Court records of Salem County, New Jersey, are available through several channels. SalemCourt.us allows you to search for public information on court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the state's official online court system portals, court clerk's offices, and public terminals installed directly in court buildings.
Salem Court System & Jurisdictions
New Jersey has a unified court system, which is different from many other states. Instead of separate district and magistrate courts, there is the Superior Court of New Jersey — a single court of general jurisdiction with branches in each county, including Salem County.
The Superior Court is divided into three divisions:
- Law Division — handles criminal cases (from minor offenses to serious crimes) and civil lawsuits.
- Chancery Division — deals with family law cases (divorce, custody, alimony), equity cases, and the Probate Part, where inheritance and estate matters are resolved.
- Family Division — cases involving juveniles, protective orders, and adoptions.
Municipal Courts operate separately. They handle traffic violations, minor offenses (disorderly persons offenses), and local ordinance violations. In Salem County, there are several such courts — one or more per municipality.
Salem County Surrogate's Court performs functions related to the registration of wills, appointment of executors and estate administrators, and issuance of death certificates. This office is not part of the Superior Court but closely collaborates with the Chancery Division in probate matters.
Salem Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out the schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or this week, use several resources.
- NJ Courts Portal. On the public access page, links to court case databases are collected, where you can check the status of a case and scheduled hearing dates.
- PROMIS/Gavel Public Access. For criminal cases in the Superior Court, the PROMIS/Gavel system is used. Searches are conducted by the defendant's last name or case number. Some records are restricted according to state court rules.
- Municipal Court Case Search. Municipal court cases — traffic tickets, complaints — can be searched through the MCCS portal. Just enter the last name or ticket number.
- Phone call to the clerk's office. If the online search yields no results, call the Superior Court clerk's office in Salem County directly. The clerk will confirm the date and time of the hearing.
Hearing calendars are usually updated daily. However, schedule changes occur — postponements, cancellations — so it's worth checking the information right before your visit.
How to Get a Copy of a Salem Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types: regular (uncertified) and certified. A regular copy is suitable for review. A certified one is needed for official purposes: submission to another court, immigration procedures, licensing.
Online request:
Through the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO), you can order copies of civil, criminal, divorce, and equity cases. The request is made online, specifying the SCCO division.
In-person visit or by mail:
Contact the Superior Court clerk's office in Salem County:
For mail requests, provide the full name of the party, case number (if known), document type, and include payment. Certified copies require an additional fee.
Surrogate's Court documents (wills, letters of administration) are requested separately — through the Surrogate's office.
County Clerk records (land deeds, mortgages, trade names) are available for search through the BrowserView online system of the County Clerk's office. Results include only verified documents.
Divorce decrees can be obtained through the Superior Court Records Center. More details are available on the NJ Department of Health page.
Public records can also be requested through the OPRA (Open Public Records Act) procedure by filling out the appropriate form and sending it to the county records custodian.
Salem Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies and searches of court records in New Jersey are established by state court rules and administrative orders. Below are approximate rates for the Superior Court:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular copy (per page) | $0.75 |
| Document certification | $15.00 |
| Search by name in SCCO database (per name) | $15.00 |
| Certified copy of a court decision | $15.00 + copying cost |
| Exemplified copy (with double certification) | $25.00 |
Payment is usually accepted by check, money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Some clerk's offices also accept credit cards for in-person requests — confirm this in advance.
For County Clerk records (land documents, UCC filings), fees may vary. Check current fees on the Salem County website or call the clerk's office.
Municipal courts charge their own fees for copies of records and decisions — they are generally small but vary by municipality. Contact the relevant municipal court directly for the exact amount.