New Jersey Divorce Records: Official Certificates, Decrees, and Search Options

New Jersey divorce records are documentation of divorce proceedings within the Family Parts of the Chancery Division of New Jersey Superior Courts. These documents are official confirmation of the dissolution of marriages within the state. Divorce records play several key roles. For instance, their owners may use them:

• For remarriage
• Enforce the terms of the divorce against a non-compliant former spouse
• To manage insurance policies, pensions, and other spousal benefits that are terminated or modified after a divorce
• To make a name change
• To refinance, sell, or transfer property that was divided or awarded during the divorce proceedings.

Divorce in New Jersey: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vital Statistics Report, New Jersey's divorce rate in 2022 was 2.2 per 1,000 persons residing in the state. This figure is below the national average of 2.4 per 1,000 persons within the same period. Additionally, the National Center for Family & Marriage Research (2022) ranks New Jersey's Divorce rate at 10.41 per 1,000 married women, the second lowest in the United States, behind Vermont's 9.19 per 1,000.

Official Types of Divorce Documentation in New Jersey

A New Jersey divorce record has three components:

• Divorce certificate
• Final judgment of divorce (divorce decree)
• Divorce case file.

New Jersey Divorce Certificates

Generally, divorce certificates are verification documents that confirm the official termination of marriages. In New Jersey, these documents are accessible through the Office of Vital Statistics & Registry of the New Jersey Department of Health. New Jersey divorce certificates serve as concise proof of divorce, which their owners may use for passport/visa applications, remarriage, and administrative purposes that do not require a complete court order or legal terms of divorce.

New Jersey Final Judgment of Divorce

A New Jersey final judgment of divorce is an official court order that dissolves a marriage and outlines the final rulings on support, custody, and property. It is a certified document issued by the Family Division of a New Jersey Superior Court, and it is the definitive legal record of a divorce.

In New Jersey, final judgments of divorce are accessible through the Family Division Records Unit of the Superior Court, which handles the specific divorce trial, or its clerk's office. Under New Jersey law, a final judgment of divorce formally dissolves a marriage. It serves as the enforceable record of all divorce terms imposed by the court or agreed upon by the parties. This document is crucial for:

• Property division and financial enforcement
• Spousal support (alimony) enforcement
• Child custody and support
• Name change verification
• Appeals and post-judgment motions
• Legal and administrative proceedings.

New Jersey Divorce Case Files

A New Jersey divorce case file is the complete court record, which includes all documents, motions, and orders related to a divorce proceeding filed in the Family Division of a New Jersey Superior Court. It is the comprehensive record of a divorce proceeding, and may include documents such as:

• Complaint for divorce
• Summons and proof of service
• Answers and counterclaims
• Case Information Statements (CIS)
• Motions and orders
• Settlement agreements or property division stipulations
• Judgment of divorce/final Judgment
• Post-judgment motions.

Similar to divorce decrees, the Clerk's Offices of the Family Divisions of New Jersey Superior Courts are the custodians of the state's divorce case files. A New Jersey divorce case file has a variety of uses, which include:

• Legal reference and enforcement
• Financial and property documentation
• Custody enforcement or modification
• Child support verification
• Legal or academic studies
• Immigration or name change proceedings
• Insurance and benefits claims
• Family history research
• Judgment appeals.

Document Type	Issued By	Purpose	Contains
Divorce Certificate	Office of Vital Statistics & Registry of the New Jersey Department of Health	Proof of legal divorce	Names of the spouses Date of divorce Case number
Final Judgment of Divorce	Family Divisions of New Jersey Superior Courts	Details of the settlement and terms	Rulings Custody orders Property division
Divorce Case Files	Family Divisions of New Jersey Superior Courts	Comprehensive documentation of the divorce process	Complaint for divorce Summons and proof of service Answers and counterclaims.

Public Access and Confidentiality of New Jersey Divorce Records

New Jersey divorce records are generally publicly accessible under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The OPRA legislation grants interested individuals the right to access most New Jersey government records, including divorce records. Additionally, New Jersey Court Rule 1:38 mandates an open record access policy for court documents unless public disclosure is exempt by law or the documents are sealed by judicial orders.

While most New Jersey court records are public, access to divorce records depends on the type of divorce document and its confidentiality level. In New Jersey, anyone may access divorce certificates, but only the parties involved or entities with legitimate legal interests may obtain certified copies of these documents. Likewise, access to a New Jersey divorce decree or final judgment of divorce is limited to the parties to the case, their attorneys of record, and individuals with court orders. However, in some instances, the public may access non-confidential parts of a divorce record that are not sealed. New Jersey law permits custodian agencies to redact sensitive details from publicly accessible divorce records, including information about minors and financial data.

What Information Do New Jersey Divorce Records Include?

Divorce records contain official information about the dissolution of marriages. In New Jersey, divorce records encompass three types of documents:

• Divorce certificates
• Final judgments of divorce
• Divorce case files.

Each type of divorce record contains different levels of detail, and the specific information may vary by county, record age, or the manner in which the Superior Court's Family Division handled the case. Notwithstanding, the table outlines the possible information accessible through the various types of New Jersey divorce records.

