How to Search Union County Court Records
Start at the NJ Courts "Find a Case" page. It lists every public case database in one place, including civil and foreclosure, criminal, criminal judgments, judgment liens, Tax Court, and municipal searches. You pick the database that matches the case type, then search by party name or docket number and set the venue to Union.
Before you start, gather what you have. A full name works for a basic search. A docket number is faster and more exact. Foreclosure and judgment-lien records are handled statewide through the Superior Court Clerk's Office.
- Open the NJ Courts Find a Case page and identify your case type.
- Choose the matching database, such as the Civil Case Jacket for civil matters.
- Search by party name or docket number, and set the venue to Union.
- Open the case jacket and review the docket entries and parties.
- If a document is not online or is restricted, file a records request for a copy.
Identify the Right Court First
The first step is sorting which court heard the matter, because the search tool changes with it. Civil Law Division, Special Civil, foreclosure, landlord-tenant, and general equity cases are Superior Court civil systems. Indictable criminal cases are in the Superior Court Criminal Division. Tickets, parking, ordinance, and disorderly persons matters are Municipal Court. Probate, wills, and estate administration are Surrogate records, not ordinary civil case jackets. Divorce is a Family Part matter with special release limits.
New Jersey also sorts civil suits by dollar amount. Small claims cover lawsuits of $5,000 or less. Special Civil covers lawsuits of $20,000 or less. The Law Division civil track, the L docket, covers suits above $20,000. Picking the right track points you to the right docket prefix and the right search.
Union County Court Records Search Fields
The public eCourts Civil Case Jacket is the main civil search. You accept a disclaimer, then search by docket or party. The fields below show what the portal accepts. The docket type and venue narrow the search to Union County matters.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court / Venue | Dropdown | Yes | Choose Union for Union County matters |
| Docket Type | Dropdown | With docket search | L, DC, LT, F, and related prefixes |
| Docket Number | Text | One path | Enter the full docket number |
| Party Name | Text | One path | Search by plaintiff or defendant |
| Disclaimer | Button | Yes | Accept before the search opens |
Criminal and Judgment Searches
Criminal records use a separate tool. The Criminal Judgments Public Access portal searches judgments of conviction, orders for commitment, and judgments of acquittal or dismissal. You can search by several identifiers, which helps when a name is common.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defendant Name | Text | Conditional | Last and first name search |
| SBI Number | Text | Conditional | State Bureau of Identification number |
| Complaint Number | Text | Conditional | Municipal or Superior complaint number |
| Indictment / Accusation | Text | Conditional | Criminal filing identifier |
| County | Dropdown | No | Choose Union to filter |
For municipal matters, use Municipal Court Case Search and NJMCDirect, covered on the traffic court records page.
Types of Union County Court Records
Court records fall into groups by division. Each group has its own access rules and its own search path. The list below sorts the main types found in the Union Vicinage.
- Civil records - suits, foreclosure, and landlord-tenant in the Law Division and Special Civil Part.
- Criminal records - indictable cases in the Criminal Division.
- Family records - divorce, custody, support, and juvenile matters in the Family Part.
- Probate records - wills and estates with the Surrogate's Court.
- Municipal records - tickets, parking, and ordinance cases in the local courts.
What a Union County Case Jacket Shows
A public civil case jacket follows a steady layout. It opens with the docket number and venue, then lists the parties, the filing date, and the case status. Below that runs the list of docket entries, from the complaint through the judgment. Protected data is removed before the public sees the file.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Docket Number | The case ID with a division prefix |
| Venue | The county; Union for Union County |
| Case Caption | The parties, such as plaintiff versus defendant |
| Case Status | Active, disposed, closed, or judgment entered |
| Docket Entries | Complaint, answer, motions, orders, and judgment |
| Financials | Judgment amount, costs, or satisfaction data |
Confidential documents are not public, and document access can differ by case type and by whether you are a party.
The docket number itself carries meaning. The letters before the digits mark the division. An L number is a civil Law Division suit over $20,000. A DC number is a Special Civil case. An LT number is landlord-tenant. An F number is foreclosure. Family matters use FM for matrimonial and divorce, FD for non-dissolution family, and FO for domestic violence. Criminal cases use indictment or accusation numbers. Reading the prefix first tells you which division to call and which search to run.
Public Access Framework for Union County Court Records
Court records follow New Jersey Court Rule 1:38, not the open-records law that covers agency files. Rule 1:38 presumes access to court records, then lists what stays closed. NJ Courts says civil, special civil, criminal, family, municipal, and Tax Court records are open for public inspection, subject to the rule's exceptions. Agency records, by contrast, follow the Open Public Records Act at N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
Public case jacket access is free, though direct access to some restricted materials requires an eCourts account or party access. Self-represented litigants can request direct access to certain case types, such as L docket suits over $20,000, landlord-tenant, and foreclosure.
Note: Most Union County court records are open under Rule 1:38, but sealed, juvenile, and certain family documents stay closed unless a court orders release.
Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Union County
Some records are closed by rule or statute. Juvenile records are safeguarded under N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60. Adoption files are sealed. Divorce documents go only to a party or the attorney of record, and a party must show valid state ID. Grand jury material and pre-execution search warrants are restricted, and expunged records are pulled from public portals.
To view a sealed file, you usually file a motion and show a legal reason. The court can grant or deny the request. A docket sheet is often a cheaper first step when you are not sure which document you need. Personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial-account numbers, and minor names are redacted from any public file, even in an otherwise open case. If a record problem ties into a legal issue, Legal Services of New Jersey can screen civil matters at 1-888-576-5529.
Requesting Copies of Court Records
When a record is not online, you request it through the NJ Courts records request process. You download the form, complete it, choose the correct processing location, and submit it electronically. Records are sent back to the email address you give. Certified, exemplified, and sealed copy fees can be paid by credit card.
The processing location depends on the case. Open civil, criminal, special civil, and family records go to the county Superior Court division where the case was heard, so for Union County you choose Union and the right division. Statewide judgment liens and foreclosure records go to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Closed and archived cases also go to that office, covered on the Superior Court Clerk page.
The records request form asks for the fields below. Filling them in fully cuts down on back-and-forth and search errors.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requestor name and email | Yes | Records are sent to the email provided |
| Court / Division and County | Yes | Choose Union or the Superior Court Clerk's Office |
| Case caption and docket number | Strongly recommended | Reduces search errors |
| Document description | Yes | Name the order, judgment, or docket sheet |
| Copy type | Conditional | Plain, certified, exemplified, or sealed |
| Party or attorney status | Conditional | Required for divorce and other restricted records |
Older and Archived Court Records
Older records take more time. Closed civil, criminal, divorce, family, and special civil records are requested through the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Archived civil, divorce, foreclosure, general equity, and statewide judgment-lien records also go through that office. Archived files may have storage and retrieval limits, so include every identifier you have, such as the docket number, filing year, and party names, to speed the search. A docket sheet can be a lower-cost first request when you are unsure which document you need, since it confirms the file exists and lists what it holds before you pay for a full copy. Transcripts of court proceedings are handled separately from ordinary records requests, so a request for the spoken record of a hearing follows the Appellate Division process rather than the standard form. When in doubt about which path applies, the division office can confirm where a particular Union County record is processed.