New Jersey divorce records are held by the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Center, and access is restricted: only the parties named in the case and their attorneys of record at the time of filing can request them without a court order. Anyone else needs a judge’s authorization before the records center will release the file. The request itself is made on Form CN:10200, submitted through the Judiciary’s electronic filing system, with a redacted copy of your photo ID attached.1NJ Courts. Records Request Form CN 10200
Who Can Request the Record
This is the step that trips most people up. New Jersey does not treat divorce files like ordinary court records. Form CN:10200 states that divorce and name change records are available only to the parties involved and their attorneys of record. If you are a relative, a new spouse, a researcher, or anyone else outside that circle, you must first obtain a court order authorizing release and attach it to your request.1NJ Courts. Records Request Form CN 10200
A redacted copy of your photo ID goes in with the request. A driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or valid passport works. Black out the license number or other sensitive identifiers before you copy it; the court only needs to confirm your identity matches the case file.
Decree or Certificate: Which One You Actually Need
New Jersey keeps two different documents, and asking for the wrong one is a common source of delay.
Final Judgment of Divorce
The Final Judgment of Divorce is the full court order. It sets out property division, custody, alimony, and every other term the judge imposed. You need this document for legal actions: transferring a real estate title, enforcing support, modifying custody, or updating retirement account beneficiaries. It is available through the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Center.2NJ Courts. How Do I Obtain a Copy of a Final Judgment of Divorce
Not every judgment sits at the central Records Center. Depending on the year of your case and the county that handled it, the file may still be at the county courthouse. The NJ Courts website lists which case years have been transferred from each county.3NJ Courts. Copies of Court Records
Divorce Certificate
The New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, issues a different document: a divorce certificate. It confirms that a divorce occurred without reproducing the terms of the settlement. It is the right document for routine administrative tasks such as applying for a new marriage license or updating Social Security records.4New Jersey Department of Health. Divorce Decrees Vital records including divorce records from January 1, 1923, forward are available through that office.5State of New Jersey. Apostilles and Certifications
If you just need proof that the divorce happened, ask for the certificate. If you need the terms, ask for the judgment.
How to Submit the Request
Download Form CN:10200 from the NJ Courts website. For all non-tax-court requests, the completed form is submitted through the Judiciary Electronic Documents Submission system, known as JEDS.1NJ Courts. Records Request Form CN 10200
The form asks what kind of copy you want. Options include a plain uncertified copy, a certified copy without a seal, a certified copy with a seal, or an exemplified copy, which adds further authentication on top of the seal. You also pick delivery: pickup, U.S. Mail, or email. Digital copies come by email; certified or exemplified documents with physical seals are mailed or held for pickup.
Before you file the request, look up your case through the NJ Courts “Find a Case” tool. You can search by party name or docket number.6NJ Courts. Find a Case Having the docket number ready cuts down processing time noticeably.
What to Include
Your request should carry the full legal names of both spouses as they appeared on the case filing, including any maiden names, the year of the divorce or your best approximation, and the county where the case was filed. Include the docket number if you have it. Attach the redacted copy of your photo ID. If you are not a party to the divorce, attach the court order authorizing release.1NJ Courts. Records Request Form CN 10200
Fees and Timing
Cost depends on the copy type. Plain uncertified copies run 5 cents per letter-size page or 7 cents per legal-size page. A certified copy of a judgment of divorce starts at a minimum of $10. Sealed, exemplified, and special copy requests carry additional fees.2NJ Courts. How Do I Obtain a Copy of a Final Judgment of Divorce7NJ Courts. New Jersey Court Filing Fees
JEDS submissions are paid by credit card. Mailed applications are paid by check. Processing generally runs one to three weeks, longer for older files or during periods of heavy volume.
What Gets Redacted Before Release
Even parties to the case do not get the file exactly as it was filed. New Jersey Court Rule 1:38-7 requires redaction of Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, vehicle plate numbers, insurance policy numbers, active financial account numbers, and active credit card numbers.8NJ Courts. Clarification of Rule 1:38 – Family Part Records
Information identifying minor children is protected, and details of domestic violence allegations are treated similarly. The fact of the divorce stays in the record; the most sensitive personal and financial specifics come out before anyone sees the file.9Government Records Council. Redacting Government Records
Sealing Goes Beyond Redaction
If standard redaction is not enough, either spouse can file a motion asking the court to seal specific parts of the file. The judge weighs the harm of disclosure against the public’s right of access. Grounds that may support sealing include identification of children, naming of sexual assault victims, exposure of financial information that could enable fraud, and false allegations that could damage reputation.
One limit worth knowing: the divorce itself cannot be erased from the court record. The legal fact that the marriage ended stays public. Sealing reaches only specific documents or details within the case, not the existence of the case.
Using the Decree Abroad
If you need your New Jersey divorce decree recognized in a foreign country that participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, obtain an apostille from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. The document you submit must be an original or certified copy bearing the original signature or certification of the issuing official.5State of New Jersey. Apostilles and Certifications
New Jersey offers an online Apostille/Certification Service through the Treasury website. Complete the request and pay the statutory fee online by credit card or e-check, then mail or drop the documents at the Customer Service Center. If the destination country requires a translation and your decree is in English, attach a notarized translation; the state will issue two separate apostilles and charge two fees. Check the receiving country’s requirements before you submit, since some require a certified translation into their own language.