Type of Divorce Record	Content
Divorce Certificate	Full names of both spouses (including maiden names) Date of marriage (if recorded) Date of the divorce The county where the divorce was finalized Docket or case number Certification statement by the issuing court or registrar Official seal and signature of the Clerk or State Registrar
Final Judgment of Divorce	Case/docket number Name of the court and county Grounds for divorce Court rulings Property and custody terms Alimony/spousal support orders Name change authorization, if applicable Signatures of the presiding judge and clerk
Divorce Case File	Initial complaint for divorce Summons and proof of service Answer or counterclaim Case Information Statements (CIS) Discovery materials Motions and responses Court orders Settlement or property distribution agreements Hearing or trial transcripts Final judgment of divorce Post-judgment motions.

Procedures for Locating Divorce Records in New Jersey

There are several official sources for accessing divorce records in New Jersey. The best option may depend on the type of divorce record and the age of the document. Individuals searching for copies of New Jersey divorce records may use any of the following methods:

• Mail or visit the Superior Court Family Division Clerk's Offices in the counties where the divorces were finalized
• Search online through the New Jersey Courts Public Access Portal or Electronic Access Program (EAP)
• Submit a mail or online request to the Office of Vital Statistics & Registry of the New Jersey Department of Health
• Order copies by mail or online from the Superior Court Clerk's Records Center (archive for older records) through the New Jersey Courts Records Request Portal.

Record Source	Office or Platform	Years Covered	Access Type	Fees
Vital Records Division	New Jersey Department of Health	January 1901 to the present	Mail-in or online request	$25.00
Judiciary Portal	New Jersey Courts Public Access Portal	Mid-2000s to the Present (for digitally filed cases)	Online case search	New Jersey Courts Public Access Portal - Free New Jersey Courts Electronic Access Program (EAP) - $4.00 per minute
County Clerks	Local Superior Courts Family Division Clerk's Offices	All years	Mail-in/In-person requests	$0.05 per page for letter-size copy $0.07 per page for legal-size copy $25.0 for a certified copy of a final judgment of divorce
State Archives/Library	New Jersey Superior Court Clerk's Records Center	Pre-2016	Online/Mail-In requests	$0.05/$0.07 per page (depending on the paper size), and $25.00 for a certified copy of a final judgment of divorce.

How to Request Certified Copies of Divorce Records in New Jersey

Certified copies of New Jersey divorce records are documents that confirm the official end of marriages in the state. Typically, these documents carry the seals of authenticity from their custodian agencies. Hence, these documents must be sourced from their official repositories, and there are structured procedures for accessing them. The steps below summarize how to request certified copies of divorce records in New Jersey.

• Identify the New Jersey Superior Court that handled the divorce case
• Call, mail, or visit the court's Family Division Clerk's Office (their contact information is accessible through the Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices webpage)
• Download and complete a New Jersey Judiciary Records Request Form to provide the necessary details. These include:
• Full names of both spouses as listed at the time of divorce
• Approximate date or year of the divorce
• Case or docket number (if known)
• A valid government-issued photo ID and proof of eligibility (if required)
• The requester's mailing address and contact information
• Mail or submit the request in person to the relevant Family Division Clerk's Office
• Pay all the applicable fees. Accessing New Jersey divorce records through the court clerk's offices may incur the following charges:
• $25 for a certified copy of the Final Judgment of Divorce
• $10.00 to $20.00 for divorce certificates or divorce case files
• $0.05-$0.07 per page for plain uncertified copies.

Payments for mail-in requests are by checks or money orders payable to the "Treasurer State of New Jersey" (this should be mailed along with the request)

• Receive the documents in person or by mail after processing.

For divorce decrees or final judgments of divorce older than 7 years, send the request to:

Superior Court Clerk's Records Center

Individuals seeking copies of New Jersey divorce certificates should send mail requests along with checks or money orders for $25.00 to:

The New Jersey Department of Health - Office of Vital Statistics & Registry

Copy Type	Where to Request	Who may Order	Legal Use
Certified Certificate	New Jersey Vital Records	The divorced individuals and their attorneys of record Authorized government agencies. For instance, Social Security and immigration Court officials for administrative use Individuals with court orders	Proof for remarriage, name change
Certified Final Judgment of Divorce/Divorce Case File	Superior Court's Family Division Clerk's Offices	The parties in the divorce and their attorneys Court staff Law enforcement or child support agencies (when relevant) Members of the public, but only the unsealed portions	Legal enforcement
Informational Copy	New Jersey Vital Records	The subjects of the divorce records and their legal counsel Judges and authorized court personnel Government agencies with proper authorization The public, but access may be limited or some information redacted.	Genealogical/historical use

Why Search for Divorce Records in New Jersey?

Individuals search for New Jersey divorce records for various legal and practical reasons. These include administrative, legal, historical, and personal purchases. For instance, individuals may search for New Jersey divorce records for:

• Verification of marital status
• Enforcement of court orders
• Estate and probate matters relating to inheritance, wills, or property disputes
• Genealogical, academic, and historical research
• Property and financial documentation in real estate transactions.

Furthermore, employers may access New Jersey divorce records as part of background checks on potential employees.

How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in New Jersey?

Divorce records are permanent judicial records maintained by the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) in accordance with its records retention schedules. This means that these documents are not subject to routine destruction. However, depending on their age, New Jersey's Superior Courts Family Divisions Clerk's Offices may transfer divorce records to off-site storage facilities for preservation, especially if the records have historical value and predate digital systems.

Although New Jersey divorce records are retained permanently, public access to the documents may depend on privacy rules, sealing orders, redaction policies, and storage systems or locations. For instance, while New Jersey stores recent divorce records digitally for easy retrieval, older records may be on paper, microfilm, or microfiche. Hence, certified copies of older New Jersey divorce records may take longer to obtain due to the slow archival retrieval process.