Monmouth County Court Records

Monmouth County court records are files and documents that contain information generated from court cases within the county. They include the following:

• Case details: Case number, case type, and party names
• Pleadings: Complaints, answers, motions, and responses
• Evidence: Exhibits, witness statements, and transcripts
• Trial records: Transcripts of court proceedings
• Docket entries: List of filings in the case
• Orders and judgments: Court decisions, sentences, and fines

The availability of court records in Monmouth County fosters transparency and accountability in the county’s judicial process and helps to uphold the integrity of the judiciary. Monmouth County court records can be used for the following purposes:

• Background checks
• Legal research
• Genealogical research
• Academic research
• Media and journalism investigations

Monmouth County court records can be categorized into the following:

• Civil records: Trade secrets, product liabilities, tort, slander, employment disputes, personal injury cases, professional malpractices, product liabilities, libel, breaches of contracts, mortgage foreclosures, automobile negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, and real property
• Criminal records: Felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations
• Family Law records: Child support, divorce, alimony, adoption, paternity, and emancipation
• Juvenile records: juvenile delinquency, truancy, and dependency
• Probate records: Wills, trusts, estates, guardianship, and conservatorship

Are Court Records Public in Monmouth County?

Monmouth County court records are public. The New Jersey Court Rule 1.38 permits public access to all court records maintained by the courts in the county with a few exceptions. Some court records excluded from public access in Monmouth County include:

• Medical and Mental Health Records
• Juvenile Delinquency Records
• Confidential personal identifiers, such as social security number, vehicle plate number, driver’s license number, active financial account number, and insurance policy number
• Records protected by state or federal laws
• Adoption Records
• Records of victims of sexual or domestic violence
• Grand jury proceedings
• Psychiatric, psychological, and drug/alcohol dependency records

Monmouth County Court Records Search

Record seekers can access Monmouth County public court records in person by visiting the court clerk's office or the courts where the cases were heard. They can also access non-confidential court records electronically. Criminal court records from the county may be accessed via the New Jersey Courts Public Access portal, while civil cases can be accessed through the New Jersey Courts Civil Case Public Access portal. Court records from the county’s municipal courts can be accessed via the New Jersey Courts Municipal Court Case Search portal. In addition to these state-provided platforms, anyone can use reliable third-party websites to access public court records from the county.

Monmouth County Court Records Search by Name

In Monmouth Court, it is a common practice to search for court records by name. This entails using a record owner's name as a search criterion. The name can be that of a party in a civil case or a defendant in a criminal case. Record seekers can search for Monmouth County court records by name using any of the New Jersey Courts platforms.

Monmouth County Courts

The court system in Monmouth County comprises superior, surrogate, and municipal courts. The Monmouth County Superior Court is the principal court in the county with general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. It has different divisions handling varying cases. The Criminal Division hears felony and misdemeanor cases, while the Civil Division handles civil cases involving monetary claims. Civil cases without financial compensation are handled by the General Equity Division. The Family Division hears all domestic relations and juvenile matters, while the Probate Division handles contested probate matters.

The Monmouth County Surrogate’s Court hears uncontested probate matters, such as wills, estates, and trusts, that are without controversy or disputes. It also deals with adoptions and oversees the assets of minors. Municipal courts in Monmouth County handle municipal ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and small claims cases within their jurisdictions. The list below outlines the various Monmouth County courts and their contact information:

Monmouth County Superior Court

Monmouth County Superior Court
Monmouth County Courthouse
71 Monument Park
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 358-8700

Monmouth County Surrogate’s Courts

Monmouth County Surrogate’s Court
Hall of Records
One East Main Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 431-7330
Fax: (732) 303-7656

Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Middletown Township Library
55 New Monmouth Road
Middletown, NJ 07748
Phone: (732) 431-7330 ext. 7337

Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Wall Township Library
2700 Allaire Road
Wall Township, NJ 07719
Phone: (732) 431-7330 ext. 7336

Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Ocean Township Library
701 Deal Road
Oakhurst, NJ 07755
Phone: (732) 431-7330 ext. 7335

Monmouth County Surrogate’s Office
Neptune County Connection
3544 NJ-66
Neptune City, NJ 07753
Phone: (732) 431-7330 ext. 5767

Monmouth County has 54 municipal courts.

Monmouth County Superior Court Case Search

Court cases from the Monmouth Superior Court can be searched either as criminal or civil cases. General equity, family, juvenile, and probate cases are considered civil cases. The public can search for criminal cases from the Monmouth County Superior Court by following these steps:

• Open the New Jersey Courts Public Access portal
• Input the defendant’s name or case number
• Select Monmouth County from the list of counties
• Click search

To search for civil cases held by the county’s Superior Court, interested persons must be registered on the New Jersey Courts Civil Case Public Access platform. They can then log into the portal and search for cases using the party name or case number after selecting Monmouth County. In addition, record seekers can download the New Jersey Judiciary Record Request form, fill out the form, and then submit it on the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission platform. They can also visit the Monmouth County Superior Court Clerk’s Office to view and request superior court public records.

