Union County Dissolution Of Marriage

Union County dissolution of marriage records are managed by the Superior Court in Elizabeth. With a population of about 575,000, this county sees a large number of family court cases each year. The Family Division processes all divorce filings and stores related court documents for Union County. You can search for these records online, by mail, or in person at the courthouse. Multiple options exist for residents and others who need to locate dissolution of marriage records in Union County.

Union County Dissolution Records Office

The Superior Court clerk in Union County handles all dissolution of marriage records. This office manages case filings, stores court files, and provides copies of divorce judgments. The Family Division at 2 Cherry Street, Floor 3, in Elizabeth deals with all divorce and family matters. Staff can search for records and make copies when you visit.

Every city and town in Union County files dissolution of marriage cases at this courthouse. That means Elizabeth, Union Township, Plainfield, Westfield, Cranford, Linden, Rahway, and all other towns use the same court. The clerk can look up your case by name or docket number. Bring a valid photo ID when you go in person. Call the court at (908) 787-1650 to check hours before your visit to Union County.

The Union County Superior Court page on the official NJ Courts website provides an overview of public records available from the county.

This resource covers the types of court records you can access in Union County, including dissolution of marriage case data.

Searching Divorce Records in Union County

You can search for dissolution of marriage records in Union County in several ways. Online searches give you basic case data for free. In-person visits let you review the full file and get certified copies the same day. Mail requests work but take longer to process.

The New Jersey Courts case search tool covers Union County family cases. Enter the last name of one party to find matching results. The system shows case numbers, filing dates, and case status. It does not show the full judgment or financial terms. For those, you must contact the clerk or visit the courthouse in Elizabeth.

The online case search is the fastest way to confirm if a dissolution of marriage was filed in Union County.

You can also use the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system to request records. Register for a free account on the NJ Courts site. Select "Family" as the docket type and "UNN - UNION" as the venue. Choose the record request filing category. You can ask for a digital plain copy at no charge. Certified copies, seals, and exemplified copies cost extra. The JEDS system is open around the clock.

Note: Marriage dissolution records held by the Union County clerk cover cases concluded in 2017 and earlier; for post-2017 cases, contact the Superior Court directly.

Union County Dissolution Of Marriage Process

Filing for dissolution of marriage in Union County starts with a complaint at the Superior Court. The fee is $300. The clerk assigns a docket number right away. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10, one spouse must have lived in New Jersey for at least 12 months before filing on no-fault grounds.

Next, you serve the other party with the divorce papers. You have 60 days from your filing date to do this. The Union County Sheriff can serve the papers, or you can hire a private process server. Certified mail is another option. Proof of service must go into the court file. For uncontested cases where both sides agree on all terms, the dissolution can be done in a few months. Contested cases may need mediation or an Early Settlement Panel review before trial. The final judgment of divorce is the court order that ends the marriage in Union County.

Divorce Certificates in Union County

The New Jersey Department of Health issues divorce certificates as a shorter form of proof. A certificate shows the names, the date, and the county. It does not have the full terms of the divorce settlement. You can request one from the NJ vital records page for Union County.

The Department of Health maintains divorce certificates for New Jersey cases from 1848 to the present day.

For the full judgment with property division, custody terms, and support amounts, contact the Superior Court clerk in Union County. A certified copy of the final judgment costs $25. The Certificate of Divorce from the court is $10. Plain copies run $0.05 per letter-size page. Payments go by check or money order to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey."

What Union County Divorce Records Show

Dissolution of marriage files in Union County contain multiple documents. The complaint for divorce is filed first. It lists the grounds under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2 and what the filing party asks for. The answer is the other spouse's response. A case information statement lays out the financial picture for both sides.

The final judgment of divorce is what most people need. This is the court order that dissolves the marriage. It spells out how property is split, sets custody and parenting time, and fixes child support and alimony. Certified copies are needed for things like selling a home, changing a name, or getting remarried. You get them from the Superior Court clerk in Union County.

Under OPRA, basic case data in Union County is public. Anyone can look it up. But certain items stay private. Financial account details, Social Security numbers, data about minor children, and domestic violence claims are sealed or blacked out in public copies.

You can submit a formal request through the NJ Courts records request page for Union County.

The records request form is the official way to get copies of dissolution of marriage documents from Union County.

Note: Only parties to the divorce or their attorneys can obtain the full judgment file; others need a court order to access it in Union County.

Archived Dissolution Records

Older dissolution of marriage records from Union County are stored at the Superior Court Records Center in Trenton. The archive holds cases through 2015 for Union County. Contact the Records Center at (609) 421-6100 to request files. You will need the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce.

If you do not have the docket number, the Customer Service Unit can help you find it. Requests to the Records Center take about two to three weeks to process. You can also visit the center at 171 Jersey Street, Trenton, NJ 08611. Bring your ID and be ready to pay copy fees.

Cities in Union County

Union County has over 20 municipalities. All dissolution of marriage cases go through the Superior Court, Family Division in Elizabeth. The courthouse at 2 Broad Street serves the entire county.

Other municipalities in Union County include Westfield, Cranford, Linden, Rahway, Roselle, Summit, Scotch Plains, and Springfield. All of these file dissolution of marriage cases at the Union County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. Check the address where you live to make sure you file in the right county. The court must have jurisdiction over your dissolution of marriage case.