Plainfield Family Court Record Search
Plainfield family court records are filed at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Plainfield is a city in Union County with a diverse population and an active court system. All family court cases for Plainfield go through the Union County Superior Court, Family Division. This includes divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, and other family law matters. You can search for records online using the state courts website or visit the Elizabeth courthouse in person to request copies of family court filings.
Plainfield Quick Facts
Plainfield Family Court Location
Plainfield residents file all family court cases at the Union County Courthouse. The Family Division is at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. The phone number is 908-787-1650. This courthouse handles divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, guardianship, and all other family matters for Plainfield and the rest of Union County.
| Court | Union County Superior Court, Family Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ 07207 |
| Phone | 908-787-1650 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | njcourts.gov - Union County Vicinage |
Plainfield is about 15 miles west of Elizabeth. The drive takes 25 to 35 minutes. NJ Transit trains connect Plainfield to Elizabeth. The courthouse is near the Elizabeth train station.
Search Plainfield Family Court Records
The state courts website has a free case lookup tool. Go to njcourts.gov and search by name or docket number. This shows basic info like filing dates, case status, and party names. It works for Plainfield family cases filed in Union County.
For copies of court documents, file the Records Request Form (CN 10200). Download it from njcourts.gov. Only case parties or their attorneys can access divorce documents. Others need a court order. Family court records have strict access limits under Rule 1:38. Thirty of the 38 exceptions deal with family and criminal matters.
The Plainfield Municipal Court offers a Records Request Form on its own website at njcourts.gov/selfhelp. This form covers municipal court records, not family court records.
Plainfield Municipal Court
Plainfield has an active municipal court at 325 Watchung Avenue. The Plainfield Municipal Court handles traffic tickets, disorderly persons offenses, and local ordinance violations.
Court sessions run on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and Wednesday at 9:00 AM. The Judge is Honorable Carl L. Marshall. The phone is 908-753-3064. Virtual sessions are held via Zoom with login details mailed to participants. This court does not handle family cases. Those go to Elizabeth.
The City of Plainfield website has more details on city departments and local services.
Plainfield city services include police, fire, recreation, and code enforcement. Family court matters are handled at the county level in Elizabeth.
Family Case Types for Plainfield
The Union County Family Division handles all family case types. Divorce, child custody, and child support are the most common. The court also handles domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, guardianship, adoption, and paternity cases. Each filing creates records that become part of the court file.
Divorce records include the complaint, answer, and final judgment. Custody cases have parenting plans and court orders. Child support is tracked through the Probation Division. Domestic violence records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33. Juvenile records are confidential. Adoption records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-52.
Plainfield's Union County code in the docket number system is 20. This helps identify where a case was filed when looking at records.
Note: Court records are kept in the form the court maintains them and cannot be compiled into custom formats.
Filing Family Cases from Plainfield
To file a divorce case, you go to the Union County courthouse in Elizabeth. The filing fee is $300. A $25 surcharge applies if you do not have a lawyer. You must meet the state residency rule under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10. At least one spouse must have lived in New Jersey for 12 months before filing.
After filing, serve the other party through the Union County Sheriff, a process server, or certified mail. If you both agree on terms, the case can wrap up in a few months. Contested cases may need mediation or a trial. Low-income Plainfield residents can request a fee waiver by filling out the court form and showing proof of need.
Plainfield Legal Resources
Legal Services of New Jersey provides free help to those who qualify. Call 888-576-5529. The NJ Courts Self-Help Center has all the forms and guides for filing on your own. The State Bar referral line is 1-800-792-8315.
For domestic violence help, call 1-800-572-7233 at any hour. Child support questions go to 1-877-655-4371. Plainfield residents can also submit court papers through the JEDS online system to avoid the trip to Elizabeth. Payment for municipal court tickets in Plainfield can be made online at www.NJMCDirect.com, but family court payments go through the county clerk.
Union County Family Court Records
Plainfield is in Union County, and all family court filings go through the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth. The county court handles cases for all Union County municipalities. For more on the county court system, fee schedules, and resources, visit the Union County family court records page.