Passaic County Court Records Search
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Passaic County is part of New Jersey’s Vicinage 16, with its main courthouse located in Paterson. The Superior Court handles criminal, civil, family, and general equity matters, while the Surrogate’s Court processes probate filings, guardianships, and adoptions. Multiple municipal courts throughout the county adjudicate traffic violations, ordinances, and disorderly persons offenses. Whether you need to pull a case docket, request certified copies of a judgment, or verify a probate filing, understanding which office holds the records and how to reach them will save considerable time.
Residents and attorneys searching for New Jersey court records can begin with the official resources maintained by the state judiciary. The New Jersey Courts website provides centralized access to case-search tools, forms, and filing information for every vicinage. Additional context on court structure and public-access resources may be available through NewJerseyCourts.us. Records can also be obtained directly from clerk offices, through public-access terminals at the courthouse, by mail, or via the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system. The specific steps for each method are outlined in the sections below.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Passaic County?
The most efficient starting point for locating a Passaic County case is the judiciary’s online Find a Case portal. This page consolidates several specialized databases that cover different case types:
- eCourt Civil Case Jacket – search active and disposed civil matters by party name, attorney, or docket number
- Criminal Convictions and Judgments – look up criminal case dispositions
- Judgment Liens – locate outstanding civil judgments that may appear as liens
- Tax Court Cases – access state tax appeal filings
Each tool is free to use and returns basic docket information, party names, case status, and filing dates. Not every document in a case file is available online; for sealed, confidential, or older records you will need to contact the court directly.
In-Person Searches
Walk-in requests are handled at the Passaic County Superior Court Clerk’s Office:
Passaic County Courthouse
Address: 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ 07505
Phone: (973) 653-2910
Public-access computer terminals inside the courthouse allow visitors to search electronic indexes at no charge. Staff can also assist with locating physical files for review during business hours.
Requesting Copies by Mail or JEDS
To obtain certified or plain copies of court records, complete the Records Request Form (CN 10200) and submit it through one of these channels:
- JEDS – upload the completed form electronically through the judiciary’s document-submission system
- Mail – send the form to the Records Unit at:
R.J. Hughes Justice Complex
25 West Market Street, 6th Floor, North Wing
P.O. Box 971, Trenton, NJ 08625-0971
Phone: (609) 421-6100 | Fax: (609) 292-6564
Email: Scco.Mailbox@njcourts.gov - In person – deliver the form directly to the Passaic County Courthouse at 77 Hamilton Street
Include the case docket number, party names, the specific documents you need, and whether you want plain or certified copies. Payment must accompany the request.
Copy and Certification Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copies | $0.05–$0.07 per page |
| Certified copy (civil, criminal, family) | $10.00 plus $10.00 for the court seal |
| Certified copy (other documents) | $15.00 per copy |
| Exemplified copy | $50.00 |
Checks and money orders should be made payable to “Treasurer, State of New Jersey”.
Are Court Records Public in Passaic County?
New Jersey follows a strong presumption of public access to court records. The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) governs access to government records broadly, while the judiciary maintains its own policies under Rule 1:38 of the New Jersey Rules of Court, which specifically addresses public access to court records and administrative records.
Under Rule 1:38, most case files, dockets, calendars, opinions, and orders are available to the public. However, several categories of information are restricted or entirely confidential:
- Sealed records – cases or documents sealed by court order are not available to the public
- Expunged records – criminal records that have been expunged under N.J.S.A. 2C:52 are removed from public view
- Grand jury proceedings – materials presented to or generated by a grand jury remain confidential
- Juvenile records – delinquency and family-crisis matters involving minors are confidential under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60
- Certain family court records – domestic violence complaints, child-abuse investigations, and related pleadings carry access restrictions
- Medical and psychiatric records – health information submitted as evidence or as part of a commitment proceeding is not publicly accessible
- Victim information – identifying details of crime victims may be redacted from publicly available documents
- Personal identifiers – Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data must be redacted before a document is made available, consistent with Rule 1:38-7
Attorneys and self-represented litigants bear responsibility for redacting confidential identifiers before filing documents. Members of the public who believe a record has been improperly withheld may file a motion with the court or submit a complaint to the judiciary’s records custodian.
Passaic County Criminal Court Records
The Criminal Division of the Passaic County Superior Court adjudicates indictable offenses, which are crimes equivalent to felonies in other states. For criminal records inquiries, the division can be reached at (973) 653-2910 with extensions for specific services:
- Records Requests – ext. 24330
- Expungements – ext. 24330
- Pre-Trial Services – ext. 24310
- Customer Service – ext. 24397 or 24398
- Recovery Court – ext. 24320
Online Criminal Case Searches
The Convictions and Judgments portal on the NJ Courts website returns disposition data for criminal matters across the state, including Passaic County cases. Searches can be performed by defendant name or docket number at no cost.
Criminal History Record Checks (CHRI)
Formal criminal history reports are not available through the court system. Instead, they are processed through the New Jersey State Police using the Criminal History Record Information portal. Each search costs $20 and requires specific identifying information about the subject. For personal record reviews, individuals may submit a fingerprint-based request through an IdentoGO location.
Arrest Records and Sheriff Resources
The Passaic County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records and booking information. The Bureau of Criminal Identification handles background-check requests for employment, licensing, and contact-visit purposes:
Passaic County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 435 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (973) 389-5900
The Sheriff’s Patrol Records Division processes requests for incident and arrest reports. Requests typically require a written submission with the subject’s name, date of birth, and the approximate date of the incident.
Expungement
Individuals seeking to clear eligible criminal records may use the Expungement Pro Se Kit published by the NJ Courts. Completed petitions are filed with the Criminal Division at 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson. Eligibility depends on the type and number of prior convictions, and waiting periods vary under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq.
