Cape May County Family Court Records

Cape May County family court records are filed at the county courthouse at 9 North Main Street in Cape May Court House. This small county at the southern tip of New Jersey shares Vicinage 1 with Atlantic County. The Family Division handles divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, juvenile, guardianship, adoption, and paternity cases. You can search Cape May County family court records through the state court website or visit the courthouse in person to review files and request copies of court orders and judgments.

Cape May County Family Division

The Family Division for Cape May County is at the Cape May County Courthouse, 9 North Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. Cape May County is part of the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage (Vicinage 1). The main phone number is 609-402-0100. For matrimonial cases, call ext. 47690. For the Family Division main line, call ext. 47556. John Thomas serves as the Family Division Manager for both Atlantic and Cape May counties and can be reached at ext. 47467.

The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Hon. Julio L. Mendez is the Assignment Judge for the vicinage. The Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage website has full contact information for all court offices. If you need help with court forms or procedures, the Ombudsman, Dominique Brooks, can assist at 609-402-0100 ext. 47230 or by email at Atlcapehelp.mailbox@njcourts.gov.

How to Search Cape May County Records

The NJ Courts Find a Case tool lets you search for civil cases online at no cost. Cape May County uses county code "05" in docket numbers. A typical Cape May County family court docket looks like FM-05-07500-11. If you know the names but not the docket number, the Customer Service Unit at 609-421-6100 can help.

You can also search in person at the courthouse. Go to 9 North Main Street in Cape May Court House. Bring a valid photo ID. The clerk can look up family court records by name or docket number. OPRA requests can be filed through the Government Records Council or sent directly to the court. The court must respond within seven business days.

Note: Cape May County family court records for divorce cases filed up to 2011 are stored at the Records Imaging Center in Trenton.

Family Cases in Cape May County

The Family Division handles many types of cases that produce family court records in Cape May County. Divorce cases follow the rules in N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2. The filing spouse must meet residency rules under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10. Child custody and parenting time cases are filed when parents cannot agree on arrangements for their children.

Child support cases set the amount one parent pays. Domestic violence restraining orders protect victims from abuse. Juvenile delinquency involves youth charged with offenses, and those records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Guardianship puts a legal protector in charge of someone who cannot care for themselves. Adoption records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 9:3-52. Paternity cases confirm the legal father of a child. All of these create family court records in Cape May County.

Cape May County Historical Court Records

Cape May County has a rich history of court records going back centuries. The Cape May County Archives at 7 North Main Street, DN 109, PO Box 5000, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210, holds historical documents for research. You can reach the archives at 609-465-1018. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The archives hold court records from 1797 to 1948, Justice of the Peace dockets from 1786 to 1948, marriage records from 1795 to 1878, and naturalization records from 1896 to 1964. These historical records are useful for genealogical research in Cape May County. The New Jersey State Archives at 225 West State Street in Trenton also has historical court records from across the state, including Cape May County.

For modern family court records in Cape May County, the courthouse and the Records Imaging Center in Trenton are your main sources.

Cape May County Court Fees

Filing a divorce in Cape May County costs $300. Without a lawyer, the pro se surcharge adds $25. Motions are $15 each. Post-judgment motions cost $30.

Copy fees for family court records follow the state schedule. Plain copies cost $0.05 per letter-size page. Certified copies are $15 per document. The Seal of the Court adds $10. A certified divorce judgment is $25 for the first copy and $2 for each extra ordered at the same time. Pay by check or money order to "Treasurer-State of New Jersey." Cash is accepted in person only. If your income is low, you may apply for a fee waiver with the court in Cape May County.

Public Access to Cape May County Family Court Records

Most family court records in Cape May County are open to the public under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, the Open Public Records Act. You do not have to be a party to request them. Rule 1:38 of the New Jersey Court Rules lists the exceptions. Domestic violence records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33. Juvenile and adoption records are closed to the public. Financial details in divorce cases may be redacted.

Divorce documents in Cape May County are only released to a party, their attorney, or someone with a court order. If you need access to a sealed record, you can file a motion with the court. The judge will apply the "good cause" standard from Rule 1:38-11.

The Cape May County Surrogate handles probate, estates, guardianships, and adoptions. The Surrogate's records have their own access rules.

Contact the Surrogate's office for guardianship and adoption matters in Cape May County.

Getting Copies of Cape May County Records

For family court records filed after 2011 in Cape May County, contact the Family Division at the courthouse. For older cases, send your request to the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton. Use the Records Request Form (CN 10200). Mail it to P.O. Box 967, Trenton, NJ 08625-0967. Include the full names of both parties, the docket number if known, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Allow 10 to 15 business days for recent cases. Archived records may take 4 to 6 weeks. Email SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov with questions about your request. The Customer Service Unit at 609-421-6100 can help if you need to find your docket number for Cape May County family court records.

Legal Help in Cape May County

Legal Services of New Jersey serves Cape May County through the statewide hotline at (888) 576-5529. The NJ State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-792-8315 for a first meeting of up to 30 minutes.

The NJ Courts Self-Help Center has forms and guides for divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, and other family court matters. The Ombudsman for the Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage is Dominique Brooks, located at the Atlantic County Civil Courts Building in Atlantic City. Call 609-402-0100 ext. 47230 for questions about court procedures in Cape May County. The child support statewide hotline is 877-655-4371.

Note: Cape May County shares its Ombudsman office with Atlantic County, so some services are based in Atlantic City.

Cape May County Divorce Certificates

The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics issues divorce certificates. This is a short form that proves a divorce took place. It shows the names, date, and county but not the terms. Mail your request to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. The fee is $25 for one copy and $2 for each extra. You can also visit the walk-in center at 140 East Front Street in Trenton.

For the full judgment with all terms, including custody, support, and property, contact the court in Cape May County.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Cape May County. File your family court case in the county where you or the other party lives.