Additional contacts for specific civil units:
| Unit | Phone |
|---|---|
| General Equity | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75355 |
| Special Civil Part | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75365 |
| Landlord/Tenant | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75375 |
| Small Claims | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75375 |
| Mediation/Arbitration | (862) 397-5700 ext. 75355 |
Non-monetary disputes — trade secrets, foreclosures, labor matters, and requests for restraining orders — are heard in the General Equity division.
To search civil court records online, use the New Jersey Judiciary's civil case public access portal through the eCourts system. Registration with a user ID and password is required. The case jacket search tool lets you search by party name or docket number and returns detailed case information including filings, motions, and judgments.
For in-person access, visit the Morris County Courthouse at Washington and Court Streets, Morristown, NJ. The Superior Court Clerk's Office handles requests for copies of civil records. Open civil cases are processed at the county level, while closed and archived cases go through the SCCO warehouse in Trenton. To make a formal request, download records request form (Form 10200), complete it, and submit it electronically. Select the Civil Division and Morris County as the processing location for open cases.
Property-related civil matters — deeds, mortgages, and liens — are maintained by the Morris County Clerk's Office. The County Clerk's online property records search application provides access to documents dating back to 1960. Older records are available in the Records Vault at:
Morris County Clerk Records Vault
10 Court Street, 1st Floor
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: (973) 285-6747
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
If you're sending a mail request for property record copies, include a description of the document, the book and page reference, a return address, and a check payable to Morris County Clerk. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $10.00 certification fee. Non-certified copies are $2.00 per page.
Morris County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Morris County are handled in the Family Division of the Superior Court, which covers divorce, child support and custody, paternity, parenting time, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, foster care placement, kinship legal guardianship, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, and adoption.
The Family Division intake office is located at:
Morris County Family Division
Morris County Courthouse
Washington and Court Streets
P.O. Box 910
Morristown, NJ 07960-0910
Phone: (862) 397-5700 ext. 75145
The Family Division Manager for the Morris/Sussex Vicinage can be reached at (862) 397-5700 ext. 75180.
To get copies of family court records, follow these steps:
- Download the records request form (Form 10200).
- Complete the form and include an email address for delivery.
- Select the Family Division and Morris County as the processing location for open cases.
- Submit the form electronically using the online submission portal.
- Pay applicable fees by credit card for certified, exemplified, or sealed copies.
Divorce records require special handling. Final judgments of divorce are available only to parties in the case or their attorneys of record. Morris County dissolution case files from 2017 and earlier have been transferred to the Superior Court Clerk's Office Records and Information Center (RIC) in Trenton for archival storage. More recent closed divorce files may still be held at the county Family Division. To check, contact the Family Division records room at (862) 397-5700 ext. 75260.
The SCCO can also prepare a Certificate of Divorce — listing the county of venue, docket number, party names, and date of the final judgment — for $10.00. A certified copy of a final judgment of divorce costs $25.00. For SCCO customer service regarding divorce records, call (609) 421-6100.
Marriage records for ceremonies held in Morris County after 1887 are maintained by the municipality where the wedding took place, the NJ Department of Health Vital Statistics, or the New Jersey State Archives. The Morris County Clerk's Office holds historical marriage records from 1795 to 1887, available through its Records Vault. These older records generally contain the names of the bride and groom, their residences, the ceremony date, and the names of the officiant and witnesses.
Domestic violence matters, including applications for temporary and final restraining orders, are processed through the Family Division. The Morris Family Justice Center at 10 Court Street, 4th Floor, Morristown, NJ 07962, Phone: (973) 829-4050, provides support services for domestic violence survivors.
Birth and death records are not held by the Morris County Clerk. These vital records may be obtained from the municipality where the event occurred, the NJ Department of Health Vital Statistics at (877) 622-7549, or the New Jersey State Archives. Under N.J.A.C. 8:2A-2.2, vital records are not open to the general public — they are available only to the record subject, immediate family members, legal representatives, or qualified researchers.
Morris County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Morris County are handled by the Morris County Surrogate's Court, which operates as a division of the Superior Court. This court has jurisdiction over uncontested probate of wills, administration of estates for individuals who die without a will (intestate), appointment of conservators and guardians for incapacitated persons, and adoption proceedings.
Morris County Surrogate's Court
10 Court Street, Suite 5
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: (973) 285-6500
Email: surrogate@co.morris.nj.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (last appointment at 3:00 PM; call before arriving)
The Surrogate's Court maintains a searchable online database of probated estates dating from 1804 to the present. To use it:
- Visit the Morris County Probate Search System.
- Enter the decedent's last name, first name, docket number, or select a case type (wills, administration, or guardianships).
- Filter by year range if desired.
- Click Search to view results.
This database is also accessible through the Surrogate Court's official Search Probated Estates page.
Filing fees for probate matters are:
- Probating a will: $100
- Administration of an estate (no will): $150
Contested probate matters — will disputes, contested estate distributions, and challenges to guardianship appointments — are elevated from the Surrogate's Court to the Superior Court for resolution. The Superior Court acts as the appellate court for Surrogate's Court decisions.
Guardianship records carry special access restrictions. Under Court Rule 1:38, these records are generally available only to attorneys licensed in New Jersey who are seeking appointment of a guardian for an incapacitated person, and to authorized volunteers in the Judiciary Guardianship Monitoring Program.
Adoption records entered through the Surrogate's Court are sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 9:3-52. They cannot be inspected, copied, or made public without a court order from a Superior Court judge in the Chancery Division, Family Part. Petitioning the court to open adoption records typically involves filing a notarized petition with the Surrogate and paying applicable fees. Contact the Surrogate's Office directly at (973) 285-6500 for specific filing instructions.