Morris County Family Court Lookup

Morris County family court records are housed at the County Courthouse in Morristown. The Superior Court, Family Division processes all family case types for Morris County residents. This includes divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence, juvenile, guardianship, adoption, and paternity cases. Morris County is part of Vicinage 10, which it shares with Sussex County. You can search family court records through the state online portal or visit the courthouse on Washington Street in Morristown. Staff at the Family Division can help you find records and request copies.

Morris County Family Court Office

The Morris County Courthouse is at Washington and Court Streets in Morristown. The mailing address is P.O. Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963-0910. The Family Intake office is inside the courthouse. An Administration and Records Building at 10 Court Street, 2nd Floor, handles some additional services. All family court filings for Morris County go through this complex.

Morris County shares Vicinage 10 with Sussex County. Each county keeps its own Family Division. The main phone numbers are 973-656-4000 and 862-397-5700. The Family Division main line is 862-397-5700 extension 75145. Visit the Morris/Sussex Vicinage page for a full list of court services and contact numbers. Staff can direct you to the right unit for your type of family court record in Morris County.

The Vicinage site shows court locations, directions, and services for both Morris and Sussex counties.

Search Morris County Family Court Records

The eCourts public access system is the best way to search for Morris County family court records online. It is free and covers all 21 counties. You can search by party name or docket number to find case jacket details. For copies of actual documents, contact the courthouse or submit a formal request.

Morris County docket numbers use county code 14. A divorce case shows as FM-14, non-dissolution as FD-14, and domestic violence as FV-14. The full format is FM-14-01234-24, where the last digits are the year. If you need help finding a docket number for a Morris County case, call the Customer Service Unit at 609-421-6100.

You can search in person at the courthouse in Morristown. Bring photo ID. The clerk searches by name or docket number and can make copies on the spot. You may also file an OPRA request for Morris County court records.

Note: The Family Automated Case Tracking System (FACTS) tracks all divorce cases in Morris County and across the state.

Family Case Types in Morris County

The Family Division at the Morris County Courthouse handles a full range of family cases. Divorce is the most common case type. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2, New Jersey allows both fault and no-fault grounds. The residency rule under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10 requires one spouse to have lived in the state for 12 months before filing on no-fault grounds. Morris County residents file their divorce at the Morristown courthouse.

Custody and child support records in Morris County include parenting plans, financial statements, and court orders. Modifications to custody or support create new entries in the case file. Call 1-877-655-4371 for child support questions in Morris County.

Domestic violence records include temporary and final restraining orders. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-33, these are not public. Juvenile records are sealed under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Adoption files stay confidential under N.J.S.A. 9:3-52. Guardianship and paternity cases are also processed at the Morris County courthouse.

Morris County Filing Fees

Morris County uses the standard state fee schedule. A new divorce complaint costs $300. The pro se surcharge is $25. Motions are $15, and post-judgment motions cost $30. An appeal costs $200. Call the Family Division to verify fees before you file in Morris County.

Copies of Morris County family court records have set prices. Plain copies cost $0.05 per letter page and $0.07 per legal page. Certified copies are $15. The Seal of the Court adds $10. A certified copy of a final judgment of divorce is $25 for the first copy, with additional copies at $2 each. A Certificate of Divorce from the state costs $10. Exemplified copies cost $50 plus page fees. Triple exemplified copies are $60.

Residents who cannot afford fees may apply for a fee waiver through the court in Morris County.

Public Access to Morris County Records

Most family court records in Morris County are public under OPRA (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1). Court Rule 1:38 controls what is open and what is restricted. Thirty of the 38 listed exceptions cover family and criminal records.

Divorce documents in Morris County are only released to a party or attorney of record. Others must obtain a court order. Confidential records include litigant information sheets, custody-related medical reports, domestic violence files, juvenile records, and adoption files. Anyone can file an OPRA request through the Government Records Council or directly with the court. Custodians must respond within seven business days.

Note: Courts may seal additional records for good cause when serious harm would result from disclosure in Morris County.

Getting Copies of Morris County Records

Cases filed in 2017 or earlier are archived at the Records Imaging Center (RIC) in Trenton. Cases filed after 2017 remain at the Morris County courthouse in Morristown. For open cases, go to the Family Division at the courthouse.

For archived Morris County records, submit the Records Request Form (CN 10200) to the Superior Court Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 967, Trenton, NJ 08625-0967. Email SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov with questions. The RIC does not accept walk-in visits. Off-site retrieval takes extra time, so plan ahead when requesting older Morris County family court records.

The Morris County government portal connects to all county departments, including the County Clerk and Surrogate offices.

The portal has contact information and links for requesting records from various Morris County offices.

Legal Help for Morris County Cases

Legal Services of New Jersey serves Morris County residents who meet income guidelines. Call the LSNJLAWSM hotline at (888) 576-5529 to ask about free help with family court cases. Legal Aid of Morris County may also provide assistance with divorce, custody, and support matters.

The New Jersey State Bar Association lawyer referral service is at 1-800-792-8315. The first session is up to 30 minutes with a family law attorney. The NJ Courts Self-Help Center offers free forms and guides for self-represented litigants in Morris County. Kits are available for divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence cases.

Divorce Certificates in Morris County

The New Jersey Office of Vital Statistics issues divorce certificates. A certificate proves a divorce happened. It shows the names, date, and county but not the full terms. Most people need one for a name change, remarriage, or other legal purpose.

The fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $2 for each extra copy at the same time. Mail requests to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. Walk-in service is at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. Records go back to 1848. For the full judgment from a Morris County case with property, custody, and support terms, contact the Family Division in Morristown or the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton.

Cities in Morris County

Morris County has many towns and boroughs. All family court cases are filed at the courthouse in Morristown.

Other towns in Morris County include Randolph, Dover, Denville, Rockaway, Mount Olive, and Chatham. All file family court cases in Morristown.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Morris County. File your family court case in the county where you or the other party lives for proper jurisdiction.