New Jersey Dissolution Of Marriage Records
A dissolution of marriage in New Jersey creates a set of court records that remain on file with the state. The Superior Court in each of the 21 counties keeps full case files for every divorce filed there. The New Jersey Department of Health also stores divorce certificates going back to 1848. You can search for these dissolution of marriage records online, by mail, or in person at county courthouses across New Jersey. This guide shows you where to look and how to get copies of New Jersey dissolution of marriage documents.
New Jersey Dissolution Of Marriage Quick Facts
Where to Find Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Two main sources hold dissolution of marriage records in New Jersey. The Superior Court, Family Division in each county stores the full case file for every divorce that went through that court. These files hold the complaint, the answer, settlement terms, and the final judgment of divorce signed by a judge. Once a case closes, the county courthouse keeps it for a short time. Then the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton takes over storage. You can reach their Customer Service Unit at 609-421-6100 to ask about closed dissolution of marriage files.
The New Jersey Courts self-help page notes that divorce is called "dissolution" in New Jersey because you are dissolving a legal union. The same process applies to a civil union or domestic partnership. Either person in a marriage can file as long as at least one lives in the state.
The self-help site provides forms, guides, and step-by-step help for anyone who wants to handle a dissolution of marriage on their own in New Jersey.
The second source is the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. This office keeps divorce certificates. A certificate is not the same as a judgment. It shows only the names of both spouses, the date, and the county. The health department has certificates for New Jersey dissolutions going back to 1848. You can order one by mail to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370, or visit in person at 140 East Front Street in Trenton.
Certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $2 for each added copy when ordered at the same time in New Jersey.
Note: Divorce certificates hold less detail than full court records from the Superior Court Clerk in New Jersey.
How to Search Divorce Records Online
Online access is the fastest way to look up dissolution of marriage records in New Jersey. The Find a Case portal on the New Jersey Courts site lets you search by party name or docket number. It covers civil and family cases across all 21 counties. Basic case data is free to view. This includes party names, filing dates, and case status for dissolution of marriage matters.
The portal does not show full documents. You will need to contact the clerk for copies of filed papers in a New Jersey dissolution of marriage case.
The Family Automated Case Tracking System (FACTS) is part of the Electronic Access Program. It gives more detailed data on divorce cases filed from 1992 to now. Access costs $4 per minute. This system works well when you have a docket number. New Jersey dissolution of marriage docket numbers start with "FM" or "M" followed by digits. The last two digits show the case year.
To search for a dissolution of marriage through these tools, you need:
- Full name of at least one spouse
- The county where the case was filed
- Approximate date of the divorce filing
- Docket number if you have it
You can also search in person. Visit the public access area at any New Jersey courthouse. Most have computer terminals where you can look up basic case data at no cost during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The public access tools let you confirm whether a dissolution of marriage case exists in that New Jersey county.
Types of Dissolution Of Marriage Documents
A dissolution of marriage in New Jersey creates several types of documents. The most important is the Final Judgment of Divorce. A judge signs this order to end the marriage. It covers child custody, support, alimony, and how assets get split. This is the most complete record of a New Jersey dissolution of marriage. It comes from the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case was heard.
A Certificate of Divorce is a shorter form. The Superior Court Clerk's Office can prepare one for a fee of $10. It lists the county, docket number, both names, and the date of the final judgment. It carries the Seal of the Superior Court. Many people use a certificate when they do not need the full judgment. It works for name changes, remarriage, and other common needs in New Jersey.
A full dissolution of marriage case file in New Jersey holds much more. It starts with the Complaint for Divorce, which states the grounds and what the filing party asks for. The file may also include the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet (CN 10486), the Case Information Statement (CN 10482), motions, court orders, and the Property Settlement Agreement. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1, marital property in New Jersey is split through equitable distribution. The judge weighs 16 factors when dividing assets in a dissolution of marriage.
Note: Only parties to the case or their attorney can get copies of most dissolution of marriage documents from the clerk in New Jersey.
New Jersey Dissolution Of Marriage Laws
New Jersey law sets clear rules for filing a dissolution of marriage. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10, at least one spouse must have lived in New Jersey for 12 straight months before filing on no-fault grounds. The only exception is adultery, which has no time rule. You file in the county where either spouse lives.
N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2 lists the grounds for dissolution of marriage in New Jersey. The no-fault ground is irreconcilable differences that have lasted at least six months. Most people in New Jersey use this reason because it is simpler. Fault grounds include adultery, desertion for 12 or more months, extreme cruelty, and separation for 18 or more months. Other grounds are addiction, institutionalization, and imprisonment.
The New Jersey divorce statutes page from Weinberger Law Group provides a full breakdown of these rules for those who want more detail on dissolution of marriage law in New Jersey.
These statutes shape how dissolution of marriage cases move through the New Jersey court system and what records get created.
New Jersey has no wait period after filing. Once the complaint is filed and the other spouse is served, the case can go forward. For uncontested cases where both sides agree, a dissolution of marriage can wrap up in a matter of weeks. The court may issue short-term orders for custody, support, or use of the home while the case is open in New Jersey.
