Franklin Township Family Court Records

Franklin Township family court records are kept at the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. This township sits in Somerset County and sends all family case filings to the county seat. Residents who need divorce, custody, child support, or guardianship records can search for them through the Somerset County court system. The Family Division of the Superior Court handles these case types for all towns in the county. You can look up family court records for Franklin Township cases online or by visiting the courthouse in person.

Franklin Township Family Court Location

Franklin Township residents file family court cases at the Somerset County Courthouse. The court is at 20 North Bridge Street in Somerville. This is where you go for divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, and all other family matters. The Family Division processes all case types for every town in Somerset County, so Franklin Township cases share the same courthouse as the rest of the county.

The Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville is about a 20-minute drive from most parts of Franklin Township. Plan to bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Security checks all bags at the door. The clerk office can help you find and copy family court records from Franklin Township cases once you arrive.

How to Search Family Court Records

There are two main ways to search Franklin Township family court records. You can use the online tools from the New Jersey Judiciary, or you can visit the courthouse in Somerville. Online searches give you basic case data like names, dates, and status. In-person visits let you view full case files and get copies on the spot. Both options cover all family court records filed in Somerset County, which includes Franklin Township.

The New Jersey Judiciary provides a free case search tool at njcourts.gov. You can look up cases by party name or docket number. The tool shows filing dates, case status, and party names for family court cases. It does not show the full text of court orders or private documents. For those, you need to contact the clerk.

The New Jersey Judiciary website also offers the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission system. This lets you send records requests without going to the courthouse. You fill out a form online and submit it any time of day.

For older or closed cases, the Records Imaging Center in Trenton may hold the file. Call 609-421-6100 to ask about archived Franklin Township family court records.

Franklin Township Family Case Types

The Family Division at the Somerset County courthouse handles many types of cases for Franklin Township residents. Each case type creates its own set of records. Some records are open to the public. Others have limits on who can see them under Rule 1:38, which lists 38 exceptions to public access. Thirty of those exceptions deal with family and criminal matters.

Family court records for Franklin Township may include:

• Divorce and dissolution filings
• Child custody and parenting time orders
• Child support cases and modifications
• Domestic violence restraining orders
• Juvenile delinquency matters
• Guardianship and adoption records
• Paternity actions

Divorce records from Franklin Township are among the most requested. Under New Jersey law, divorce documents will only be released to a party in the case or the attorney of record. If you are not a party, you need a court order to get copies. Adoption records under N.J.S.A. 9:3-52 are sealed and require a court order in all cases. Juvenile records are also kept private under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60.

Copies of Family Court Records

You can get copies of Franklin Township family court records from the Somerset County clerk office. For open cases, go to the courthouse in Somerville. For closed and archived cases, submit a request to the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton. The Records Request Form (CN 10200) is needed for all requests.

Copy fees follow the state schedule. Plain copies cost $0.05 per page for letter size and $0.07 for legal size. Certified copies cost $15 per document. A seal of the court costs $10 more. Exemplified copies run $50 plus the cost of plain copies. These fees apply to all family court records from Franklin Township and the rest of Somerset County.

Note: Payment is by check or money order payable to "Treasurer-State of New Jersey" for mailed requests.

Divorce Records in Franklin Township

Divorce is the most common family court case type. Franklin Township residents who file for divorce do so at the Somerset County courthouse. The filing fee for a new divorce case is $300. A $25 surcharge applies if you file without a lawyer. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10, at least one spouse must have lived in New Jersey for 12 months before filing. You do not have to live in Franklin Township for the full year. You just need to be a state resident.

Most divorce cases in Franklin Township use the no-fault ground of "irreconcilable differences" under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2. This means the marriage has been broken for at least six months with no chance of repair. Fault grounds like desertion, extreme cruelty, or separation for 18 months are also allowed but less common.

Once a divorce is final, the judgment becomes a public record. You can also get a divorce certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health. The certificate is a shorter document that shows names, date, and county. The judgment has all the details on property, custody, and support. Certificates cost $25 from the Office of Vital Statistics in Trenton.

Franklin Township Court Resources

The New Jersey Courts offer self-help tools for people who need family court records or want to file a case on their own. The Self-Help Center has forms, guides, and step-by-step instructions for divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence matters. All forms are free to download and print.

The self-help resources cover many needs for Franklin Township residents. You can find complaint forms for new cases, answer forms for responding to a case, and forms for modifying existing orders. The site also explains how to establish paternity and how to file for a restraining order. For child support questions, call the New Jersey Child Support hotline at 1-877-655-4371.

If you need a lawyer, the New Jersey State Bar Association runs a referral service at 1-800-792-8315. The first meeting is up to 30 minutes. Legal Services of New Jersey at (888) 576-5529 provides free help to people with low income. For domestic violence, call the NJ Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-7233 any time.

Note: The Somerset County courthouse has a self-help center where staff can guide you to the right forms for your Franklin Township family court matter.

Public Access to Court Records

New Jersey follows a strong rule of public access to court records. Rule 1:38 sets the standard. It says all court records are open unless a specific exception applies. For family court records from Franklin Township, many exceptions do apply. Domestic violence records are closed under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33. Juvenile records are private. Child support records that name the parties are restricted. Family Case Information Statements are not public except for the parties and their lawyers.

If you want to seal or unseal a family court record from Franklin Township, you must file a motion with the court. The person who wants the record sealed must show that making it public would cause clear harm. The court weighs this against the public right to see court files. Records that are already sealed can be opened if someone files a motion and the other side cannot show good cause to keep them sealed.

For records that are open, you can request them under the Open Public Records Act at nj.gov/grc. The custodian must respond within seven business days. Questions about access to specific Franklin Township family court records should go to the Somerset County clerk office at 908-332-7700.

Somerset County Family Court Records

Franklin Township is in Somerset County. All family court filings go through the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. The county court serves every municipality in the county. For more on the county court system, fees, and related resources, visit the Somerset County family court records page.

View Somerset County Family Court Records