Monmouth County Criminal Records

Monmouth County criminal records include Monmouth county arrest records, arrest warrants, mugshots, prison sentences, and other pretrial records. These records are maintained by law enforcement agencies such as the New Jersey State Police and Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. They can search through the Monmouth County Inmate Search portal provided by the Sheriff’s Office for criminal records searches. They can also search for criminal records on the New Jersey State Police Criminal History Record Information platform for criminal records from the county.

Monmouth County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Interested persons can look up criminal court cases in Monmouth County via the New Jersey Courts Public Access platform. They can obtain the status of a criminal case and its conclusion from the platform. The search can be done by name, date, or case number.

Get Monmouth County Civil Court Records

Monmouth County civil court records include case filings, depositions, motions, writs, settlement agreements, civil complaints, fines, and court orders from civil proceedings within the county. They comprise documents generated from cases such as the following:

• Personal Injury Lawsuits
• Family Law
• Property Disputes
• Divorce Proceedings
• Labor disputes
• Libel and slander
• Employment Discrimination
• Consumer Protection
• Contract Disputes
• Probate and Estate
• Professional malpractice cases
• Torts

The Monmouth County Superior Court Clerk maintains civil court cases in the county. Civil court records from the county can be found on the New Jersey Courts Civil Case Public Access portal. Record seekers can also visit the Monmouth County Superior Court to view and request public civil court records from the court or fill and submit the record request form online.

Monmouth County Family Court Records

Family court records include records on divorces, annulments, emancipation, paternity, termination of parental rights, child support, child custody, juvenile delinquency, and alimony. Although most Monmouth County family court records are open to the public, some are confidential and may only be accessed by authorized persons. Confidential family court records can only be accessed by parties involved in the case, their attorneys, and by court orders. The Monmouth County Superior Court handles all family law cases in the county, and the court clerk maintains the records. Eligible persons can visit the clerk’s office to examine or request family court records from the county. They can also see some family court records on the New Jersey Courts Civil Case Public Access portal.

Monmouth County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records in Monmouth County are closed to the general public and can only be released to parties involved or by court orders. However, marriage dissolution decrees can be accessed by anyone. The Superior Court Clerk’s office is responsible for maintaining marriage dissolution records. Eligible persons must request marriage dissolution records from the Superior Court clerk’s office with evidence of eligibility.

Monmouth County Marriage and Divorce Records

In Monmouth County, marriage records are official documents that contain information about a couple's marriage, while divorce records are official documents of the termination of a couple’s marriage. Monmouth County’s marriage records are typically open to the public, while divorce records are restricted to parties seeking divorce and their attorneys. The Clerk of the county’s Superior Court maintains these records. Eligible record seekers can visit the court in person to view and request marriage and divorce records. They can also obtain them from the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry under the New Jersey Department of Health.

Monmouth County Birth and Death Records

Birth records are essential documents that provide crucial information about an individual's identity, citizenship, and family history, while death records are official documents that provide information about an individual's passing in the county. Birth and death records are confidential records in New Jersey, and public access to them is limited. In Monmouth County, death records become publicly accessible after 40 years, while birth records can be accessed by the public after 100 years. The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry maintains birth and death records for the county. Eligible persons can visit Local Vital Records Offices in the county to access Monmouth County’s birth and death records. They can also request birth or death records online or call the Vital Records Office at (877) 622-7549.

Monmouth County Probate Court Records

The Superior and Surrogate Courts generate probate court records in Monmouth County. Uncontested probate matters such as wills and estates without any disputes or controversy are handled in Surrogate Courts, and clerks of those courts maintain their records. The Monmouth Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part handles contested probate matters and some uncontested ones. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains probate court records from the Superior Court. Persons interested in probate court records can visit the courts to examine them. They can also use the New Jersey Courts Civil Case Access to view some probate court records.

Monmouth County Property Records

Property records in Monmouth County are documents and files containing information about a property in the county. These records typically have details such as the following:

• Ownership information: Deeds, titles, and transfer documents
• Description: Property characteristics, such as location, size, and boundaries
• Value: Assessment and appraisal records
• Liens: Outstanding debts and encumbrances
• Taxes: Payment history and tax liens
• Mortgages: Loan documents and payment history
• Easements: Agreements for shared use or access
• Zoning: Land-use regulations and permits
• Maps: Plats, surveys, and geographic information system (GIS) data

These records can be used for property evaluation, tax assessment, mortgage applications, and zoning planning. The Monmouth County Clerk is responsible for property records in the county and the Office of Records Management under the Monmouth County Clerk’s office maintains these records in the county. Property records are public records in New Jersey, and anyone can access them. Interested persons can use the Open Public Records Search System to search for property records in the county. They can also visit the Office of Records Management to view and request property records in the county.

Monmouth County Court Records Online

Individuals sometimes use third-party online resources like newjerseycourtrecords.us to access court records in Monmouth County. These resources often provide faster and more convenient access to court records from the county. However, they can be generally more expensive to use, and the information obtained through them may not be as accurate or current.