Union County Court Records Lookup

Union County court records are maintained at the Superior Court in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The county seat sits at the crossroads of several major highways, making the courthouse easy to reach from anywhere in the area. You can search Union County court records for civil, criminal, and family cases. Records are open to the public and can be accessed in person, by mail, or through state online tools. The clerk office and the court both handle record requests for Union County.

Union County Clerk Records Office

Joanne Rajoppi is the Union County Clerk. The office is at the Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Room 115, in Elizabeth, NJ 07207. The phone number is (908) 527-4787. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This office records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents for all of Union County. It also handles passport services, notary commissions, and election tasks.

The Union County Clerk website lists services, hours, and contact details. You can find forms for record requests and learn about fees for copies. The clerk office is separate from the court but sits in the same building. If you are at the courthouse for a court record, you can also check the clerk office for land records during the same visit. Both offices serve the public in Union County.

Union County provides online access to land records from 1977 to the present. The online land records system lets you search by name, book and page, instrument number, or date range. You can view document images and print them. A five-dollar surcharge per document applies for recording, effective January 1, 2020. This fee supports the Union County Code Blue Alert program for cold weather shelter. The online system is a fast way to check property records without going to Elizabeth.

Union County Superior Court

The Union County Superior Court is at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, NJ 07207. The main phone number is (908) 787-1650. This court handles all civil, criminal, and family cases for Union County. The Union Vicinage page on the New Jersey Courts website lists hours, contact numbers, and resources for anyone who needs to use the court.

The Self-Help Center for Union County is at 1143 East Jersey Avenue, first floor, in Elizabeth, NJ 07201. You can reach it at (908) 787-1650 ext. 22300. This center helps people who do not have a lawyer. Staff can guide you through forms, explain court steps, and help you understand your case. The center is free to use for anyone involved in a Union County court case.

All court records in Union County are public under Rule 1:38 of the New Jersey Rules of Court. This rule creates a presumption of public access. There are thirty-eight listed exceptions, including juvenile records, sealed files, and grand jury materials. If a record does not fall under an exception, you can ask to view it or get a copy at the Union County courthouse.

Searching Union County Court Cases

New Jersey provides free online search tools that cover Union County cases. The PROMIS/Gavel system lets you look up criminal cases by name or indictment number. It tracks indictable offenses from arrest through sentencing. Only convictions show in the results. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are excluded from the system.

Civil court records from Union County are searchable through the state civil case portal. Enter a party name or docket number. The system returns case status, court dates, and basic filing information. For full case documents, you must visit the courthouse in Elizabeth or submit a request through the JEDS online system. The request form is on the New Jersey Courts website.

Walking into the Union County courthouse gives you the most access. Staff can pull files and make copies. Bring your ID. Know the name or case number. Plain copies are five cents per page. Certified copies cost fifteen dollars. You can also get records by mail using the request form from the Superior Court Clerk's Office.

Union County Court Record Types

The Union County Superior Court produces records for every type of case. Criminal cases create some of the most searched records. A criminal file in Union County includes the complaint, the indictment from the grand jury, all motions and court orders, the plea or trial record, and the judgment. The judgment shows the conviction, the sentence, and any terms of probation or parole. These records are public under Rule 1:38 unless sealed by a judge.

Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52, a person can petition to have certain records expunged in Union County. Indictable offenses require a ten-year wait from the date of conviction, payment of fines, and completion of any sentence. Disorderly persons offenses need five years. The Clean Slate law, passed in 2021, allows automatic expungement after ten years for qualifying offenses. Once a record is expunged, it no longer appears in any public search.

Civil records in Union County cover a wide range of matters. Common types include:

• Contract disputes and breach of agreement claims
• Personal injury and negligence lawsuits
• Foreclosure actions on Union County property
• Small claims and special civil part filings
• Judgment liens and satisfaction records

Family court records from Union County include custody orders, child support filings, and domestic relations matters. Some family records are confidential by law. Domestic violence cases and juvenile matters are not open to the public in Union County or any other county in New Jersey.

Note: Union County land records from 1977 forward are available through the online system, but court case records require a separate search.

Public Access to Union County Records

New Jersey has two systems for public records. Government agency records fall under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. Court records are governed by Rule 1:38 of the Rules of Court. Both systems favor public access. The Government Records Council handles OPRA disputes for agency records. Court record disputes go through the judiciary.

If you need a government record from the Union County Clerk or another county office, file an OPRA request. The office has seven business days to respond. Standard fees are five cents per page. For court records from Union County, use the court's own request process. You can submit forms online through JEDS, visit the courthouse, or mail your request to the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton for closed cases.

Cities in Union County

Union County has twenty-one municipalities. All Superior Court cases for these towns are filed at the courthouse in Elizabeth. Municipal courts in each town handle traffic tickets and minor offenses locally.

Other municipalities in Union County include Linden, Rahway, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Summit, and Roselle. All file Superior Court cases at the Union County courthouse in Elizabeth.

Nearby Counties

Union County borders several other counties in central New Jersey. Make sure you know which county your address falls in before searching for court records.