Access Mercer County Family Court Records

Mercer County family court records are maintained at the Civil Courthouse in Trenton. The county seat is also the state capital, which puts the Family Division close to many state-level court offices. The Superior Court handles divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, juvenile, guardianship, adoption, and paternity cases for all Mercer County residents. You can search family court records online through the state system or visit the courthouse on South Broad Street. The clerk staff in Mercer County can help you find and copy court records.

Mercer County Family Division Court

The Mercer County Family Division is at the Civil Courthouse, 175 South Broad Street in Trenton. The mailing address is P.O. Box 8068, Trenton, NJ 08650-0068. This courthouse handles all family case types filed in Mercer County. The Criminal Courthouse is at a separate location on South Warren Street, but family matters go through the Civil Courthouse on South Broad.

The main phone for the Mercer County Vicinage is 609-571-4200. The Family Division Manager is at extension 74390. The Family Division main line is extension 74380. Specific units have their own extensions. Matrimonial cases use 74130. Domestic violence uses 74405 or 74402. Non-dissolution intake is at 74100. Juvenile cases use 74370. Children in Court uses 74140. Call the right extension to reach the unit that handles your type of family court record in Mercer County.

The Vicinage page lists court hours, locations, and staff contacts for Mercer County.

Note: Mercer County is unique because its archive year is 2023, the most recent of any county in the state.

Search Mercer County Family Records

The eCourts public access system lets you search Mercer County family court records for free. Enter a party name or docket number to find case jacket information. The tool works for all 21 New Jersey counties. Basic case data is available at no cost.

Mercer County docket numbers start with FM-11 for divorce cases, FD-11 for non-dissolution matters, and FV-11 for domestic violence. The county code is 11. If you do not know your docket number, call the Customer Service Unit at 609-421-6100 for help locating it.

You can also search in person at the Civil Courthouse in Trenton. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can look up records by name or docket number and make copies for you on the spot. An OPRA request is another way to get Mercer County family court records. Submit one through the court or the Government Records Council.

Family Case Types in Mercer County

Mercer County processes all types of family court cases. Divorce filings are the most common request. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2, you can file on fault or no-fault grounds. The state requires at least one spouse to have lived in New Jersey for 12 months before filing a no-fault divorce under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10. If you live in Mercer County, you file here.

Custody and parenting time cases produce extensive records. These include parenting plans, evaluations, mediation outcomes, and court orders. Child support records in Mercer County show the amount ordered, payment history, and any changes. Call 1-877-655-4371 for child support questions.

Domestic violence records are protected under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33. Juvenile records stay sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Adoption files are confidential under N.J.S.A. 9:3-52. Guardianship and paternity cases round out the family case types handled in Mercer County.

Mercer County Court Fees

Filing fees in Mercer County match the state schedule. A divorce complaint costs $300 to file. The pro se surcharge is $25. Motions cost $15, and post-judgment motions are $30. Appeals run $200. Always confirm fees with the clerk before filing in Mercer County.

Copies of Mercer County family court records cost $0.05 per letter-size page for plain copies. Certified copies are $15 per document. The Seal of the Court is $10 extra. A certified copy of a final judgment of divorce is $25, with each additional copy at $2 when ordered at the same time. A Certificate of Divorce costs $10. Exemplified copies cost $50 plus per-page charges. Pay by check or money order to "Treasurer-State of New Jersey."

Fee waivers are available for low-income filers in Mercer County.

Public Access to Mercer County Cases

Family court records in Mercer County are generally public under OPRA (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1). Anyone can request to view them. Court Rule 1:38 lists 38 exceptions. Of these, 30 concern family or criminal matters.

Divorce documents in Mercer County are only released to a party or their attorney. Others need a court order. Confidential records include litigant information sheets, medical reports in custody cases, domestic violence files, juvenile records, and adoption records. Courts may seal other records for good cause when the privacy interest outweighs public access.

Note: Mercer County has archived all cases through 2023 at the Records Imaging Center, making it the most recent archive of any county in New Jersey.

How to Get Copies in Mercer County

Mercer County stands out because its archive year is 2023. This means nearly all closed family court cases are already stored at the Records Imaging Center (RIC) in Trenton. For any closed case through 2023, submit the Records Request Form (CN 10200) to the Superior Court Clerk's Office at P.O. Box 967, Trenton, NJ 08625-0967.

For open cases, go to the Family Division at the Civil Courthouse on South Broad Street in Trenton. The clerk can pull files and make copies while you wait. Email SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov for status updates on requests you have already submitted.

Because the RIC is also in Trenton, Mercer County residents have the convenience of being close to both the local courthouse and the state archive center.

Legal Resources in Mercer County

Legal Services of New Jersey operates in Mercer County and provides free help to residents who qualify based on income. Call the LSNJLAWSM hotline at (888) 576-5529. Central Jersey Legal Services also serves the Trenton area with family law assistance for those who cannot afford a lawyer.

The New Jersey State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-792-8315. You get up to 30 minutes for a first talk with an attorney. The NJ Courts Self-Help Center offers free forms and step-by-step guides for divorce, custody, child support, and other family cases in Mercer County.

Mercer County Divorce Certificates

The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics issues divorce certificates. These are short documents that prove a divorce happened. They show names, the date, and the county. They do not include settlement details. The fee is $25 for the first copy, $2 for each extra.

Mail requests to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Walk-in service is at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. Mercer County residents can easily visit this office since it is right in Trenton. Records go back to 1848. For the full judgment with property, custody, and support terms, contact the Family Division or the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

Cities in Mercer County

All municipalities in Mercer County file family court cases at the Civil Courthouse in Trenton. The court serves every town in the county.

Other towns in Mercer County include Princeton, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, East Windsor, and West Windsor. All file family cases at the courthouse in Trenton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Mercer County. File your family court case in the county where you live for the court to have proper jurisdiction.