Somerset County Court Records

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    Somerset County sits in central New Jersey and is served by the Somerset County Superior Court, which is part of the Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage of the New Jersey Judiciary. This is a unified trial court that handles criminal indictments, civil disputes, family law matters, and probate proceedings for every municipality in the county. The records produced through those proceedings — docket entries, motions, judgments, orders, and exhibits — are kept by the court clerk's office and can be accessed through several channels, depending on the type of record and whether the case is still open.

    If you're a resident, attorney, or other interested party looking for Somerset County court records, start your search at NewJerseyCourts.us, the central hub for all New Jersey state court information. The site offers free public case search tools, downloadable request forms, electronic document submission portals, and courthouse directories for every county and municipal court in the state. Records can also be found through the county-level clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and in some cases through the New Jersey Electronic Access Program. Which options are available to you will depend on the court division, the case type, and whether the matter is open or closed.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Somerset County?

    There are several ways to search for a court case in Somerset County, ranging from free online tools to formal written requests.

    Online Case Search (Free)

    The New Jersey Judiciary's Find a Case portal allows free public searches of Superior Court records, including criminal convictions and judgments, civil case information, and court opinions. You can search by party name or docket number. For municipal court matters such as traffic tickets, use the NJMCdirect system to look up individual cases.

    Court Record Request Form

    If the record you need isn't available through the online portal, the Judiciary offers a standardized Court Record Request Form that works for any division of the Superior Court. Here's how to use it:

    1. Download and save the PDF to your computer.
    2. In Part B, select the correct division (Civil, Criminal, Family, or Chancery) and choose Somerset as the county.
    3. In Part C, enter identifying information such as the party name, docket number, or case details.
    4. Submit the completed form electronically through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system, which accepts submissions 24 hours a day.

    You can also deliver or mail the completed form to:

    Somerset County Superior Court
    20 North Bridge Street
    Somerville, NJ 08876
    Phone: (908) 332-7700

    For closed or archived records, direct your request to:

    Superior Court Clerk's Office
    Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
    P.O. Box 971
    Trenton, NJ 08625-0971
    Phone: (609) 421-6100
    Email: SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov

    Electronic Access Program (EAP)

    The Electronic Access Program provides remote, subscriber-based access to several Judiciary case management systems — including the Automated Case Management System (ACMS) for civil matters, PROMIS/Gavel for criminal cases, and the Family Automated Case Tracking System (FACTS) for divorce records. The EAP charges $4 per minute and requires a Judiciary Account Charge System (JACS) account with a minimum balance. This service is used primarily by attorneys and professional researchers.

    Copy Fees

    Copy TypeFee
    Plain copy, letter size$0.05/page
    Plain copy, legal size$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

    Payment is accepted by check or money order made payable to Treasurer — State of New Jersey. Cash is accepted only for in-person requests. Attorneys may charge fees to their Superior Court Attorney Collateral Account.

    Are Court Records Public in Somerset County?

    New Jersey treats court records as presumptively open to public inspection. The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) establishes a broad right of access to government records, and Rule 1:38 of the New Jersey Rules of Court specifically covers public access to court records and administrative records maintained by the Judiciary.

    Under Rule 1:38, the following categories of court records are generally accessible to the public:

    • Civil division records, including general equity
    • Special civil part records
    • Criminal division records
    • Family division records (with certain restrictions)
    • Municipal court records
    • Tax Court records

    That said, several categories of information are restricted from public access under Rule 1:38-3. Restricted records and information include:

    • Information that would identify the victim of a crime or the victim's family members
    • Records sealed or made confidential by state or federal statute
    • Personal records whose disclosure would constitute an invasion of privacy
    • Records from active investigations where disclosure would harm the public interest
    • Information classified as confidential by court order
    • Privileged communications, including attorney-client privilege
    • All adoption records (sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 52)
    • Guardianship records and reports (though available to the incapacitated person and minor upon reaching majority)
    • Juvenile delinquency records

    Divorce documents will only be released to a party to the case or the attorney of record. Third parties seeking divorce records must obtain a court order directing the clerk to release them. Requesters who are parties to the case must present a valid state-issued identification.

    Somerset County Criminal Court Records

    Indictable criminal offenses in Somerset County are prosecuted in the Criminal Division of the Somerset County Superior Court. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office handles felony-level matters, while disorderly persons offenses and local ordinance violations are typically heard in the municipal courts located throughout the county.

    Searching Criminal Court Records

    Criminal case information from Somerset County Superior Court can be searched through the Find a Case portal. This tool returns results for cases in which a defendant was tried, convicted, and sentenced in a New Jersey Superior Court, and search results may include conviction details, judgment information, and case docket data.

    To request copies of criminal case records, complete the Court Record Request Form, select Criminal as the division and Somerset as the county, then submit through JEDS, by mail, or in person at the Somerset County Courthouse.

    Criminal History Records

    A criminal history record check through the New Jersey State Police requires fingerprinting through the authorized vendor IdentoGo. The process works as follows:

    1. Schedule an appointment by calling (877) 503-5391 or visiting the IdentoGo website.
    2. Receive a six-digit service code (e.g., 2F1BJG for personal record requests such as expungements).
    3. Attend the fingerprinting appointment and pay the $45.73 fee by electronic debit, credit card, or prepaid debit card.
    4. Download the Personal Record Request letter from the state portal 24 to 72 hours after fingerprinting, using your last name, date of birth, and IdentoGo number.
    5. Complete and return the letter within 90 days; if you miss that window, the fingerprinting must be repeated.

