New Jersey Records Guide
Use this guide to find official New Jersey court, vital, property, and agency records, where to start, what details to search, and when to request certified copies.
On This Page:
Start with the office that actually maintains the record you need to avoid delays or incomplete results.
Look up a court case, docket, or judgment
The Judiciary maintains official dockets, calendars, and filings; clerks can provide certified copies when needed.
Obtain a certified birth, death, or marriage record
Only state or local vital records offices issue certified certificates, often with identity and eligibility requirements.
Find a deed, mortgage, or property lien
Property documents are recorded at the county level; searches commonly use name, address, and block/lot.
Run a New Jersey criminal history check
The State Police are the official repository for statewide criminal history; name-only web searches are not equivalent.
Verify a business or check UCC filings
Business entity status and many UCC records are filed with the state; some UCCs tied to real property are filed at county clerks.
| Source Or Office | Best For | Helpful Search Input | Access Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Judiciary (Superior & Municipal Courts) | Case dockets, filings, calendars, judgments, traffic/ordinance matters | Party name, docket or ticket number, county, date of birth | Online case search; in person at the clerk’s office; mail requests | Certified copies come from the court clerk; some case types (juvenile, certain family matters) are restricted. |
| County Clerk or County Register of Deeds and Mortgages | Deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, liens, maps | Grantor/grantee name, property address, municipality, block/lot, book/page, date range | Online index where available; public counter; e-recording; mail requests | Certified copies issued by the county; older volumes may be archived or offsite. |
| County Surrogate’s Court | Probate files, wills, estate and guardianship records | Decedent name, date of death, docket number, county | In person; some counties provide online indexes; mail requests | Letters testamentary/administration and certified probate copies are issued here. |
| NJ Department of Health, Office of Vital Records | Birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership certificates | Full names, event date and place, parents’ names (for births), spouse names (for marriages) | By mail; in person at state or local registrars; approved online ordering vendors | Eligibility and ID typically required; informational indexes may be limited; certified copies carry a raised seal. |
| New Jersey State Police | Statewide criminal history (CHRI) fingerprint-based checks | Personal identifiers and fingerprint appointment details | Online scheduling through the authorized fingerprint vendor; mail results or pickup per instructions | Used for personal review or authorized purposes; incident/arrest reports come from the local police or courts. |
| Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) | Business entity search, certificates of status, annual reports, UCC filings | Entity name, entity ID, registered agent, UCC debtor or filing number | Online search and filings; mail or in-person requests for certificates | Certified copies of filings and status certificates available upon request; county clerks may hold certain UCCs. |
Civil, criminal, family, municipal/traffic cases, judgments, calendars, and some appellate information
Birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership certificates
Deeds, mortgages, assignments, releases, liens, lis pendens, and recorded maps
Statewide fingerprint-based criminal history (CHRI) and local incident or arrest reports
Corporations, LLCs, trade names, certificates of status, and UCC financing statements
Official New Jersey sources are the place to obtain certified copies and authoritative filings—court dockets, recorded deeds, and vital certificates. They are tied to the agency that created or recorded the record. Background check services can help with broad, name-based lookups across many data points, but they may be incomplete or outdated and do not replace court clerks, recorders, or vital records offices for certified documents.
Many docket details are searchable online, but coverage varies by case type. For complete files or certified copies, contact the specific Superior Court or Municipal Court clerk.
Request it from the NJ Department of Health or the local registrar where the birth occurred. Be prepared to show ID and meet eligibility requirements.
Search with the County Clerk or County Register in the county where the property is located. Use the owner’s name, property address, and Block/Lot to narrow results.
Use the New Jersey State Police fingerprint-based process for an official CHRI response. Court dispositions and local incident reports are obtained from the relevant court or police department.
No. Background checks can surface leads, but certified copies and authoritative filings must come from the court clerk, recording office, or vital records agency.
The County Surrogate’s Court maintains probate and estate records. Provide the decedent’s name, date of death, and county to request copies or search the index.