Divorce Filing and Record Fees
Filing a dissolution of marriage complaint in New Jersey costs $300. If you file without a lawyer, there is a $25 surcharge on top of that. The defendant pays $175 to file an answer. If either side asks for custody or parenting time, a $25 workshop fee applies. Fee waivers are open to those who can show financial hardship.
Getting copies of existing dissolution of marriage records costs less. The Superior Court Clerk's Office charges $0.05 per letter-size page and $0.07 per legal-size page for plain copies. A certified copy costs $15. Adding the Seal of the Court costs $10 more. A Certified Copy of Final Judgment of Divorce is $25. A Certificate of Divorce is $10.
Use the records request form on the New Jersey Courts site to order copies of dissolution of marriage files.
Divorce certificates from the New Jersey Department of Health cost $25 for the first certified copy. Each added copy ordered at the same time is $2. You must pay by check or money order made out to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Cash works only for in-person visits in New Jersey.
Getting Copies of New Jersey Divorce Cases
For a full dissolution of marriage judgment, start with the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Download the records request form from the New Jersey Courts site. Save it to your computer, fill it out, and submit it through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system. Pick "SCCO" as the processing location for closed cases. For open cases, choose the county where the dissolution of marriage was filed.
Keep in mind that New Jersey dissolution of marriage documents are only released to a party in the case or their attorney of record. If you are the party, you must send a valid state ID. Anyone else needs a court order that directs the clerk to release the records. This rule applies across all request types in New Jersey.
The Clerk's Office handles requests for dissolution of marriage records from all 21 New Jersey counties.
The Records Center at 171 Jersey Street, Trenton, NJ 08611 stores archived dissolution of marriage files. Each county sends closed cases there after a time. The Dissolution Files Inventory on the New Jersey Courts site shows which case years are stored for each county. For instance, Essex County records go to 2019, Camden to 2021, and Mercer to 2023. Call 609-421-6100 for help with older New Jersey dissolution of marriage records.
Note: Mail requests to the Records Center in New Jersey can take two to three weeks to process depending on volume.
Legal Help for Dissolution Of Marriage
The New Jersey Courts Self-Help Center is a good starting point. It has all the official forms you need to file for dissolution of marriage on your own. These include the Complaint, the Certification of Verification and Non-Collusion, the Summons, and the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet. The site also has guides that walk you through each step of the process in New Jersey.
The self-help center covers filing options, service of process, and what to expect at each stage of a New Jersey dissolution of marriage.
Before filing, New Jersey courts suggest you consider mediation. A neutral third party can help both spouses reach terms on custody, support, and property. If you agree, the process is faster, cheaper, and more private. After filing, the court may require Custody and Parenting Time Mediation. If financial issues remain, an Early Settlement Panel of experienced divorce lawyers reviews the case and suggests fair terms.
You can file for dissolution of marriage in New Jersey three ways. First, electronically through JEDS, which is open 24 hours a day. Second, in person at the courthouse. Third, by mail. For mail filings, use certified mail and include a stamped return envelope so the court can send back your filed copy.
Public Access to New Jersey Divorce Records
Dissolution of marriage records in New Jersey are generally public. The Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, gives citizens the right to access government records. This covers court files, including those from dissolution of marriage cases. You do not have to be a party in the case to request basic information. The New Jersey Courts directory lists each county's court and contact details.
Use the directory to find the right court for your dissolution of marriage search in New Jersey.
Some limits apply. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and data about minor children are redacted from public copies. A party can ask a judge to seal their dissolution of marriage records under Court Rule 1:38-11. The judge may grant this if there is good cause, such as safety risks or sensitive business information. Sealed cases are rare in New Jersey. Even when sealed, parties to the case and their lawyers can still access the file.
The New Jersey Courts homepage is the best starting point for any online search of dissolution of marriage records.
From the homepage you can reach case search tools, forms, and court contact information for dissolution of marriage matters in New Jersey.
Older dissolution of marriage records from New Jersey may also be found at the New Jersey State Archives. This archive holds court records going back to the 1700s, along with birth, marriage, and death records from 1848 onward. Visit at 225 West State Street, Level 2, Trenton, NJ 08608, or write to P.O. Box 307, Trenton, NJ 08625-0307.
The State Archives can help with historical dissolution of marriage records that are no longer held at the county level in New Jersey.
The Department of Health divorce decrees page directs you to the Records Center for certified copies of dissolution of marriage decrees from 2013 and earlier. For more recent decrees, contact the Family Division in the county where the case took place.
This page clarifies the difference between a divorce certificate and a full decree for New Jersey dissolution of marriage cases.
Browse Dissolution Of Marriage by County
Each county in New Jersey has its own Superior Court that handles dissolution of marriage cases. Pick a county below to find local contact details and resources for divorce records in that area.
Dissolution Of Marriage in Major New Jersey Cities
Residents of major cities file for dissolution of marriage at their county Superior Court. Pick a city below to learn about divorce records in that area.