About Public Records in New Jersey

• General Jurisdiction / Upper Courts


• Superior Courts - 15 courts covering 21 counties.
• Civil - all civil case types.
• Criminal - felony.
• Domestic - marriage dissolution, domestic relations, paternity.
• Juvenile - delinquincy and child protection.



 

• Limited Jurisdiction / Lower Courts


• Municipal Courts - 545 courts.
• Criminal - preliminary felony, misdemeanor, drunk driving.
• Traffic, ordinance and other violations.

New Jersey real and personal property tax records are kept by the County Tax Board in each county.
 

New Jersey deeds and general document recording are handled by the County Clerk in each county. Larger offices have separate divisions for recording. Records kept include deeds, mortgage documents, easements, powers of attorney, marriage licenses, and liens.
 

The New Jersey Bureau of Vital Statistics and Registration maintains birth, marriage, and death records from 1878 to the present. Domestic partnership records are available from 2004 to the present.