Passaic County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Passaic County is divided among three tiers based on the amount in controversy:
- Law Division (Civil Part) – claims exceeding $20,000
- Special Civil Part – claims between $5,001 and $20,000, as well as landlord-tenant matters
- Small Claims Section – claims of $5,000 or less
Together, the Civil Division and Special Civil Part process roughly 460,000 filings per year in Vicinage 16. The division manager is Jaimie Brogan, reachable at (973) 653-2910 ext. 24261.
Key Contact Extensions at (973) 653-2910
| Section | Extension |
|---|---|
| Main Civil Line | 24220 |
| Law Division | 24230 |
| Small Claims | 24240 |
| General Equity | 24250 |
| Special Civil Part | 24270 |
| Landlord-Tenant | 24280 |
| Arbitration | 24290 |
How to Search Civil Records
The eCourt Civil Case Jacket, accessible through the Find a Case page, allows free searches of civil dockets by name, docket number, or attorney. Results include filing dates, assigned judges, scheduled events, and case disposition. For physical copies, submit the CN 10200 Records Request Form along with applicable fees (plain copies at $0.05–$0.07 per page; certified copies at $10.00 plus $10.00 seal fee).
Small Claims Filing
Small claims actions are filed at the Special Civil Part clerk’s window. Litigants must provide the defendant’s name and address, a brief description of the claim, and the amount sought. Filing fees are set by statute and vary based on the claim amount. The court does not require an attorney for small claims cases, and hearings are typically scheduled within a few weeks of filing.
Property and Land Records
Civil judgments that attach as liens on real property can be located through the Judgment Liens search on the NJ Courts website. Separately, recorded property documents such as deeds, mortgages, and lis pendens filings are maintained by the Passaic County Clerk’s Office:
Passaic County Clerk – Land Records Division
Address: 401 Grand Street, Room 113, Paterson, NJ 07505
The Clerk offers an online property records portal where users can search grantor-grantee indexes and view recorded documents. Additional information about filings and recording fees is available on the Passaic County Clerk land records page.
Passaic County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Superior Court manages divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, child-abuse and neglect proceedings, and adoption cases. The division is led by manager Victoria B. Nicholson and can be reached at (973) 653-2910 with the following extensions:
| Section | Extension |
|---|---|
| Main Family Line | 24390 |
| Matrimonial (Divorce) | 24440 |
| Non-Dissolution (Custody, Support) | 24410 |
| Domestic Violence | 24420 |
| Juvenile | 24430 |
| Children in Court (Abuse/Neglect) | 24450 |
| Family Records | 24460 |
All family matters are heard at the Passaic County Courthouse, 77 Hamilton Street, Paterson.
Access Restrictions
Family court records carry significant confidentiality protections. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed from public view under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Domestic violence temporary restraining orders, child-protection investigation files, and adoption records are likewise restricted to authorized parties—typically the litigants, their attorneys, and certain government agencies. Requests for family records should be directed to ext. 24460, and requestors should be prepared to demonstrate standing or legal authority.
Divorce Records
Divorce judgments are filed with the Superior Court. Copies of final judgment of divorce can be obtained through the Clerk’s Office using the CN 10200 form. Certified copies cost $10.00 plus the $10.00 seal fee. Divorce certificates (vital records abstracts) are a separate document maintained by the New Jersey Department of Health and may also be available through the Passaic County Clerk’s registry division.
Marriage Certificates
Certified copies of marriage certificates are available from the Passaic County Clerk’s Office. Fees include a $5.00 copy charge, a $5.00 search fee, and $12.00 for mailing, for a total of $22.00 per certificate when requested by mail.
Child Support
The Probation Division administers child-support enforcement in Passaic County. The statewide child-support hotline is (877) 655-4371. Locally, the Probation Division can be reached at (973) 653-2910 ext. 24102.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth and death certificates are issued by the New Jersey Department of Health. Locally, the Passaic County Clerk’s Office can provide authenticated copies for a combined fee of $5.00 per copy plus a $5.00 authentication charge and $12.00 mailing fee.
Passaic County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Passaic County are handled by the Surrogate’s Court, headed by Surrogate Zoila Cassanova, Esq. The Surrogate’s Office processes will probate, intestate administration, guardianship of minors, and adoptions.
Passaic County Surrogate’s Office
Address: 71 Hamilton Street, Room 101, Paterson, NJ 07505
(Entrance via 77 Hamilton Street)
Phone: (973) 881-4760
Fax: (973) 523-3449
Email: surrogateinfo@passaiccountynj.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30–1:30 p.m.)
The office operates by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled online or by phone. Evening appointments are available from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on designated nights.
Probate Search Options
The Surrogate maintains a case index search portal where users can look up probate filings by decedent name. This is a useful first step for confirming whether an estate has been opened and identifying the personal representative. More detailed information, including will copies and letters testamentary, must be obtained from the Surrogate’s Office directly.
Fees for Probate Records
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Surrogate index search | $10.00 |
| Copy per page | $3.00 |
| Certified judgment | $25.00 |
How to Request Probate Records
- Search the online index to identify the estate name and filing number
- Contact the Surrogate’s Office by phone at (973) 881-4760 or email at surrogateinfo@passaiccountynj.org to confirm record availability
- Visit the office or submit a written request by mail, including the decedent’s name, approximate date of death, and the specific documents needed
- Enclose payment in the form of a check or money order payable to “Passaic County Surrogate”
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting records by mail
Additional information about will probate procedures is posted on the Surrogate’s website.
Guardianship and Conservatorship
Guardianship petitions for incapacitated adults or minors are filed through the Surrogate’s Office. The court reviews medical evidence and may appoint counsel for the proposed ward. Once a guardianship is established, annual reports and accountings become part of the court file and are accessible to interested parties with standing.