    Local Law Enforcement

    The Somerset County Sheriff's Office, located at 20 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876, Phone: (908) 231-7140, may provide access to certain arrest-related records. Municipal police departments throughout the county may also have records of arrests and local enforcement activity.

    Somerset County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Somerset County is handled by the Law Division — Civil Part and Special Civil Part of the Superior Court, as well as the Chancery Division for equity matters such as foreclosures, injunctions, and contract disputes. Civil records include complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, settlements, and related filings.

    How to Obtain Civil Court Records

    Requests for civil court records follow the same general process as other record types. Complete the Court Record Request Form with Civil selected as the division — or Chancery for equity matters — and Somerset as the county. For statewide judgment lien records or foreclosure records, select SCCO as the division.

    Open civil cases are processed through the county Superior Court where the case was filed. Closed civil cases, including archived matters, are handled by the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton.

    Online Search Options

    The Find a Case portal provides free access to civil case data. If you need more detailed access, the Electronic Access Program gives you direct access to the ACMS database, which holds records for Law Division Civil and Special Civil Part cases, Chancery Division General Equity and Foreclosure matters, and the archival system (AMIS) for inactive cases.

    Small Claims and Special Civil Part

    Lawsuits involving amounts of $5,000 or less are heard in the Small Claims section, while cases up to $20,000 fall under the Special Civil Part. Both are divisions of the Somerset County Superior Court and produce records that can be requested through the standard process. Information about filing fees and self-representation resources is available on the New Jersey Judiciary website.

    Property-Related Records

    While not court records in the traditional sense, property records such as deeds, mortgages, and liens can be searched through the Somerset County Clerk's online record search system. The Somerset County Tax Board also maintains property assessment and tax data. OPRA requests for county-held property records can be directed to the Custodian of Records at (908) 231-7030 or emailed to OPRA@co.somerset.nj.us.

    Somerset County Family Court Records

    The Family Division of the Somerset County Superior Court handles a wide range of domestic matters, including divorce and dissolution, child custody and parenting time, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, juvenile delinquency, kinship and foster care, guardianship of minors, and adoption proceedings.

    Accessing Family Court Records

    To request Family Division records, complete the Court Record Request Form with Family selected as the division and Somerset as the county. Submit the form through JEDS, by mail, or in person at the Somerset County Courthouse, 20 North Bridge Street, Somerville, NJ 08876.

    Keep in mind that important restrictions apply to family court records. Divorce documents are released only to parties to the case or their attorney of record — other requesters must present a court order. Adoption records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-51 and 52 and require a court order from a Superior Court judge to be opened. Juvenile delinquency records are also generally confidential.

    Divorce Records

    Somerset County divorce records from cases filed through 2014 have been transferred to the Superior Court Clerk's Office warehouse in Trenton for archiving. More recent closed cases may still be held at the county level. The Clerk's Office can issue a Certificate of Divorce for $10, which contains the county of venue, docket number, names of the parties, and the date of the Final Judgment of Divorce. A certified copy of the actual Final Judgment of Divorce costs $25. For docket number inquiries, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office Customer Service Unit at (609) 421-6100.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records in New Jersey are maintained by the municipality where the license was issued. Somerset County marriage records may also be obtained from the Office of Vital Statistics and Registry of the New Jersey Department of Health. The standard search fee is $25, which includes one copy; additional copies ordered at the same time cost $2 each. Records can also be ordered through the New Jersey Vital Records online service, which adds a $5 processing fee and a $5 identity verification fee to the base cost. Applicants must provide a valid government-issued ID and proof of relationship, as marriage records in New Jersey are confidential.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death records for Somerset County residents can be requested from the New Jersey Department of Health or from a local registrar office in Somerset County. The application form (Non-Genealogical Certification or Certified Copy of a Vital Record) must be submitted with identification and proof of eligibility. Fees are the same as for marriage records: $25 for the search and first copy, with $2 for each additional copy. Mail requests should be sent to: New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370.

    Somerset County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Somerset County are handled by two offices: the Somerset County Surrogate's Court and the Chancery Division of the Superior Court. The Surrogate's Court is your first stop for routine estate administration, while contested probate matters and more complex proceedings go before the Chancery Division.

    Somerset County Surrogate's Court

    The Surrogate's Office probates wills, qualifies executors, administrators, and trustees, and issues the documents needed to administer estates. The office also oversees funds belonging to minors' estates, processes matters involving mental incapacity and conservatorships, and handles all adoptions.

    Somerset County Surrogate's Court
    20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000
    Somerville, NJ 08876
    Phone: (908) 231-7003
    Fax: (908) 541-5061

    Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Office visits are by appointment only.

    The Surrogate's Office also holds offsite sessions on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Franklin Township Community/Senior Center, 505 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ.

    Searching Probate Records

    Somerset County maintains a publicly accessible Probate Search System that allows online searches by name, docket number, case type, and date. This database provides basic case information for probate filings processed through the Surrogate's Court.

    Case Information Forms

    The Surrogate's Office provides several downloadable case information forms that can be completed electronically and submitted by email, or printed and faxed. Available forms include:

    • Probate of Will Case Information
    • Administration Case Information
    • Administration Questionnaire
    • Affidavit of Next of Kin Case Information
    • Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Case Information
    • Minors Case Information
    • Testamentary Trust Case Information
    • Refunding Bond Release

    Requesting Copies of Probate Court Records

    For records held by the Surrogate's Court, call the office directly at (908) 231-7003 to ask about availability and copy fees. For probate matters handled by the Chancery Division of the Superior Court, submit the standard Court Record Request Form with Chancery as the division and Somerset as the county. Questions about record requests to the Superior Court Clerk's Office can be directed to (609) 421-6100 or emailed to SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov.