New Jersey Public Records: How to Find Public Records in New Jersey

Public records are documents or information maintained by government agencies and are available for public access and inspection. New Jersey has a rich history, and many of its public records contain information useful for genealogy research, legal cases, or simply satisfying one's curiosity about the state or its residents. 

Finding and obtaining this data can be complicated and confusing, with different types of records available from different government agencies. This article provides you with a concise guide on how to find public records in New Jersey, the types of records that are available, and how to obtain them.

New Jersey Public Records Law

The Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is New Jersey legislation regulating access to public data. It applies to records under the control of the state, county, and local government entities, as well as school districts, boards of education, and boards of trustees. It grants members of the public the right to request government records, subject to certain exemptions.

The primary aim of the OPRA is to promote transparency and accountability in government by allowing the public to examine how the government functions and how it reaches decisions. The legislation is intended to enable access to records that are not explicitly exempt from disclosure by law.

Accessing public records from New Jersey government agencies

To get public records in any government organization in New Jersey, you must submit a written request. 

You can do this by hand-delivering, mailing, faxing, or emailing your request (if they accept email requests). You can also ask the public agency for a request form for OPRA-exempted records. The top public agencies keeping public records in New Jersey include: 

● New Jersey State Police 
● New Jersey Department of Health 
● New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission 
● New Jersey State Archives 
● New Jersey Courts

How to Tell if Your Requested Records May be Exempted 

The government officer in charge of public records, known as the custodian of records, can refuse to release requested records if any of the following exemptions apply:

● Advisory, consultative, or deliberative inter- or intra-agency material
● Communications between a legislator and constituents
● Memoranda and other communications used by a legislator in her duties
● Medical examiner records, unless for law enforcement or research purposes or if there is good cause for disclosure
● Criminal investigatory records and crime victim's records
● Trade secrets, commercial or financial information, and information subject to attorney-client privilege
● Technical or administrative information that may compromise computer security
● Building and infrastructure plans and emergency procedures that may pose a security risk
● Information that may give competitors or bidders an advantage
● Information on sexual harassment complaints or grievances
● Information about collective negotiations
● Information between a public body and its insurer
● Information kept confidential under a court order
● Honorable discharge certificates (can be disclosed to the veteran's spouse)
● Personal information like social security, driver's license, credit card, and unlisted phone numbers
● Certain college and university records, including incomplete pharmaceutical research, test questions, and answers, the identity of anonymous donors, rare books with limited public access, admission applications, and academic and disciplinary student records
● Records exempted under another statute
● Files maintained by the public defender in a confidential case
● Personnel and pension records for government employees

Types of public records and their respective custodians

New Jersey Criminal Records

You can get information about someone's criminal history from different places in New Jersey, such as courts, jails, and police. You can use the New Jersey Criminal Records search to check someone's background. If you want the most detailed report, you must do a fingerprint-based search.

New Jersey Inmate Records

The New Jersey Department of Corrections maintains all correctional facilities in the state, including those for men, women, youth, and sex offenders. You can find an inmate's record by visiting the Department of Corrections website and searching for their name and state ID number. The health records of inmates are not available; only personal and administrative information can be accessed. 

New Jersey Court Records 

To access documents related to the judiciary in New Jersey, you must search the New Jersey Court Records. The access method depends on whether the records are available through a searchable database or if you need to request them from a specific courthouse.

With certain exceptions based on Supreme Court Rule or statute, the following courts are required to provide their records to the general public statewide: 

● Special Civil Part Records
● Criminal Division Records
● Family Division Records
● Municipal Court Records

You can find more copies of court records by purchasing them through the courthouse.

New Jersey Birth and death records

To access birth records, you must access the state's health department records. You have two options to obtain a New Jersey birth certificate. First, you can submit an e-file request using VitalCheck. 

Alternatively, you can complete an Application for a Non-Genealogical or Certified Birth/Death Certificate and submit it by mail or in person.

A certified New Jersey birth certificate fee is $25, with an additional charge of $2 for each additional copy requested.

New Jersey marriage and divorce records

The New Jersey marriage certificate can be obtained through VitalCheck online or by submitting a completed Application for Non-Genealogical or Certified Marriage, Civil Union, or Domestic Partnership Certificate by mail or in person. In contrast, you can obtain a divorce record by contacting the family court that approved the divorce. 

A certified marriage certificate in New Jersey costs $25 and $2 for every additional copy. 

New Jersey property records

Property and asset records can be accessed by visiting the clerk's office of a specific county in New Jersey or by visiting the county office in person. A basic search is free, and subscription-based access is also offered.

To find information on deeds and mortgages, you can contact the clerk's office for the county where the property is located. The New Jersey Treasury Department provides an online site that allows you to search for unclaimed property.

Last Note: Accessing New Jersey public records from other sources 

Asides from government organizations, you can access public records using private and third-party sources. These agencies and websites compile public records from official government records and provide them to you with only one click and for free. 

For instance, Truepeoplesearch.io allows you to search for an individual's accurate and updated public information in minutes. You simply have to enter the person's first name, last name, and state, then sit back and wait a few seconds for our search engine to display all records.