Find Bergen County Court Records
Bergen County is the most populous county in New Jersey, and its court system handles a large volume of cases each year. The county seat is Hackensack, where the Bergen County Justice Center serves as the main courthouse. Court records in Bergen County cover civil disputes, criminal cases, family matters, and chancery filings. Whether you need a case docket or a certified copy of a judgment, this page explains how to search for and obtain court records in Bergen County.
Bergen County Quick Facts
Bergen County Superior Court
The Bergen County Superior Court sits at the Bergen County Justice Center, 10 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Call (201) 221-0700 for general court information. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. All major case types are handled here. The Criminal Division processes indictable offenses. The Family Division covers custody, support, and domestic violence matters. Civil cases over $20,000 go to the Civil Division.
The New Jersey Judiciary website is one way to look up court records across all counties. The NJ Courts homepage links to statewide tools and local court information. Below is a screenshot of the NJ Judiciary site.
The Special Civil Part hears claims between $5,000 and $20,000. Small claims and landlord cases also go through this part. The Chancery Division handles foreclosure, general equity, and probate matters. Every division creates records that become part of the Bergen County court system. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for searching case information.
| Court |
Bergen County Justice Center 10 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 Phone: (201) 221-0700 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Bergen County Clerk Court Document Access
County Clerk John S. Hogan runs the Bergen County Clerk's Office at One Bergen County Plaza, Room 122, Hackensack, NJ 07601. The phone number is (201) 336-7000. This office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents. It also handles trade names, notary commissions, and election administration.
The Clerk's Office keeps property records going back to 1964. You can search these records online through the Bergen County Clerk website. The online tool lets you search by name, address, book and page, or instrument number. Guest users can view documents with watermarks. For official copies without watermarks, visit the office or request certified copies. The database includes deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents for Bergen County.
Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, the Open Public Records Act gives the public a right to request records from government offices. Bergen County has an OPRA request portal for online submissions. Standard copy fees are $0.05 per letter-size page and $0.07 per legal-size page. The office must respond within seven business days.
Note: Gold seal certified copies are available from the Bergen County Clerk for an added fee.
How to Search Bergen County Court Records
There are several ways to look up court records in Bergen County. The method you pick depends on the type of record and how fast you need it.
- Visit the Bergen County Justice Center at 10 Main Street in Hackensack
- Use public access terminals at the courthouse for case searches
- Search the NJ Courts Find a Case portal online
- Contact the County Clerk at (201) 336-7000 for land and property records
- Submit an OPRA request through the county portal
The Find a Case portal on the NJ Courts website lets you search by party name or docket number. This tool covers cases from courts across the state, including Bergen County. Below is a view of that search tool.
Online searches work well for basic case details. For full file copies or certified documents, you will need to contact the Bergen County courthouse or clerk directly. Call ahead to confirm what you need to bring.
Bergen County Sheriff and Court Records
The Bergen County Sheriff's Office is at 2 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601. The phone number is (201) 336-7100. The Bergen County Sheriff's Office handles civil process serving, warrant execution, and courthouse security. It also maintains records related to sheriff's sales and foreclosure auctions.
Sheriff's sale listings are posted publicly. These records show properties being sold to satisfy court judgments in Bergen County. Foreclosure sale schedules and results are available from the Sheriff's Office. Civil process records show when and how court papers were served on parties in Bergen County cases.
New Jersey Rule 1:38 governs public access to court records. Most court filings in Bergen County are open for review. Some records may be sealed by court order. Juvenile records and certain family court matters have added restrictions on public access.
Note: Inmate information for Bergen County can be looked up through the county jail system.
Bergen County Probate Court Records
The Bergen County Surrogate's Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, and adoptions. The office is in the Bergen County Justice Center at 10 Main Street, Room 115, Hackensack, NJ 07601. Call (201) 336-6400 for information. The Surrogate serves as clerk of the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part.
Probate records are available for public review with some limits. Wills, estate administration records, and guardianship appointments are on file. Certified copies of probate documents can be obtained from this office. Adoption records in Bergen County are sealed and need a court order to access.
Bergen County Criminal Record Searches
Criminal court records in Bergen County are public under most circumstances. You can search criminal case dockets at the courthouse or through the statewide system. The Criminal Division at the Justice Center handles all indictable offenses filed in Bergen County.
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52, certain criminal records can be expunged in New Jersey. An expunged record is removed from public databases. If a case has been expunged, it will not show up in a Bergen County court records search. The process requires filing a petition with the Superior Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties are close to Bergen County. If the case you are looking for was filed in a different county, you will need to contact that county's court or clerk office.