Somerset County, New Jersey Court Records

Somerset County court records are government records documenting court proceedings and judicial decisions. Such records may also include public documents filed during a court proceeding. For this reason, court records may include filed documents like vital records, federal case files, exhibits, and property deeds.

Court records in Somerset County are important legal documents for multiple reasons:

They serve as evidence that the court was fair and transparent in its conduct.
They serve as a reference in legal research and as precedent for future legal cases.
They provide accurate data about official events.

Court records are generated and maintained by the County’s trial courts. Furthermore, the New Jersey Superior Court Clerk’s Office discloses these records to interested parties according to Rule 1:38 of the New Jersey Rules of Court. The law requires the court to provide avenues for the public to access court documents.

Are Somerset County Court Records Public?

Somerset County court records are mostly accessible to the public. The New Jersey Rules of Court grant you the right to view and inspect copies of court documents from official record holders.

The Superior Court Clerk’s Office acts as the record holder for court records in the county. Upon receiving public requests, the clerk may release public court information, such as the names of case parties, court transcripts, document identifiers, and court orders.

However, the court might withhold sensitive court information from the public. For example, the public is generally unable to view or access the following confidential data:

Information protected under client-attorney privilege.
Gruesome crime scene photos.
Medical and mental health reports that were filed during a case proceeding.
Court records that were sealed or expunged due to statutes or court orders.

Note: Case parties and legal representatives are generally able to view confidential court documents directly related to them.

What Information is Available in Somerset County Court Records?

Court records in Somerset County may reveal the following:

Names of all parties involved, including the plaintiff, defendant, attorneys, and court judges.
The case party’s birth date and personal identifying details like the age, sex, height, and ethnicity.
Case identifiers, such as case number, SBI number, and FBI number
City and county where the case occurred.
Case transcript
Court judgments and orders.
Date of the court judgement

Available information in court records may differ based on the case type and level of access. Based on case type, a criminal court record may include specific data like the warrant information, bail, sentencing date, arrest reports, and motions. The level of access also determines the information you will find in a court record. Case parties and government officials are generally able to access confidential information in court records.

Somerset County Court Records Search

Interested persons may search and obtain Somerset County court records by using these options:

Online Access: The New Jersey Courts website hosts online search platforms for cases heard in the county. Inquirers may view records on these platforms:

Regardless of the search database, record seekers must provide relevant search data to view court records.

The New Jersey Court website allows online requests for case records. Record seekers may request court records by following these steps:

Visit the New Jersey Courts website.
Download the request form for the court record.
Fill it out and use "SCCO" if the record was generated by the superior court.
Click on the "Submit Completed Form" button on the website.
Register an account and upload the completed request form.

Upon receiving the form, the court clerk will search for the requested document and send the estimated fees to the record seeker. Record seekers are typically required to make a payment before they can receive court records.

In-Person Access: Interested persons may obtain copies of court records by making a request in person to the superior court clerk’s office. The court clerk may attend to in-person requests between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at this address:

Superior Court Clerk’s Office

Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex

25 Market Street

Trenton, New Jersey 08625.

Inquirers are typically required to pay specific fees before they can retrieve court documents. The court might also require valid IDs or proof of relationship documents if the requested document contains confidential information.

Mail-in access: Record seekers may submit mail requests for court records to the superior court clerk’s office at:

Superior Court Clerk’s Office

Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex

P.O. Box 971

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0971

The request may include the following:

A completed request form.
The required fees are sent in the form of a money order or check. The court charges $0.05 and $0.07 per page for letter- and legal-sized pages, respectively.
A copy of a valid ID if the requested document contains sensitive information.

Fees for Court Records in Somerset County

The New Jersey Superior Court may charge fees for creating copies of court documents. The fees include $0.05 and $0.07 per page for letter size and legal size, respectively. Record certification may incur additional fees. So, you may contact the court clerk’s office to determine the estimated costs.

The court may waive copy fees for record seekers who meet these criteria:

Has income below or at 150% of the current poverty level.
Has less than $2,500 in liquid assets.

Eligible record seekers must fill out and submit the Fee Waiver form to waive copy fees.

Somerset County Courthouse Locations

The Somerset County trial court system comprises a superior court, surrogate court, and municipal courts. The public may locate the courts at these locations:

Somerset County Superior Court

Somerset County Courthouse

20 North Bridge Street

Somerville, NJ 08876

Phone: (908) 332-7700

Somerset County Surrogate’s Court

Somerset County Administration Building

20 Grove Street

PO Box 3000

Somerville, NJ 08876

Phone: (908) 231-7003

Fax: (908) 541-5061

Municipal Courts in Somerset County

Bedminster Township Municipal Court

1 Miller Lane

Bedminster, NJ 07921

Phone: (908) 212-7020

Fax: (908) 212-7006

Bernards Township Municipal Court

1 Collyer Lane

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Phone: (908) 630-5538

Fax: (908) 696-0385

Bernardsville Municipal Court

45 Miller Lane

Bedminster, NJ 07921

Phone: (908) 212-7020

Fax: (908) 212-7006

Bound Brook Municipal Court

230 Hamilton Street

Bound Brook, NJ 08805

Phone: (732)-356-0833 ext. 640

Fax: (732)-356-0781

Branchburg Township Municipal Court

1077 Route 202 North

Branchburg, NJ 08876

Phone: (908) 526-1300 ext. 127

Fax: (908) 526-5870

Bridgewater Township Municipal Court

100 Commons Way

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Phone: (908) 725-6375

Fax: (908) 704-9208

Far Hills Municipal Court

6 Prospect Street

Far Hills, NJ 07931

Phone: (908) 781-1911

Fax: (908) 781-6048

Franklin Township Municipal Court

495 DeMott Lane

Somerset, NJ 08873

Phone: (732)-873-7285

Green Brook Township Municipal Court

111 Greenbrook Road

Green Brook, NJ 08812

Phone: (732)-968-1110

Fax: (732)-968-4088

Hillsborough Township Municipal Court

379 South Branch Road

Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Phone: (908) 369-3532

Fax: (908) 369-4401

Manville Municipal Court

379 South Branch Road

Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Phone: (908) 369-4313 ext. 7132

