Divorce records in Salem County, New Jersey, are available through several channels. SalemCourt.us allows for quick access to publicly available information about divorce records. Additionally, you can contact the New Jersey Superior Court directly, which issues divorce decrees, the Salem County Clerk's Office, or the State Superior Court Records Center. The New Jersey Department of Health redirects requests for divorce decrees to the court records center.
Salem Divorce Records Search
In New Jersey, divorce cases are handled by the Family Part of the Superior Court. For Salem County, this means that all case materials—from the complaint to the final decree—are stored in the Superior Court Clerk's Office. The record collection includes:
- Final Judgments of Divorce
- Property and alimony agreements
- Child custody decisions
- Related motions and court orders
Online searches for court case information can begin through the Find a Case portal on the official New Jersey court system website. Note: not all case documents are available online—some require an in-person request or written inquiry.
The main office serving Salem County:
Salem County Courthouse
Operating hours typically follow the standard state court schedule—Monday through Friday, approximately 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Check the current schedule before visiting.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Salem
Divorces in Salem County go through the Family Part of the Superior Court of New Jersey. Once a judge signs the final decision, the decree remains in the case files at the court office. Older case copies are eventually transferred to the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO) in Trenton—a centralized archive for all civil and family cases in the state.
An important note: The New Jersey Department of Health does not issue divorce decrees. It redirects all requests to the Superior Court Records Center. So if you need a certified decree, contact the court, not the vital records office.
Where to contact depending on your needs:
- Full court record (case materials, court decisions, agreements) — Superior Court Clerk's Office in Salem County or Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton.
- Certified copy of the divorce decree — Superior Court Records Center.
- County public records search — online portal of the Salem County Clerk's Office (primarily contains land and property records but can be useful for cross-referencing).
Superior Court Records Center
Salem County Clerk's Office
For county public document requests, you can also use the OPRA (Open Public Records Act) procedure through the official Salem County government website.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Salem
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court record (regular, per page) | $0.75 | 7–10 business days |
| Certified copy of divorce decree (SCCO) | $25.00 | 2–4 weeks |
| Court archive search (by request through SCCO) | $25.00 | Depends on the complexity of the request |