Mercer County Court Records

Mercer County court records are held at the Superior Court and the County Clerk's office in Trenton. The county seat sits near the center of the state, and its courts serve all towns from Hamilton to Princeton. Court records here go back many years. Residents and members of the public can search for civil case files, criminal court records, land documents, and probate filings. Online tools make it possible to look up many Mercer County records from home. You can also visit the courthouse on South Broad Street to request copies in person.

Mercer County Clerk Office

The Mercer County Clerk's office is led by Paula Sollami-Covello. This office keeps land records, files court documents, and helps the public get copies of recorded files. The main office is at 175 S Broad St in Trenton. You can call (609) 989-6473 for help with court records or property filings. Walk-in visits are welcome on weekdays during normal business hours.

A second Mercer County office is in Hamilton at 1440 Parkside Ave. The Hamilton branch phone number is (609) 890-9800. Both locations can help you find court records that were filed in Mercer County. If you need a deed, lien, or other land document, either office can pull it from the county system. The clerk also handles notary services and trade name filings for Mercer County residents and businesses.

The Mercer County Clerk maintains land records that date back to 1789 in the original books. Online access through the Records Search Room covers property records from 1987 to the present day. You can search by name, address, or book and page number. The system lets you view document images and print copies from your own computer.

The Mercer County property records portal provides basic and advanced search tools. You can look up deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents filed in Mercer County. Some records may need payment for full access or downloads. The system is kept up to date so new filings show up soon after they are recorded at the clerk office.

Note: Registration may be required for full access to certain Mercer County property record images online.

Mercer County Superior Court Records

The Mercer County Superior Court sits at 175 South Broad Street in Trenton, NJ 08650. The main phone line is (609) 571-4200. This court handles all civil, criminal, family, and chancery cases filed in Mercer County. Court records from these cases are public under Rule 1:38 of the New Jersey Rules of Court. That rule sets a clear standard. Most records are open for public review unless a judge has sealed them or a specific law bars access.

The court offers a Self-Help Center for people who do not have a lawyer. You can reach it at (609) 571-4200 ext. 74205. Staff there can point you to forms and explain how to request court records in Mercer County. They do not give legal advice. They do help people fill out the right paperwork for their needs.

The Mercer Vicinage page on the New Jersey Courts site lists all court divisions and services for Mercer County. You can find phone numbers, addresses, and hours for each division there. The Family Division and Civil Division both operate from the courthouse on South Broad Street. Criminal cases in Mercer County also go through this same location.

The Surrogate's Office in Mercer County handles probate and estate matters. It is also on South Broad Street. The phone number is (609) 989-6331. If you need records tied to a will or estate case, the surrogate's office is where those files are kept in Mercer County.

How to Search Court Records in Mercer County

There are a few ways to find court records in Mercer County. Online tools let you search from anywhere. In-person visits give you access to older files and let you get certified copies right away. Each method works best for different types of records.

For criminal court records in Mercer County, the PROMIS/Gavel system lets you search by defendant name or indictment number. This free tool shows cases where the person was convicted and sentenced in the Superior Court. It does not show sealed, expunged, or juvenile records. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52, certain old criminal records in Mercer County may have been expunged and will not appear in any public search. The Clean Slate law passed in 2021 expanded these rules even further.

Civil court records in Mercer County can be searched through the statewide civil case portal. You need a party name or docket number to start. The system covers civil suits, foreclosures, and special civil cases. For closed cases, you may need to contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton to get copies of Mercer County files that are no longer active.

• Search criminal records through PROMIS/Gavel by name or case number
• Look up civil cases using the civil case portal
• Find property and land records at records.mercercounty.org
• Request copies of closed cases through the Superior Court Clerk
• Visit the courthouse at 175 South Broad Street for in-person help

Note: The PROMIS/Gavel system only shows Mercer County criminal cases from the date that county started using the system.

Mercer County Records and Public Access

New Jersey has strong laws that protect the public's right to view government records. Court records in Mercer County fall under Rule 1:38, which says that most files are open to the public. The Open Public Records Act, or OPRA (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1), covers records from county and local agencies but does not apply to the courts directly. Still, both laws share the same goal. They push for open access.

When you request court records in Mercer County, fees are set by the court rules. A plain copy costs $0.05 per page for letter size. Legal size pages cost $0.07 each. A certified copy costs $15 per document. These are the same rates across all New Jersey courts. If you need an exemplified copy of a Mercer County court record, the fee is $50.

Some records in Mercer County are not open to the public. Juvenile cases stay sealed. Adoption records are kept private. Grand jury materials are off limits. Domestic violence records have tight controls. If a judge in Mercer County has ordered a case file sealed under Rule 1:38-11, it will not appear in any search. The party that asked for the seal must show that disclosure would cause real harm.

Request Court Records in Mercer County

You can request Mercer County court records in three ways. First, you can go to the courthouse in Trenton during business hours. Bring your ID. Give the clerk the case name or docket number. Staff will pull the file for you. You can review it on site or ask for copies.

Second, you can submit a Records Request Form online through the JEDS system. This lets you file your request from home at any time. The court processes these during normal hours. You get an email when the records are ready. For certified copies, you pay by credit card through the system.

Third, for property and land records in Mercer County, use the online search tool at records.mercercounty.org. This covers files from 1987 to the present. You can view images of recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens. For older land records, visit the clerk office in Trenton or the Hamilton branch. Staff can search the older books for you.

• In person at the Mercer County courthouse, 175 S Broad St, Trenton
• Online through JEDS for court case records
• Through the county clerk website for property records
• By phone at (609) 571-4200 for court questions

Cities in Mercer County

Mercer County has many towns and cities. All of them file their Superior Court cases at the courthouse in Trenton. The two largest are Hamilton and Trenton, which is also the state capital. Municipal court cases are handled at the local level in each town.

Other towns in Mercer County include Princeton, Ewing, Lawrence, West Windsor, East Windsor, Robbinsville, and Hopewell. All Superior Court matters for these areas go through the Mercer County courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Mercer County. If you are not sure where a case was filed, check the address of the parties involved. Court records are held in the county where the case was filed.