Court records for Union County, New Jersey, are available through several channels. UnionCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, official state court system resources, court clerk offices, and public terminals in the courthouse provide access to case registers, hearing schedules, and court documents. Below is a practical guide on how to search, obtain copies, and pay for court records in this county.
Union Court System & Jurisdictions
New Jersey has a unified court system, and Union County is part of Vicinage 12. All cases are heard by the Superior Court of New Jersey, which is divided into several divisions.
- Criminal Division — criminal cases: from indictable offenses to probation violations. Cases involving murder, robbery, and drugs fall here.
- Civil Division — civil lawsuits over $15,000, as well as disputes involving real estate and contracts.
- Family Division — divorces, child custody, domestic violence, adoptions, and juvenile cases.
- Probate — inheritance cases, wills, and guardianship appointments. These proceedings typically start through the county's Surrogate's Court.
- Special Civil Part — civil lawsuits up to $15,000, simplified proceedings (Small Claims) up to $3,000, and landlord-tenant cases.
Municipal courts in the county's cities — Elizabeth, Plainfield, Linden, Westfield, and others — handle traffic tickets, disorderly persons offenses, and local ordinances. These courts are not part of the Superior Court, although appeals from them are sent there.
The Vicinage 12 page on the NJ Courts website contains contact information for judges' chambers, instructions for self-represented individuals, and general information about court operations.
Union Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the date and time of the next hearing, start with the summons or letter from the court — it specifies the exact date, room, and judge. If the document is lost, there are several ways to check the schedule.
- Online Superior Court case search. On the Find a Case portal, you can find information about civil, criminal, and family cases, including hearing dates. You need to know the case number or party's last name.
- Municipal cases. For traffic violations and disorderly persons offenses, there is a separate Municipal Court Case Search. Enter the ticket number or last name to see scheduled hearings.
- Phone call. Call the court clerk's office at 908-787-1650. The operator will confirm the hearing date if you provide the case number.
- Public terminals. In the courthouse at 2 Broad Street, there are computer terminals where visitors can view the schedule for the current and next week.
Judges' calendars can change. Hearing rescheduling happens often, so it's advisable to verify the information a day or two before the planned date.
How to Get a Copy of a Union Court Document
The type of copy determines both the procedure and the cost. An ordinary (uncertified) copy is suitable for review, while a certified copy is needed when the document is required for submission to another court, government agency, or employer.
Online Request
For closed Superior Court cases, submit a request through the Copies of Court Records page. Select SCCO as the division, then Union County. Fill out the request form and specify the case number, document type, and number of copies. Divorce documents are issued only to the parties involved or their attorneys.
In-Person Request
Visit the Superior Court Clerk's Office in the courthouse:
Bring your ID and case number. The clerk will prepare the copies while you wait if the case is not too voluminous.
By Mail
Send a written request to the address above. Include the full name of the party, case number, document type, number of copies, and return address. Add a check or money order for the appropriate amount (see fee table below).
Historical Records
Archival court documents for Union County — some dating back to 1819 — are stored at the New Jersey State Archives. For research on old cases, contact the archive directly.
What is Restricted?
- Juvenile cases — closed.
- Domestic violence records — access is restricted.
- Expunged records — removed from public access.
- Grand Jury documents — confidential.
Union Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set by the New Jersey court system rules and are the same statewide. Below are the main rates.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ordinary copy (per page) | $0.05 |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $15.00 |
| Case search by request (manual search) | Free via online portal; a fee may be charged for clerk's time during manual search |
| Exemplified copy (double certification) | $25.00 |
| Certified copy of divorce decree | $15.00 (issued only to case parties) |
Payment is accepted in the form of a money order, certified check, or, in some cases, credit/debit card directly at the clerk's office. Personal checks are generally not accepted. For mail requests, include a money order made out to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey."
To obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, you can also contact the Superior Court Records Center. Necessary forms are available on the NJ Courts website in the self-help section.