Sussex County Court Records

Sussex County Court records refer to all official documents documenting in detail the proceedings and outcomes of all legal cases heard in the county. According to Rule 1:38-2 of New Jersey's Rules of Court, court records encompass documents of rulings, data, decision statements, transcripts, and recordings created and preserved by a court during a legal case.

Court records play a crucial role in the administration of justice in Sussex County. They help to provide a proper account of all legal cases. They also serve as an official archive for all legal processes and outcomes, thus helping to ensure accountability, transparency, and public access to judicial details.

Are Court Records Public in Sussex County?

Yes, according to rule 1.38 of the New Jersey Court Rule of New Jersey Open Public Records Act, court records in Sussex County are available for public access and perusal. The New Jersey Open Public Records Act was enacted in 2002 to replace the then-existing right-to-know law. It is, however, worth noting that the right to public access is not absolute, as a court reserves the right to restrict access to certain types of records. Some records, according to rule 1:38-3 of New Jersey Court Rules, which are considered confidential or expunged court records are not available for public access or perusal. Examples of such records include:

• Medical records
• Psychiatric records
• Psychological records
• Drug dependency records
• Internal records are maintained in any form by or for the use of a justice, judge, or judiciary staff.
• Records relating to child sexual abuse victims
• Records required to be confidential according to law
• search warrants
• grand jury proceedings
• records that include jury questionnaires

Sussex County Court Records Search

Interested individuals in Sussex County can access court records via the following routes:

• Court Clerk's office
• New Jersey Judiciary System Online Repository
• New Jersey Superior Court Online search tool
• Court where the case was heard and filed
• Remote search tools provided by the court
• Third-party search tools

Sussex County Court Records Search by Name

To conduct court records in Sussex County, interested individuals must typically be furnished with unique details about the desired case record. These details include the case party's name(first and last name), case number, and where the case was heard. This search can be conducted by paying a physical visit to the designated custodian of court records in Sussex County, the County Court Clerk, at the address below:

Hall of Records
Cochran House Building
83 Spring St., Suite 304
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 579-0900

It is worth noting that a fee is typically associated with accessing these court records, this fee varies from court to court and depending on the kind of record being sought. Court attendants may also require that requests be put in formal writing. A public records form may also be provided and required of interested individuals to fill them before proceeding with case search.

In addition, by providing additional case details, requesters increase the chances of finding these records.

The County Clerk's office also provides remote access for individuals who cannot physically visit the court. Search on the search tool can be done by inputting a party name, including first and last names, or other details.

Sussex County Courts

Sussex County Superior Court
Sussex County Judicial Center
43-47 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 579-0675

Andover Joint Municipal Court
134 Newton Sparta Road
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 383-4280 ext. 4
Fax: (973) 383-6328

Frankford/Lafayette/Branchville/Sandyston/Walpack/Montague Joint Municipal Court
151 US Highway 206
Augusta, NJ 07822
Phone: (973) 948-4045
Fax: (973) 948-4271

Franklin Borough Municipal Court
46 Main Street
Franklin, NJ 07416
Phone: (973) 827-9280 ext. 107
Phone: (973) 827-0922

Green Township Municipal Court
39 Trinity Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 383-3521 ext. 242
Fax: (973) 383-0465

Hamburg Municipal Court
11 Orchard Street
Hamburg, NJ 07419
Phone: (973) 209-4545

Hardyston Municipal Court
149 Wheatsworth Road
Hardyston, NJ 07419
Phone: (973) 823-7038

Hopatcong Municipal Court
111 River Styx Road
Hopatcong, NJ 07843
Phone: (973) 770-1200 ext. 156

Newton Municipal Court
39 Trinity Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (973) 383-3521 ext. 242
Fax: (973) 383-0465

Ogdensburg Municipal Court
14 Highland Avenue
Ogdensburg, NJ 07439
Phone: (973) 827-3895 ext. 3

Sparta Township Municipal Court
65 Main Street
Sparta, NJ 07871
Phone: (973) 729-3501
Fax: (973) 726-4480

Stanhope Municipal Court
111 River Styx Road
Hopatcong, NJ 07843
Phone: (973) 770-1200

Vernon Township Municipal Court
21 Church Street
Vernon, NJ 07462
Phone: (973) 764-4737
Fax: (973) 764-4761

Wantage/Sussex/Stillwater Joint Municipal Court
888 Route 23
Wantage, NJ 07461
Phone: (973) 875-7310
Fax: (973) 875-8676

Sussex County Superior Court Case Search

The Sussex County Superior Court in New Jersey typically has jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. It, however, primarily hears cases that have exceeded the jurisdiction of other lesser courts in Sussex County. The Sussex County, New Jersey Superior Court Clerk's Office is primarily in charge of various statewide responsibilities for the Judiciary. These responsibilities include handling, maintaining, and retrieving court records, managing judgment liens, processing uncontested foreclosures, and administering the annual attorney registration and fee collection. The following court records are available at the Sussex County Superior Court Clerk's office for public access:

• Special civil part records
• Civil division, including general equity records
• Family division Records
• Tax Court Records
• Criminal division records
• Municipal court Records

There are three avenues available for individuals who are interested in accessing court records via the Sussex County Superior Court, they include:

Use of Request Form

For individuals who are interested in making use of request forms, here is a detailed procedure:

• The County clerk provides the request form on the official website where it can be downloaded:
• Upon downloading to own computer, requesters are advised to complete the form and save the form again
• Requesters are to make sure that the correct processing location is included; in this case they are to use 'SCCO" for all records processed by the Superior Court Clerk's office
• Once this is done, requesters are to then submit the 'completed form by making use of the 'Submit Completed Button' available on the website
• Please note that all records will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the form, and all fees for exemplified, certified, and sealed copies can be paid using credit cards.

Physical Visit to the Superior Court Clerk's Office:

All court records are typically transferred to the Superior Court Records Centre after they have been resolved. To access these records, requesters can visit the clerk's office at the address below. They would be required to provide the case party name and any other pertinent detail required to search. Additionally, requesters may be required to write a formal request letter or fill out a record request form. Also, a fee may be demanded for the perusing or printing these records.

Superior Court Clerk's Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0971

Remote Access Tool

The Superior Court has a remote access tool for individuals who prefer to peruse court records digitally in the comfort of their homes. The New Jersey Electronic Access Program (EAP) is designed to give subscribers access to case records within the system. Interested and subscribed members can view records but must be registered before performing any search. The EAP allows for basic limited or personal searches but charges $4 per minute for premium searches.

This charge begins counting when a subscriber connects to the judicial system and stops counting upon disconnecting. Here is a detailed procedure to enroll in the EAP program:

• An individual must first possess a Judiciary Account Charge System (JACS) account before enrolling in EAP
• Upon creating the JACS account, users are then required to complete the subscriber agreement and subscriber enrollment forms.
• The completed forms should then be mailed to:

EAP
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, New Jersey 08625

• Upon registration, the subscriber will receive EAP system logon ID and password via email, and upon payment, they can conduct case record searches. These searches can be conducted by either inputting party name, judgment number, or docket number.

Sussex County District Court Records

Sussex County does not have a district court. New Jersey's court system is made up of the Supreme Court, Superior Court, Tax Court, and Municipal Courts. The Superior Court has jurisdiction over most cases at the county level, including civil, criminal, and family cases. Federal cases in Sussex County are under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Sussex County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Sussex County, New Jersey, are typically managed by law enforcement agencies such as the local police departments, Sussex County Sheriff's Office, and the Sussex County Superior Court. According to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, criminal records are available for public access and perusal. These criminal records include Sussex county arrest information, charges, and convictions. However, it is worth noting that some records may be expunged or classified as 'confidential'. Such records are not open to public access.

Interested individuals can access criminal records via the following:

Remote Search:

The New Jersey Judiciary provides a remote search portal on its official website where interested individuals can obtain criminal records. It is worth noting that only convicted cases are displayed in the search results. Users can search for records by simply inputting information peculiar to the desired record. This information includes the name of the party, case number, or even docket number.

New Jersey State Police:

The New Jersey State Police also provide information on criminal history records. Individuals interested in such information need only request a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) check.

In-Person Requests:

Individuals who are interested in visiting any of the agencies in person can do so by visiting their official locations.

Sussex County Sheriff's Office: Interested individuals can visit the Sheriff's office at the address below. There, they can obtain records related to arrests and other incidents handled by the Sheriff's office.

Sussex County Sheriff's Office
39 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
TEL: (973) 579-0850

Local Police Departments:

Criminal records can also be requested from Sussex County police departments. Each department has unique procedures.

Sussex County Superior Court:

Criminal court records can be accessed by visiting the Sussex County Superior Court at the above address. The court clerk's office can assist with locating case files and other documents. At the address, requesters may be required to provide certain information necessary to search.

Mail Requests:

Alternatively, interested individuals can mail written requests to agencies, such as the Sussex County Sheriff's Office or local police departments. Detailed information should be provided to facilitate the search, including the individual's name, date of birth, and case number. Specific fees may apply for these searches, and requesters must confirm the amount and the mode of payment with the relevant agencies.

Sussex County Criminal Court Case Lookup

People who are interested in accessing or obtaining criminal court case records in Sussex County can do so by maximizing either of the following avenues:

• Presiding Courthouse: The courthouse where the case was heard or being heard can serve as the perfect place to obtain criminal court case records. These courts make public terminals available where interested individuals can search for the desired record by simply inputting certain details into the search tool
• Remote access of criminal case records through the search tools provided by Sussex County:
  • The Search tool provided on the Sussex County Clerk's website.
  • The New Jersey Superior Court Search tool

Individuals can conveniently access criminal court case information in Sussex County by utilizing these offline and online options.

Get Sussex County Civil Court Records

Sussex County civil records refers to all documents and information relating to non-criminal legal matters heard by civil courts within the county. These records include many legal matters involving private rights and organizational, individual, and even governmental disputes.

In Sussex County, the County Clerk's office is primarily responsible for maintaining and providing access to official court records and documents. The Court Administration office is in charge of managing the court's daily operations and also provides access to records within the county.

The Superior Court has jurisdiction over all major civil cases, such as probate matters, large lawsuits, and family cases, while the Municipal Court is in charge of smaller matters, including landlord-tenant disputes, minor civil cases, and small claims. To access civil case records in Sussex County, individuals can make use of the following avenues:

Online Access

The New Jersey Courts Public Access System makes civil records available through its online search tool. Interested individuals may be required to create an account for a record search. Civil records within Sussex County can also be accessed by using the court records request form available on the website. The Sussex County Clerk's office also provides a remote access tool on its website, where interested parties can conduct a civil case record search.

In-Person Access:

For individuals who prefer physical access to records, both the Superior Court and Sussex County Clerk's office allow access to records at their office addresses, as provided earlier. However, this may require a fee and a valid form of identification. Interested individuals are also advised to possess relevant case information such as case numbers, names of parties, and other details that can help in searching.

Sussex County Family Court Records

In Sussex County, family law cases are typically handled by the Family Division of the Sussex County Superior Court. The family-related matters handled by the Family Division include:

• Child custody and visitation
• Domestic violence restraining orders
• Divorce and separation
• Child support and alimony
• Termination of parental rights
• Adoption
• Juvenile delinquency

Remote Access:

The New Jersey Judiciary makes family court case records publicly available via its search portal. The public can search and peruse family records that are open to the public via this tool. This can also be done by using the Request Form available on the site. By following the procedure earlier explained, users can make their requests known to the Superior Court.

Another avenue available to interested individuals is simply visiting the Sussex County Superior Court Family Division at the address below. To search, individuals must furnish specific details of the record of interest such as the name of the record holder, case number, or even docket number.

Sussex County Judicial Center
43-47 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860

Mail Requests

The Sussex County Superior Court Family Division also responds to requests sent via mail. However, such a request must be as detailed as possible and contain all information necessary to conduct the search. Requesters must also include a mailing address where the records would be sent upon conducting the search.

Noteworthy Considerations:

• Some of the avenues listed above may require a fee; as such, interested individuals should take note of this.
• Some records, such as juvenile records, are often confidential and will not be available for public access.
• Certain records may require identification and proof of relationship before access can be granted.

Sussex Dissolution of Marriage Records

Sussex County dissolution of marriage records refers to every form of record and documentation related to divorces within the county. Typically, divorce falls under the jurisdiction of the family court; however, New Jersey divorce decrees are only available through the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Centre.

Sussex County Marriage and Divorce Records

It is worth noting that most vital records in Sussex County can typically be obtained from the town where the event occurred; this can be done by contacting the registrar's office where the event occurred.

In Sussex County, the County Clerk's office operates an archive of marriage records from 1795 to the 1850s. However, in order to obtain current marriage certificates, interested individuals must obtain them from the town where the ceremony took place. It is worth noting that the procedure for access differs from town to town.

