Somerset County Court Records
According to Rule 1:38-2 of the New Jersey Rules of Court, 'court record' includes all information, regardless of form, directly linked to a case or judicial proceeding, inclusive of pleadings, motions, briefs, attachments, exhibits, calendars, dockets, statistical data curated by the judiciary, orders, judgments, opinions, transcripts or recordings of public proceedings, computerized case management data, and records upheld by a Surrogate acting as a judicial officer. These records are vital for documenting and preserving the history and decisions of the court system. The Superior Court Clerk’s Office is the custodian of Somerset County Court Records.
Are Court Records Public in Somerset County?
Yes, court records are public in Somerset County. The New Jersey Court Rule 1:38 and New Jersey Open Public Records Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) allow public inspection and copying of court records.
Confidentiality is maintained for specific records, including the following, even when appended to non-confidential documents unless a court orders otherwise:
- Records mandated to be confidential by statute, rule, or prior case law consistent with this rule.
- Medical, psychiatric, psychological, and alcohol and drug dependency records, reports, and evaluations.
- Notes, drafts, and working papers used by a justice, judge, or judiciary staff during official duties, excluding those required by rule or law to be part of the record.
- Records related to decision-making discussions or case management, along with support data used for statistical reporting purposes.
Where to Conduct a Somerset County Case Lookup
A Somerset County court case lookup may be conducted in the following places:
How to Conduct a Somerset County Case Records Search
Somerset County Surrogate
Requestors may access Somerset County Surrogate Court case information through the Somerset County Probate Search System. Requesters must enter a search value, which can be either the case name or docket number. After entering the search value and clicking the search button, the System will display a list of matching cases. Requesters can then choose a case to access details, including docket number, case type, primary participant(s), and date of birth(s).
Superior Court Clerk’s Office (SCCO)
Somerset County court records are available at the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for public access. Requestors should first download the request form from the New Jersey Courts website, fill it out, and save it. They are to specify "SCCO" as the processing location while filling out the form, then submit the saved form using the website's "Submit Completed Form" feature. If you do not have access to a computer, you can mail your request to:
Attention: Customer Access
Superior Court Clerk's Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, NJ 08625-0971
Records can be obtained through various methods, including Personal pick-up, US Mail, On-Site Inspection, Fax, or Email, with fees for certified, exemplified, and sealed copies payable via credit card.
The types of copies and court authentication available include:
- Plain Copy: A photocopy of the court document.
- Certified Copy: A plain copy with the Superior Court Clerk/Deputy Clerk's signature and stamp attesting to authenticity.
- Seal of the Court: May be affixed to a certified copy.
- Exemplified Copy: Includes clerk's attestation, court seal (if present), and judge's certificate for use in other U.S. courts.
- Triple Exemplified Copy: Contains additional certifications from both the judge and clerk.
- Apostille: Attests to the legal status of selected public officials and is provided if required for transactions with countries that adhere to the Hague Treaty.
Requestors are to note that records retrieval may take time, especially for off-site storage. Large or regular requests may be sent to local management for handling, as the Judiciary balances public access with efficient court operations. The Judiciary staff will collaborate with requestors to establish a reasonable timeframe.
Somerset County Civil Court Case Records
Somerset County Civil case records are records involving plaintiff claims for financial compensation due to harm caused by defendants, harm such as auto accidents, medical malpractice, contract breaches, and landlord/tenant disputes. Cases with amounts over $20,000 go to the Civil Division, those with $5,000 to $20,000 are in the Special Civil Part, and small claims cases (up to $5,000) are also in the Special Civil Part. Cases not seeking monetary damages are heard in the General Equity Division, covering trade secrets, labor issues, foreclosures, and disputes requiring court relief, often in the form of restraining orders on an emergency basis. These records are held by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
Somerset County Criminal Court Case Records
Somerset County Criminal court case records are generated from initial complaint to resolution. These records are in the custody of the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. The Superior Court handles criminal cases, with convictions resulting in penalties such as probation, fines, restitution, or imprisonment. First- and second-degree convictions often lead to prison, while third- and fourth-degree cases may also result in imprisonment.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Somerset County Civil Court Case Records may be obtained online for free through the civil case public access portal. Requestors must input specific criteria, like the Division of Civil case (Civil, General Equity, or Special Civil), to narrow the search. After entering the specific criteria they are to search by providing either the docket number of the case or the name of any party in the case. After which the portal will provide a list of matching cases. Requesters can then select a case to access details such as Name, Venue, Docket Number, Case Caption, Case Status, Case Initiation Date, Disposition Date, Case Type, and Judge.
Also, Somerset County Criminal Court Case Records may be obtained through the Promis/Gavel public access system. Requestors are to select “Somerset” under the County option and also provide either the Name or the Indictment/Accusations number of the case for the search to be initiated. After entering these details criteria, they may click on the “Search” button. After which the system will provide a list of matching cases. Requesters can then select a case to access details such as the Defendant's Name, Alias Name, City, Birth Place, State, Sex, Height, Weight Hair Colour, Eyes Colour, FBI Number, and SBI Number.
Courts in Somerset County
Somerset County Courthouse
20 North Bridge Street
Somerville, NJ 08876-1262
(908) 332-7700
