Court records in Bergen County, New Jersey, are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk's office and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. BergenCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Bergen County. Additional access points include the New Jersey Judiciary's case search portal, the Bergen County Clerk's office, and other state and county government resources.
Bergen County Court System Overview
Bergen County is part of the Superior Court of New Jersey, which operates as a unified, statewide court system. The county falls within the Bergen Vicinage, designated as Vicinage 2 by the New Jersey Judiciary. The Superior Court in Bergen County includes a Criminal Division, Civil Division, Family Division, and General Equity. The Bergen County Justice Center serves as the primary courthouse.
Municipal courts throughout Bergen County's 70 municipalities handle lower-level matters independently. The Assignment Judge for the Bergen Vicinage oversees court administration, judicial assignments, and calendar management for all divisions.
Courts Serving Bergen County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of New Jersey – Bergen Vicinage | 10 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 | 201-527-2700 |
| U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey | Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ 07102 | 973-645-3730 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey | 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ 07102 | 973-645-4764 |
Bergen County also has municipal courts in each of its 70 municipalities. These courts handle disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, and local ordinance violations. You can search municipal court cases through the Municipal Court Case Search portal. For contact information for a specific municipal court, reach out to the municipality directly or visit the Bergen County contact page.
What Types of Cases Bergen County Courts Hear
Courts serving Bergen County residents handle a wide range of case types across multiple divisions:
- Criminal: Indictable offenses (felonies), disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors), petty disorderly persons offenses
- Civil: General civil litigation, contract disputes, tort claims, landlord-tenant matters
- Small Claims: Civil disputes up to the statutory dollar limit
- Family: Divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights
- Probate/Surrogate: Decedent estates, guardianships, trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, child protective matters
- Traffic: Moving violations, DUI/DWI
- General Equity: Injunctions, foreclosures, specific performance
District Court Cases in Bergen County
In New Jersey's unified court system, the Superior Court handles what many states assign to separate district courts. The Criminal Division of the Bergen County Superior Court hears all indictable offenses — the New Jersey equivalent of felonies. Cases begin when the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office presents matters to a grand jury, which decides whether to issue an indictment. Once indicted, cases are assigned to a Superior Court judge in the Criminal Division.
The Civil Division handles lawsuits exceeding the Special Civil Part's jurisdictional limit, currently $20,000. This includes personal injury cases, contract disputes, and other civil matters. The General Equity part handles foreclosures, injunctions, and similar equitable relief. Appeals from municipal courts are heard by the Criminal Division of the Superior Court in a trial de novo proceeding.
Magistrate Court Cases in Bergen County
New Jersey does not use magistrate courts. Instead, the Special Civil Part of the Superior Court and the municipal courts handle matters that magistrate courts would in other states.
- Special Civil Part: Civil cases up to $20,000, small claims up to $3,000 (or $5,000 for security deposit cases), and landlord-tenant disputes
- Municipal Courts: Disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, traffic violations, DUI/DWI arraignments and hearings, local ordinance violations, and fish and game violations
Municipal court judges preside over these matters in each of Bergen County's 70 municipalities. Some municipalities share joint municipal courts. Traffic violations and DUI/DWI cases are handled entirely at the municipal court level unless they involve indictable charges.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Bergen County
Family Law
The Family Division of the Bergen County Superior Court handles divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, and termination of parental rights. Domestic violence temporary restraining orders can be obtained after hours through the municipal court. Certified copies of divorce decrees are available through the Superior Court Records Center.
Probate and Surrogate
The Bergen County Surrogate's Office handles probate of wills, appointment of estate administrators, and guardianship of minors and incapacitated persons. The Surrogate's Office operates separately from the Superior Court but is located in the county government complex.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and child protective (Title 9 and Title 30) cases are heard by the Family Division. Juvenile records are confidential under New Jersey law and are not available through public case search tools.
How Cases Move Through the Bergen County Court System
- Filing or Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or arrest; civil cases start with a complaint filed with the court clerk; family matters are initiated by petition or complaint.
- Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge through the court's case management system. Indictable criminal cases are assigned after grand jury indictment.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment; civil cases receive a scheduling conference or case management order; family cases may begin with a preliminary hearing or mediation referral.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and engage in plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil). Mandatory arbitration applies to certain civil cases.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to trial, plea, settlement, or default judgment depending on the track.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing; civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from the Superior Court go to the Appellate Division.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Bergen County
The Assignment Judge for the Bergen Vicinage oversees all court operations in Bergen County, including judicial assignments, case flow management, and administrative policies. A Trial Court Administrator supports day-to-day operations.
Public access to court records in New Jersey is governed by Rule 1:38 of the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey. Most court records are presumed open to the public, with exceptions for sealed records, juvenile records, certain family matters, and records restricted by statute or court order. You can request copies of court records by submitting a Records Request Form to the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
County government records — distinct from court records — may be requested under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). Bergen County accepts OPRA requests through its online OPRA portal.
Hearings are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted via video or telephone; check with the court clerk's office for current remote hearing procedures.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Bergen County
- Case Search: Use the Find a Case portal to search for civil, criminal, and family case information in the Superior Court. Criminal cases can also be searched through PROMIS/Gavel Public Access.
- Municipal Court Cases: Search traffic tickets, disorderly persons offenses, and other municipal matters through the Municipal Court Case Search.
- Court Records Requests: Submit the Judiciary Records Request Form for copies of Superior Court records, including closed case files.
- Bergen County Clerk: The Bergen County Clerk's office maintains land records, notary commissions, and other recorded documents. The Clerk is historically known as the "keeper of records" in New Jersey.
- Vital Records: Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available through the New Jersey Department of Health Vital Statistics office or through local registrars.
- Divorce Decrees: Certified copies of New Jersey divorce decrees are available through the Superior Court Records Center.
- Inmate Search: Look up individuals in state custody through the New Jersey Department of Corrections offender search. Parolees can be searched via the State Parole Board offender search.
- Property Tax Records: The Bergen County Board of Taxation provides property assessment information and handles tax appeals.
- Public Safety: The Bergen County Department of Public Safety oversees emergency management, consumer protection, and related services.
- Self-Help Resources: The New Jersey Judiciary website offers court forms, filing instructions, and self-help guides for unrepresented litigants at njcourts.gov.