Monmouth County, New Jersey Court Records

Monmouth County Court Records

Monmouth County's legal framework encompasses key aspects of court records and public accessibility, enhancing transparency and justice within its judicial system. The New Jersey Court Rule 1:38-2 defines court records as any information maintained by a court in any form in connection with a case or judicial proceeding. Court records in Monmouth County, New Jersey, include pleadings, motions, briefs and their respective attachments, evidentiary exhibits, indices, calendars, dockets, and aggregate data maintained or created by the judiciary for statistics. The county Clerk is the authorized custodian of all court records in Monmouth County. Court records are considered part of Monmouth County Public Records and, thus, play a pivotal role within the county’s judicial system:

Precedent and case Law: Previous court decisions set precedents that guide future cases, shaping the interpretation and application of laws
Research and analysis: Researchers, scholars, and legal professionals use court records to analyze legal trends, study case law, and conduct legal research.
Background checks: Employers, landlords, and other entities may use court records to conduct background checks on potential employees, tenants, and others. These checks can reveal information about criminal history, civil litigation, and other legal matters.
Legal compliance and due process: Court records ensure that legal processes are followed correctly, safeguarding individuals' rights to due process and fair treatment under the law.

Are Court Records Public in Monmouth County?

In Monmouth County, the accessibility of court records is governed by the state's Open Public Records Act (OPRA). This act grants the public the right to access most court records for viewing and obtaining copies of such. However, certain exceptions and exemptions exist to protect sensitive and confidential information. Per New Jersey Court Rule 1:38-3, confidential court records are:

Internal records
Records of criminal and municipal court proceedings
Records of family part proceedings
Records of guardianship proceedings are all excluded from public access.

What Do Monmouth County Court Records Contain?

The court records of Monmouth County serve as extensive repositories containing information pertaining to legal proceedings within the jurisdiction. Court records include details such as:

Full name of parties
Addresses
Docket number
Case caption
Case initiation date
Case status
Judge’s name
Court’s name and venue
Case Disposition
Case type
Case track
Disposition Date
Date filed
Case actions (filed date, filings, docket text, transaction ID, and entry date)
Fees (date filed, transaction type, document type, receipt amount, pay type, payment ID, transaction number, and payor's last name)

Where to Conduct a Monmouth County Case Lookup

For individuals seeking to perform a court case lookup in Monmouth County, the following courts provide access to the necessary information:

How to Conduct a Monmouth County Case Records Search

Individuals can conduct a Monmouth County case records search online or in person. Online requests can be made through the Find a Case portal on the New Jersey Judiciary website. The search parameters are by case number, name, or court location. Alternatively, requesters can download the New Jersey Judiciary Records Request Form and submit it electronically on the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) portal. Copies of the desired court records would be sent electronically to the email address the requester provided on the form. Fees for certified, exemplified, and sealed copies of court records can be paid by credit card. In-person requests can be made at the courthouse where the case was filed. The requester must provide a name or case number to complete the search.

Monmouth County Civil Court Case Records

Civil court cases in Monmouth County encompass a broad spectrum of non-criminal legal matters that pertain to private rights and responsibilities. The Monmouth County Superior Court Civil Division hears disputes in which a person claims the actions of others have hurt them and seeks monetary compensation. Examples of such civil cases are breaches of contracts, automobile accidents, landlord/tenant disputes, and medical malpractice.

The Civil Division handles cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $20,000. The Special Civil Part of the Civil Division handles cases in which the amount in controversy is below $5,000 up to $20,000. The Monmouth County Superior Court Civil Division and Special Civil Part handles about 460,000 cases.

Individuals can request copies of civil court case records by completing a Records Request Form and emailing it to MonCivRecReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Alternatively, the Civil Case Jacket Public Access portal can be used to find civil court records in Monmouth County. A search can be conducted by docket number or party name.

Monmouth County Criminal Court Case Records

Criminal court case records encompass an exhaustive collection of documents and data generated within the judicial system, meticulously chronicling criminal offenses and their proceedings. The Monmouth County Superior Court Criminal Division oversees the handling and administering of all serious criminal cases involving adult offenders. In exceptional cases, juveniles might be transferred to the adult court system due to the gravity of the offense. Individuals can retrieve criminal court case records

By phone: Phone requests can be made by calling (732) 358-8700 ext. 87370.
In-person: The Division has public access terminals that can be used to find court records. Record seekers can visit the Division during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Online: Use the PROMIS/Gavel Case Management System and Criminal Judgments Public Access portal to search criminal convictions and judgment, respectively. the PROMIS/Gavel portal allows users to find criminal cases by conducting a search by name or county. With the Criminal Judgments Public Access portal, users can conduct a search by defendant name, SBI number, complaint number, or indictment number.

How to Get Court Records Online for Free

In compliance with the guidelines outlined in the New Jersey Judiciary Public Access Rule, Monmouth County provides avenues for remote access to court records, enhancing transparency and convenience. Here is how to get court records online for free in Monmouth County:

Go to the New Jersey Courts’ official website
Click the “Public” menu at the top bar and select “FIND A CASE” from the dropdown
Users can select any of the displayed tools to conduct a court records search. The tools are:
- Search Civil and Foreclosure Cases tool (conduct a search by party name or docket number)
- Search Criminal Convictions tool (search criminal cases by name or county)
- Search Criminal Judgments tool (search by defendant name, SBI number, complaint number, or indictment number)
- Search Tax Court Cases tool (search by party name, docket number, or block/lot number)
- Search Judgement Lien tool (search by party name, judgment number, or docket number)

Courts in Monmouth County

Here's a compilation of the courthouse locations in Monmouth County, along with relevant contact information:

Monmouth County Courthouse
71 Monument Street
Freehold, NJ07728
Phone: (732) 358-8700

Monmouth County Superior Court - Family Division
Family Part, Courthouse
P.O. Box 1252
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 358-8700