Divorce cases, also called dissolution cases, are filed and heard in the Family Division of the Superior Court at the county court level. In Sussex County, once a case is completed and a divorce judgment is issued, such records are closed, and the closed records are stored and archived by the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

Individuals who are interested in obtaining a Certificate of Divorce can do so by contacting the Superior Court Clerk's office. The clerk can then prepare a Certificate of Divorce for a fee; a divorce certificate is stamped with the seal of the Superior Court and typically contains the following information:

• Names of the parties
• Date of the final Judgment of Divorce
• Docket number
• County of venue
• The county where the case was heard

Alternatively, interested individuals can use the public records request form on the official Superior Court website. Interested individuals should also note all associated fees in order to process their requests.

Sussex Birth and Death Records

As earlier stated, in Sussex County, Vital Records, including birth and death records are no longer maintained at the county level but are not maintained and handled in the respective town where the birth or death occurred.

To obtain birth and death records in Sussex County, interested individuals can do so through the New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. This can be done via any of the following avenues:

• Paying a physical visit to the walk-in center at the address below:

DOH Office of Vital Statistics and Registry
140 E Front St,
Trenton,
NJ 08625, United States

• Placing a call request
• Online Records Request
• Visiting the Local Vital Records Office in the municipality where the event occurred

Noteworthy Considerations:

• Only birth records from the past 80 years are available
• Only death records from the past 40 years are available for access
• All online records request will be shipped via the selected method and will not be available for pickup at a walk in center
• The processing time for online requests is within 8-12 weeks
• Interested individuals should note that a processing fee of $5, anon-refundable online authentication fee of $5 and an additional $12 shipping fee via UPS carrier are required to process an online request.
• Payment can be done either via credit or debit card
• Requesters can always check the status of their request by making use of the check status of request link
• All requesters must provide identification in the form of Valid driver's license or two forms of alternate ID
• A proof of relationship or change of name and/or address should also be submitted alongside the request. These documents must be scanned and available in any of the approved formats: PDF, JPEG, TIF.

Sussex County Probate Court Records

In Sussex County, New Jersey, the Surrogate Court typically performs most of the Probate court functions as performed in other states. The Surrogate Court in Sussex County typically has jurisdiction over matters such as the administration of estates, probate of wills, adoptions, and guardianships. Individuals who are interested in obtaining probate court records in Sussex County can do so via any of the following avenues:

Physical visit:

Individuals interested in obtaining a probate court record can do so by visiting the Surrogate Court at the address provided earlier. It is worth noting that certain forms of identification are required to access certain records, and a fee may also be required to conduct a search.

Online Access:

The Sussex County Court's official website provides a remote tool for interested individuals to conduct a probate court records search. Users must fill in the pertinent details to perform the search.

Users can also use the public records request form provided on the Superior Court's website to process a probate court records request. Interested individuals should note, however, that certain records are considered confidential, especially records involving minors; therefore, such records may not be available for access or perusal.

Sussex County Property Records

Property Records in Sussex County refers to all official documents detailing information about real estate properties in the county. These records include Deeds, mortgages, land surveys, and zoning information. The Sussex County Clerk's office primarily maintains property records in Sussex County. Individuals interested in property records in Sussex County can access these records via online resources or by paying physical visits to the relevant county office.

Online Access:

The Sussex County Clerk's office has a remote search tool on her website for individuals interested in obtaining property records remotely. Interested parties can search by property address, owner name, block number, and lot number. It is worth noting that while the online tool could offer a free search, a detailed report would require a fee.

The New Jersey State Archives similarly provides access to historical property records in the state. This is done through either the online search tool or the records request form available on the website.

Additionally, individuals can access property tax records and assessments for Sussex County by searching for the New Jersey Tax list.

In-Person Access

Inquirers may access property records in person by paying a physical visit to the Sussex County Clerk's office at the address given earlier during typical working hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM).

Additionally, to access specific property records within a particular municipality, interested parties can visit the particular municipal clerk or tax assessor's office. For property records in a specific municipality, visit the municipal clerk's or tax assessor's office.

Sussex County Court Records Online

Individuals interested in accessing court records in Sussex County can use Government-owned platforms and third-party sites like Newjerseycourtrecords.us. These third-party websites are owned and operated by independent bodies. Government-owned agencies copy and document public records and make them available to the public at a fee.

Third-party platforms allow users to access court records remotely. However, it is worth noting that some records available on these sites are not up to date, and users are advised to review them to ensure correctness.