Morris County Divorce Filings
Morris County divorce records are kept by the Superior Court, Family Division in Morristown. The court sits within the Morris/Sussex Vicinage and serves all towns and boroughs in the county. Cases filed here receive a docket number in the format FM-14-XXXXX-XX. The Family Division handles all divorce matters, from the first complaint through the final judgment. If you need to find a divorce record from Morris County, the courthouse in Morristown is the place to start your search.
Morris County Quick Facts
Morris County Family Court Location
The Morris County Superior Court, Family Division is at Washington and Court Streets in Morristown. This is the sole court that handles divorce cases for all of Morris County. The mailing address is P.O. Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963. You can reach the Family Division by phone at 973-656-4000. Staff at this office can help you with questions about filing, records, and case status for Morris County divorce records.
The court is part of the Morris/Sussex Vicinage, which serves both Morris County and Sussex County. Each county has its own courthouse, but they share the same presiding judge and court staff. All Morris County divorce records stay at the Morristown courthouse. If you plan to visit, arrive before 3:30 PM to allow time for your request to be processed.
| Court |
Morris County Superior Court Family Division Washington and Court Streets P.O. Box 910 Morristown, NJ 07963 Phone: 973-656-4000 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | njcourts.gov - Morris/Sussex Vicinage |
Note: The Morris County Clerk at 10 Court Street does not maintain divorce records. The clerk handles land records, elections, passports, county IDs, and marriages. For divorce records, go to the Family Division.
Morris County Clerk Office
People sometimes call the Morris County Clerk looking for divorce records. The County Clerk does not keep divorce files. According to the clerk's office, they record county land records, manage sample ballots for elections, certify election results, process passport applications, issue county IDs, and perform marriages. None of those tasks include storing or providing divorce records in Morris County.
The County Clerk is at 10 Court Street in Morristown. You can call them at (973) 285-6122. The office provides multi-language support in English, Arabic, Chinese, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, and Korean. While these services are helpful for many county needs, divorce records must be obtained from the Superior Court Family Division or the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
How to Search Divorce Records
There are a few ways to search for Morris County divorce records. You can look online, visit the courthouse, or send a written request. The method you pick depends on what details you have and what type of copy you need. Basic case data is often free. Certified copies of the judgment cost a fee.
The New Jersey Courts website offers an online tool called Find a Case. This lets you search by party name or docket number across all New Jersey counties, including Morris County. You can see case type, filing date, and status. It does not show the full text of divorce records, but it confirms whether a case exists. For the actual documents, you need to contact the court or visit in person.
To search Morris County divorce records in person, go to the Family Division at the courthouse in Morristown. Bring a valid photo ID. Give the clerk the name of one or both spouses and the year of the divorce if you know it. The docket number speeds up the search. Morris County divorce dockets start with FM-14, so if you have that prefix, you are in the right place.
- Search online at the NJ Courts Find a Case portal
- Visit the Family Division in Morristown with photo ID
- Mail a written request to P.O. Box 910, Morristown, NJ 07963
- File an OPRA request under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
Note: Morris County divorce records filed up to 2015 may be stored at the Records Information Center (RIC). Records from 2016 forward are held at the courthouse. Older requests may take longer to fill.
Morris County Divorce Record Storage
Where your Morris County divorce record is stored depends on when it was filed. Cases from 2016 and later are kept at the courthouse in Morristown. These records can usually be pulled the same day. You can ask the clerk to look up a case by name or docket number and get copies while you wait.
Divorce records filed in 2015 or earlier have been moved to the Records Information Center, also known as the RIC. This is a central storage site used by New Jersey courts to hold older files. If your Morris County divorce record is at the RIC, the clerk can request it for you. Retrieval from the RIC takes a few business days. Plan ahead if you need an older record from Morris County.
Contents of Morris County Divorce Records
A divorce record in Morris County is a collection of all documents filed during the case. The complaint for divorce is the first item. It lists the grounds under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2, the names of both spouses, and the relief sought. The answer, if one was filed, comes next. From there, the file grows to include motions, orders, financial statements, and the final judgment.
The final judgment of divorce is the document most people request from Morris County. This is the court order that ends the marriage. It sets out the terms for property division, custody, parenting time, child support, and alimony. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10, at least one spouse must have lived in New Jersey for 12 months before filing. The judgment becomes a permanent part of Morris County divorce records once it is entered by the court.
Sealed records are rare but do exist. Court Rule 1:38 governs public access to court records in New Jersey. Most Morris County divorce records are open to the public. Financial documents and details about children may be redacted in some cases. But the basic facts of the case, the names, dates, and judgment terms, are typically available.
Divorce Certificates From the State
A divorce certificate is different from the full divorce record. The New Jersey Department of Health issues divorce certificates through its Office of Vital Statistics. A certificate confirms that a divorce took place. It shows names, date, and county. It does not include the terms of the settlement.
You can order a divorce certificate by mail from the Office of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. The fee is $25 for one certified copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $2. You can also visit the office in person at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. Certificates are available for New Jersey divorces going back to 1848. If you need more than just proof that the divorce happened, such as the custody or property terms, request the full judgment from the Morris County Superior Court instead.
Morris County Divorce Filing Resources
If you are thinking about filing for divorce in Morris County, the NJ Courts Self-Help Center has forms and guides. All the paperwork you need is available online at no cost. The site walks you through each step, from filling out the complaint to serving the other spouse.
The Morris/Sussex Vicinage also has a self-help center at the courthouse in Morristown. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you which forms to use and where to file them. This is a good starting point if you plan to handle your Morris County divorce without a lawyer. Legal aid groups serve Morris County as well. Legal Services of New Jersey can be reached at (888) 576-5529 for those who qualify based on income.
Public Access to Divorce Records
Morris County divorce records are public records under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, the Open Public Records Act. You do not have to be a party to the case to request access. Anyone can ask to view or copy a Morris County divorce record at the courthouse.
To make a formal request, you can file an OPRA request with the court. Put your request in writing and include as much detail as you can. The full name of at least one spouse and the approximate year of the divorce will help the clerk find the file. You can also provide the docket number if it is available. The court has seven business days to respond to an OPRA request under state law. There may be a fee for copies of Morris County divorce records depending on the number of pages.
Note: Some parts of a Morris County divorce record may be sealed or redacted. Financial disclosure forms and child-related documents are sometimes restricted. The court decides on a case-by-case basis under Court Rule 1:38.
Cities in Morris County
Morris County has 39 municipalities. Every town files divorce cases at the Superior Court in Morristown. No matter where you live in the county, the Family Division courthouse is your court for divorce records.
Other towns in Morris County include Morristown, Randolph, Mount Olive, Denville, Roxbury, Dover, Madison, Chatham, and Boonton. All divorce cases for these places are filed at the Morris County courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties share a border with Morris County. You must file for divorce in the county where you or your spouse lives. If you are not sure which county applies to your case, check your street address against the county map.