Millstone Municipal Court

215 Millstone Road

Millstone Township, NJ 08535

Phone: (732)-446-6219

Fax: (732)-446-4853

Montgomery Township Municipal Court

379 South Branch Road

Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Phone: (908) 369-3532

North Plainfield Municipal Court

840 Somerset Street

Watchung, NJ 07069

Phone: (908) 769-2265

Fax: (908) 769-2266

Peapack and Gladstone Municipal Court

1 Miller Lane

Bedminster, NJ 07921

Phone: (908) 212-7020

Fax: (908) 212-7006

Raritan Municipal Court

22 First Street

Raritan, NJ 08869

Phone: (908) 231-1300 ext. 26

Rocky Hill Municipal Court

15 Montgomery Avenue

PO Box 212

Rocky Hill, NJ 08553

Phone: (609) 924-7943

Somerville Municipal Court

100 Commons Way

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Phone: (908) 725-6375

Fax: (908) 704-9208

South Bound Brook Municipal Court

12 Main Street

South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

Phone: (732)-356-0258 ext. 4

Warren Township Municipal Court

46 Mountain Boulevard

Warren, NJ 07059

Phone: (908) 753-8000 ext. 226

Watchung Municipal Court

263 Somerset Street

North Plainfield, NJ 07060

Phone: (908) 769-2265

Fax: (908) 769-2266

Note: The Somerset County Superior Court oversees most case types, excluding probate cases, which are under the purview of the Surrogate’s Court. Municipal courts handle less serious cases, such as ordinance and traffic violations.

Criminal Records Access in Somerset County

The Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) handles all requests for criminal history records in Somerset County. The agency collates crime-related data from local agencies and maintains them as rap sheets or criminal history records. To search and access these records, record seekers must first book an appointment by calling the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office at (908) 231-7137. On the appointment date, you must visit the county sheriff’s office and bring these documents:

Two original types of a valid government-issued ID.
A completed background form provided by the employer or other agency requesting the background check.

The county sheriff’s office will take your prints and send your details to the BCI. The BCI will, in turn, process the request and send it to the inquirer.

Local criminal case records differ from criminal history records in both content and the custodian agencies. Such records contain all information regarding a criminal activity and are accessible via the Office of the Superior Court Clerk. The court clerk allows online and offline inquiries for court records. For example, you may view the records on the court clerk’s online search portal. In-person inquiries, however, require you to submit a request to this address:

Superior Court Clerk’s Office

Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex

25 Market Street

Trenton, New Jersey 08625.

Somerset County Probate Records

Somerset County probate records provide information on probate cases heard in the surrogate and superior courts. Such cases include property division, name changes, and administration of a deceased’s estate, trust, and will.

Probate court records mostly include confidential data, which is restricted from public view. For example, the public is generally unable to access confidential probate information, such as personal bank statements, the identities of minors, and vital records filed in probate cases.

To access probate case records, record seekers may conduct searches using the Somerset County Probate Court System. Inquirers can view records on the platform by providing the case name or docket number.

In contrast, record seekers can send email requests for probate case information to the Somerset County Surrogate at SurrogatesOffice@co.somerset.nj.us. Inquirers must complete and send any of these request forms:

The Somerset County Superior Court Clerk’s Office acts as the official custodian of name change-related cases. Inquirers may access these records by searching on an online database or in person at:

Custodian of Records

County Administration Building

20 Grove Street

P.O. Box 3000

Somerville, New Jersey 08876-1262

Somerset County Family Court Records

In Somerset County, family court records fall under the jurisdiction of the superior court. The court hears family law cases like divorce, child custody, termination of parental rights, juvenile delinquency, and domestic abuse.

Interested parties may find family court records under the purview of the Clerk of the Superior Court. The clerk allows online and offline access to such records. To obtain certified court records, inquirers may follow these steps:

Complete the court record request form.
Fill it out and use "SCCO" if the superior court generated the record.
Click on the "Submit Completed Form" button on the website.
Register an account and upload the request form.

The court clerk also attends to in-person requests for family court records. Inquirers must submit a completed form in person at this address:

Custodian of Records

County Administration Building

20 Grove Street

P.O. Box 3000

Somerville, New Jersey 08876-1262

Federal Court Records in Somerset County

The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey hears all federal cases in Somerset County. The court hears cases like patent/copyright issues, bankruptcy, drug trafficking, and civil rights violations.

Record seekers may find federal case records by searching the PACER Platform (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) platform. Record seekers may view records on the platform by entering relevant case information, such as the case party name, case number, and court location.

In contrast, record seekers may request physical copies of these records by visiting the federal court at these locations:

Camden

Mitchell H. Cohen Building & U.S. Courthouse

4th & Cooper Streets

Camden, NJ 08101

Phone: (856) 757-5021

Trenton

Clarkson S. Fisher Building & U.S. Courthouse

402 East State Street

Trenton, NJ 08608

Phone: (609) 989-2065

Trenton

Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse

50 Walnut Street

Newark, NJ 07102