Sussex County, New Jersey Divorce Records
Sussex divorce records are documents created when people dissolve their legal unions. The Sussex County Superior Court’s Family Division is the custodian of these records. Citizens request divorce records for several reasons, including legal proof of divorce, name changes, insurance and benefits, background checks, and court enforcement.
The NJ Court Management Statistics report for July 2025 through April 2026 shows that the Family Division had a 101% clearance rate, with 706 divorce filings and 710 resolved cases. About 87 divorce cases were considered backlogged (actively pending cases that are not within normal processing-time standards) during that same period; 367 were classified as active pending, and 278 were in inventory (actively pending within normal processing-time standards).
The report also showed that about 392 of the filings were new divorce cases, and the court resolved 400, resulting in a 102% clearance rate for new divorce filings. About 304 of the new divorce cases remained pending, and 76 were classified as backlogged.
In addition, the Family Division handled 314 reopened or post-judgment dissolution matters, such as modifications to custody, child support, or alimony. The court resolved 310 reopened cases, achieving a 99% clearance rate. Only 13 reopened dissolution cases were backlogged, while 50 cases remained within acceptable court time standards.
Are Divorce Records Public in Sussex County?
Yes, some divorce records are public under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and Public Access to Court Records and Administrative Records (N.J. Ct. R. 1:38-1). Therefore, anyone may submit a request to inspect or copy public divorce records. The Sussex County Superior Court Clerk's Office makes public divorce information available on the Find a Case portal. However, some divorce information is not available on this portal because they are confidential. Also, anyone may visit the clerk’s office to obtain plain copies of public divorce records. However, certified copies are issued only to the parties to the case, the attorneys of record, and those with a court order. Examples of divorce records deemed confidential in Sussex County include:
- Child placement records and reports
- Paternity records and reports
- Family Case Information Statements
- Domestic violence records and reports
- Confidential Litigant Information Sheets
- Child custody evaluations, reports, and records
- Records of hearings on a child’s welfare or status
- Any psychiatric, medical, psychological, and alcohol and drug dependency documents relating to child custody, child support, or parenting time determinations.
How to Find Divorce Records in Sussex County
Below is a simple step to find divorce records in Sussex County:
- Step 1: Gather Basic Information
Before the search, requesters should collect information to facilitate it. Knowing the full names of the parties to the divorce, the year of the divorce, and the docket number will make the search easier and faster.
- Step 2: Search Online Portal
Requesters may begin their search via the New Jersey Courts’ Find a Case Portal. The search criteria include a name or docket number. The downside of this online search is that not all divorce records are fully accessible, and copies cannot be obtained.
- Step 3: Request Copies from the Appropriate Court
The Superior Court Family Division is the custodian of divorce records in Sussex County. The clerk only releases certified copies of these records to case parties, their legal representatives, or anyone with a court order. However, plain copies are available to members of the public. Requesters must include a valid state ID in their requests. Requests for copies of divorce records may be made by mail, online, or in person during business hours. Online and mail requesters should submit a Records Request Form. Anyone with questions about their requests should email SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov.
- Step 4: Pay Any Required Fees
Certificates of divorce cost $10 per copy, and $25 for a certified copy of the final judgment of divorce costs $25. Payments may be made by check, money order, or cash (for in-person requests only).
| Method | Where to Go | Info Needed | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Find a Case portal | name or docket number. | Free | Instant |
| In Person | Sussex County Superior Court Clerk's Office | Valid ID | $10 or $25 | Same day |
| By Mail | Sussex County Superior Court Clerk's Office | Complete a Records Request Form | $10 or $25 | 1–3 weeks |
Overview of the Sussex County Court System
In Sussex County, divorce cases are heard at the Superior Court’s Family Division. This Division also has jurisdiction over other family matters, including child support, family crisis, paternity, parenting time, custody, domestic violence, foster care placement, kinship legal guardianship, abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, and adoption. The jurisdictional flow of a divorce case in Sussex County begins when a spouse files a divorce complaint with the Family Division. Sussex family court divorce filings may be done online, by mail, or in person. The courthouse is located at the address below:
Sussex County Judicial Center
43-47 High Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (862) 397-5700
Online Access to Sussex County Divorce Records
Individuals may find Sussex divorce records online through the New Jersey Courts’ Find a Case portal. Go to the New Jersey Courts' official website, select “PUBLIC” from the top menu, and click “FIND A CASE” from the dropdown. Afterwards, select the “Search Civil and Foreclosure Cases” icon. First-time users must register an account, while returning users should enter their user ID and password. The search criteria include name or docket number.
“Free online divorce lookup Sussex” is also possible on third-party websites. A name or case number may be required for the search. However, users cannot use the information for official purposes because third-party platforms are not official sources. They may also contain errors, or their records may not be up to date.
What’s Typically Included in a Sussex Divorce Record
A typical divorce record contains a docket number, the names of the parties to the divorce, the county of venue, the date of the final judgment of divorce, and the seal of the Sussex County Superior Court. Citizens should note that sensitive information, especially that involving children, is confidential.
| Information | Available to the Public? |
|---|---|
| Names of spouses | Yes |
| Date of the final judgment of divorce | Yes |
| Case number | Yes |
| Child custody information | No |
| Financial disclosures | No |
How to Get Certified Copies of Sussex Divorce Records
Certified copies of divorce records are legal documents issued on official papers and stamped with the seal of the Sussex County Superior Court. These documents are useful for remarriage, name change, and immigration applications. On the other hand, informational copies of divorce records are issued on plain paper with no seals. They are only used for personal purposes.
| Type of Copy | Use Case | Who Can Request | Legally Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Copy | Remarriage, legal proceedings | Case parties, the attorneys of record, and anyone with a court order | Yes |
| Informational Copy | Genealogy, general info | Anyone | No |
Certified copies of divorce records are only issued to case parties, the attorneys of record, and anyone with a court order. Eligible individuals may complete the Records Request Form and submit it online via the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS). They may also submit the form or a written request by mail or visit the Superior Court’s Family Division to obtain copies of a “certified divorce decree Sussex”. The written request should contain the docket number (M or FM#), case title, county of venue, and the document the requester wishes to obtain. Those who cannot provide a docket number should include the first and last names of the parties to the case, the county in which the divorce took place, and the approximate year of the divorce. The court charges $25 for an “official divorce record copy”. Mail requests may be sent to:
Superior Court Clerk's Office
Attention: Customer Access
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, NJ 08625-0971
Sussex Divorce Records Summary
| Custodian | Available Record Type | Access Method | Fees & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County Superior Court’s Family Division | Full case files, divorce certificates, and final judgment of divorce | Find a Case portal, by mail, and in person | $10 per page for divorce certificates and $25 for a certified copy of the divorce final judgment |
| Third-Party Websites | Aggregated records | Online search (paid) | Convenience at cost; accuracy may vary |