New Jersey court records are filed with the Superior Court Clerk (state-run, by vicinage). The Superior Court (unified) handles trial-level cases. New Jersey offers a statewide court search through NJ Courts Online, which covers most case types across all counties courts.
What this page covers: New Jersey state court case records — criminal, civil, family, and probate filings. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (those are on PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Use NJ Courts Online for online case search. If you need documents beyond docket information, contact the Superior Court Clerk (state-run, by vicinage) in the specific county where the case was filed.
Common mistake: NJ Courts Online covers state courts only. Federal cases filed in New Jersey (bankruptcy, federal criminal, federal civil) require PACER — a separate federal system.
New Jersey Court Records — Key Numbers (FY2025)
What New Jersey court records actually cost
New Jersey's court records search is free, including most civil and criminal docket detail. Certified copies are billed per page by the clerk, and expungement filing in New Jersey is now free — the fee was eliminated as part of clean-slate reform.
Exact amounts are set by each court's current fee schedule — check the official source before you order.
What Changed in 2026 — New Jersey Court Records
The 4-Step New Jersey Court Records Pathway
Five Things People Get Wrong About New Jersey Court Records
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.njcourts.gov — NJ Courts — Main judicial-branch portal for New Jersey
- New Jersey case access — Public case-search portal
- New Jersey court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- New Jersey annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- New Jersey Criminal Records →
- New Jersey Property Records →
- New Jersey Vital Records →
- New Jersey Voter Records →
- New Jersey Wants & Warrants →
- New Jersey Licenses →
- New Jersey Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
10 official New Jersey court records sources.
Court Records
New Jersey Counties
All 21 New Jersey counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which New Jersey counties publish court dockets online
6 of New Jersey's 21 counties run their own online source for court dockets, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search New Jersey court cases online?▼
New Jersey's trial courts publish case lookups through the NJ Courts. Start at www.njcourts.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in New Jersey?▼
The NJ Courts operates New Jersey's official statewide judicial portal at www.njcourts.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for New Jersey residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in New Jersey?▼
Trial courts in New Jersey handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The NJ Courts publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.njcourts.gov.
How far back do New Jersey court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most New Jersey county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the NJ Courts portal at www.njcourts.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged New Jersey cases visible in the online search?▼
No. New Jersey courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the NJ Courts portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.
