Union County Divorce Court Records

Union County divorce records are filed and stored at the Superior Court, Family Division in Elizabeth. This densely populated county in northeastern New Jersey processes a high volume of divorce cases each year through its courthouse at 2 Broad Street. The Dissolution Assignment Office, located in the New Annex Building at the same address, manages the intake of new divorce filings. Whether you need a copy of a past final judgment, want to check the status of a case, or are looking for a specific docket number, the Elizabeth courthouse is your starting point for Union County divorce records.

Union County Divorce Records at the Family Division

The Superior Court Family Division at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth is the sole office for divorce records in Union County. You can reach the court at (908) 787-1650 or (908) 659-3314. The Dissolution Assignment Office, in the New Annex Building at the same address, handles the intake side of new divorce filings. For records of completed cases, the Family Division is the office to contact.

The Union County Clerk is at 2 Broad Street, Room 115, and can be reached at (908) 527-4780. The clerk's office handles deeds, land records, and other civil filings. Land records from 1977 onward are available online through the clerk's system. However, the County Clerk does not maintain divorce records. That role belongs to the court system. If you visit the clerk's office for a divorce file, they will redirect you to the Family Division.

The Union County Vicinage page on the NJ Courts website provides court contact details and links for the Family Division.

Union County also has multiple Surrogate satellite offices in Cranford, Scotch Plains, Summit, and Union. The Surrogate handles wills, estates, and probate matters. None of these satellite offices deal with divorce records. For any Union County divorce records request, you must go through the Family Division at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.

Note: The County Clerk at Room 115 handles land records and deeds, not divorce records. The Surrogate satellite offices in Cranford, Scotch Plains, Summit, and Union handle estate matters only.

Searching Union County Divorce Records

There are multiple ways to search for divorce records in Union County. The method that works best for you depends on what information you have and how old the case is. Online, phone, and in-person options are all available through the court system.

The Find a Case tool on the New Jersey Courts website is the quickest free starting point. You can search by name or docket number. Union County divorce cases use the format FM-20-XXXXX-XX. The "20" code marks the case as a Union County filing. With a docket number, you can pull up basic case information in seconds. The tool shows the names of the parties, the filing date, and the current case status. It does not display the full text of any court order or settlement.

If you visit in person, go to 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. Bring a photo ID. Court staff can search their system for the case you need. Copies of recent records can often be printed while you wait.

The records storage cutoff is a key fact for Union County. Divorce records from 2018 onward are stored at the Elizabeth courthouse. Cases from 2017 or earlier were sent to the Records Information Center in Trenton. For those older Union County divorce records, contact the Superior Court Records Center instead.

Note: Union County keeps divorce records from 2018 forward at the local courthouse. Records from 2017 and earlier are at the state Records Information Center in Trenton.

Fees for Union County Record Copies

Copy fees for Union County divorce records follow the statewide court fee schedule. Plain copies are $0.05 per page for letter size paper and $0.07 per page for legal size. A certified copy of any court document costs $15. A certified copy of a final judgment of divorce is $25. These fees are the same whether you request records in person at the Elizabeth courthouse or by mail.

Call ahead to check which payment methods the clerk accepts at the window. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey. If you do not know the exact cost, call (908) 787-1650 for an estimate before sending payment.

Public Access to Union County Divorce Records

New Jersey law makes most court records open to the public. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, anyone can request copies of Union County divorce records. You do not need to be a party named in the case. The final judgment and most filings in a divorce case are available for public review.

Court Rule 1:38 spells out the rules for public access to court records in New Jersey. It defines which documents are open and which may be sealed. In Union County divorce cases, the final judgment is almost always public. Some materials within the file may be restricted. Financial disclosures, custody evaluations, and records naming minor children are often sealed by court order or standing rule. When you request a complete case file, the clerk may redact or withhold certain pages before providing copies.

The grounds for divorce in New Jersey are listed in N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2. They include irreconcilable differences, desertion, and other causes recognized by state law. This statute applies in every county. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10, the court clerk must report each divorce to the state registrar of vital statistics. This reporting feeds the divorce certificate database maintained by the New Jersey Department of Health, including all Union County divorces.

The Union County government website provides general county information, though divorce records are accessed through the court system.

Union County Divorce Records Online

Online tools let you start your search for Union County divorce records from anywhere. The state court system provides the most reliable resource. Third-party websites also index some case data, but they may lag behind the official system in terms of updates and completeness.

The Union County Clerk's website offers access to land records from 1977 forward. While this is useful for property research, it does not include divorce records. For court records, use the state court system instead.

The County Clerk site is a good resource for land and property records but does not hold divorce case files.

The NJ Courts self-help divorce page has forms, guides, and step-by-step instructions. It is aimed at people going through a divorce, but the information about how records are filed and stored applies to anyone searching for Union County divorce records.

For divorce certificates rather than full court records, the New Jersey Department of Health is the right source. A divorce certificate is a short document that confirms a divorce occurred. It does not include the settlement terms or other details found in Union County court divorce records.

Note: Online searches show basic case data only. Full copies of divorce decrees and judgments are not posted on any public website.

Visiting the Elizabeth Courthouse

The Union County courthouse complex is on Broad Street in Elizabeth. The city is well connected by road and rail. The New Jersey Turnpike, Routes 1 and 9, and several NJ Transit lines all pass through Elizabeth. Parking garages and lots are near the courthouse, though spaces can fill up during busy court hours. Plan to arrive early if you are driving.

When you enter the building, you will go through a security checkpoint. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell the staff you need the Family Division for divorce records. They will point you in the right direction. If you have the docket number, your search will be much faster. Without one, the clerk can still look up the case by the names of the spouses and the year the case was filed.

What to bring to the courthouse:

• A valid photo ID such as a driver's license or passport
• Full names of both parties in the divorce
• The docket number if known (format: FM-20-XXXXX-XX)
• The approximate year the divorce was filed
• Payment for copy fees

Elizabeth is the county seat and one of the largest cities in New Jersey. The downtown area around the courthouse has many restaurants and shops. If your records request takes time to process, you will find plenty of options for food and errands within a short walk.

Requesting Union Divorce Records by Mail

If you cannot get to Elizabeth, you can request Union County divorce records by mail. Send a written request to the Family Division at 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07207. Include the names of both spouses, the docket number or the approximate year of the case, and a check or money order for the fees payable to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey.

Mail requests usually take two to four weeks. For cases from 2017 or earlier, direct your mail request to the Records Information Center in Trenton instead. The Elizabeth courthouse holds Union County divorce records from 2018 forward only. If you are unsure of the filing year, call (908) 787-1650 first so the staff can tell you which office has the file.

Nearby Counties and Union County Cities

Union County borders several other New Jersey counties. Divorce cases are filed in the county where one spouse resided at the time of filing. If someone moved between counties, the case could be in a neighboring county rather than Union.

Counties that border Union include:

• Essex County to the north
• Middlesex County to the south
• Somerset County to the west
• Morris County to the northwest

Several large communities in Union County are covered in our city directory. Elizabeth is the county seat and largest city. Union Township and Plainfield are also in the county. Residents of all these cities and every other Union County municipality have their divorce cases handled at the Elizabeth courthouse. Each bordering county has its own Family Division and its own cutoff year for local record storage.

Note: All Union County divorce cases carry the "20" code in the docket number, which makes them easy to identify in any search result or court reference.