About New Jersey Public Records

About New Jersey public records

New Jersey's agencies operate separately with different policies for providing public records. With the expansion of online services, government departments offer instant license verification, criminal history and background check requests directly from the state police and over eighty individual agencies throughout New Jersey.

State background and court information

New Jersey the "Garden State" is one of the original 13 colonies and became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and the first state to sign the Bill of Rights. Trenton is the state capital of New Jersey. The 1776 state constitution gave the vote to "all inhabitants" who had a certain level of wealth including women and blacks. New Jersey was known as the "Pathway of the Revolution" as over 100 battles were fought on New Jersey soil. The state motto is "Liberty and Prosperity".

With a population of over 8.7 million, New Jersey is the most populated state by area in the U.S. with over 1000 people per square mile. New Jersey has 21 counties. New Jersey is the only state where all its counties are classified as metropolitan areas. There are 566 municipalities or administrative entities which include boroughs, cities, towns, townships and villages. County government in New Jersey includes a Board of Chosen Freeholders, sheriff, clerk, and surrogate, all of which are elected officials.

The government of New Jersey was established by the New Jersey Constitution in 1947 and is comprised of three branches. The executive, the legislative and the judiciary. The state executive is the Governor who heads the executive branch. Constitutionally, New Jersey's chief executive is one of the most powerful governors in the United States. The legislative branch contains two houses, a 40-member Senate and an 80-member General Assembly. The judicial branch includes the state's supreme court, superior court, appellate division, tax court and municipal court.

The Open Public Records Act is the New Jersey law providing its residents access to public records. The state adopted the sunshine law in 2002, a great improvement over the prior public record laws. The OPRA works similarly to the federal information act (FOIA) in keeping the government transparent to its citizens. Residents of New Jersey do not need to show a reason to be able to order a record. These requests are made directly to the department where the information is sought. The law also requires the department where the request is being directed to provide records to be readily available to the public for viewing, ordering or copying.

Criminal history records inquiry can be obtained by the New Jersey state police with a simple request online. Many of the requests are by employers prior to hiring, a search of a person's own records to see what is available to others in N.J.

Access to such documents as official court records may be obtained via the New Jersey Courts online ACMS service. Available for inspection by the public are criminal cases, civil cases including divorces, trials in tax courts, decisions and municipal courts. Anyone with internet connection can conduct a free online search of property records by name in each New Jersey county and get instant results including owner information, updated assessed value with detailed description of the land and building. However certain records are not made available for public inspection due to Federal and State statutes and rules governing the courts. Vital records such as birth and death certificates are not considered public records and are protected by New Jersey law.

Vital records

Statewide New Jersey vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in New Jersey and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in New Jersey to conduct research online. Department of health and senior services, state bureau of vital statistics and registration, order a record, fees at a glance, forms, how to apply for a marriage license, civil union license, registering a domestic partnership, getting copies of genealogical and non genealogical records, judiciary order or final judgment of divorce, divorce decrees, department of state, superior court, getting a no record of marriage statement, expedited requests, contact your local registrar.

Property and asset records

Search for assets in New Jersey and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in New Jersey owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.

Government records and agencies

Access New Jersey government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments

Driving and vehicle records

Free and easy to use direct official New Jersey government links to driver license and registration sources. Register your vehicle, get your tags, obtain the history of a vehicle. Online forms and processing from your computer anywhere. You can also see the status of your applications at anytime online without having to call the clerk. Locations, hours and office information are also available online.

Expungements and record clearing

Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of New Jersey. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous New Jersey criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.

Genealogy and historical research

New Jersey genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online.

Missing children resources

Although the state of New Jersey relies on various law enforcement, criminal justice and other public agencies to search for missing children, the New Jersey State Police Special Investigations Section has the primary responsibility of coordinating and investigating cases involving missing persons, and unidentified living and deceased individuals. The unit also collects and maintains a centralized database on all missing and unidentified persons who are reported in New Jersey. The New Jersey Missing Persons and Child Exploitation unit is the designated clearinghouse for New Jersey missing children, and it also operates under the auspices of the New Jersey State Police. The New Jersey Amber Alert Plan is a voluntary, cooperative program between law enforcement and the broadcast media to send an emergency alert to the public when a child has been abducted. The New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program enhances the investigation of offenders who use the Internet, online communication systems, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children. The internet serves as an important resource for locating missing children by providing search databases, websites which offer lists, photos, details of children currently missing in New Jersey, and safety information to assist parents and guardians in keeping their children safe.