Divorce records in Union County, New Jersey, are available through several channels. UnionCourt.us allows you to search publicly available information about divorce records in the county. Additionally, you can contact the New Jersey Superior Court, the county clerk's office, or the state's vital statistics office directly. Online judicial system tools also help find case information.
Union Divorce Records Search
Divorce cases in Union County are handled by the Family Division of the New Jersey Superior Court — Vicinage Union. This court issues divorce decrees and maintains the case records. The collection of records includes:
- Final Judgment of Divorce
- Settlement agreements
- Custody orders
- Related motions and court orders
After a case is closed, the materials are transferred to the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO). Divorce certificates as vital records are maintained by the New Jersey Department of Health. The main court where cases are heard:
Union County Courthouse — Family Division
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Union
The structure for storing divorce records in New Jersey differs from many other states. Divorces are not registered through the county clerk — they are entirely processed through the court system.
New Jersey Superior Court — Family Division
All divorce cases in Union County are handled by the Family Division of the Superior Court. After a Final Judgment of Divorce is issued, the case is stored in the court. If you need a copy of a court decision, motion, or agreement, this is where to go.
For closed cases, document copies can be ordered through the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Note: divorce documents are issued only to the parties involved or their attorneys.
New Jersey Superior Court Records Center
Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained through the Superior Court Records Center. This applies to cases that have already been archived.
State Department of Health — Vital Statistics
If you need a divorce certificate as a vital record (not a full court decision), it is issued by the Vital Statistics office of the New Jersey Department of Health. This document confirms the fact of divorce but does not contain details of the agreement or court decision.
In brief:
- Full court decision, agreement, custody order → Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO)
- Divorce certificate (vital record) → NJ Department of Health, Vital Statistics
To search for public information about court cases, use the Find a Case portal on the New Jersey court system website. Necessary forms for requests are also available online.
Archived Records
Historical court documents in Union County, including some records from the 19th century, are stored by the New Jersey State Archives. These materials mainly concern records before 1925.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Union
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Court record copy through SCCO | $0.75 per page | 2–4 weeks |
| Certified copy of court record | $15.00 | 2–4 weeks |
| Divorce certificate through NJ Vital Statistics | $25.00 | 4–6 weeks |
| Expedited processing through Vital Statistics | Additional $10.00 | 1–2 weeks |