Mercer County court records, New Jersey, are available through several channels. MercerNJCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be searched through the state's official online court system tools, court clerk's offices, and public terminals located directly in court buildings.
Mercer Court System & Jurisdictions
In New Jersey, there are no county or district courts in the classical sense — instead, there is a single Superior Court of New Jersey, divided into divisions. Mercer County is part of Vicinage 7, and all cases are heard within this structure.
Law Division handles criminal cases (from serious crimes to indictable offenses) and civil claims where the dispute amount exceeds the threshold set for the Special Civil Part. This also includes foreclosure cases.
- Criminal Part — criminal charges, including drug cases, violent crimes, and other felony-level charges.
- Civil Part — large civil claims, contract disputes, tort cases.
Family Division covers a wide range of issues: divorce, child custody, domestic violence, juvenile cases, and adoptions. Information on the divorce procedure is available on the court system's website.
Special Civil Part is akin to a small claims court. It handles civil disputes with small claim amounts, as well as landlord-tenant eviction cases.
Probate Part (Surrogate's Court) deals with inheritance cases, wills, and the appointment of guardians. This division operates under the county's Surrogate's Office.
Separate municipal courts operate in each municipality of Mercer County and handle traffic violations, minor offenses (disorderly persons offenses), and local ordinance violations. Municipal court case searches are available through Municipal Court Case Search.
Mercer Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out which hearings are scheduled for today, tomorrow, or the week, start with the Vicinage 7 (Mercer) page on the NJ Courts website. There, contact details for both court buildings are published, and you can call the clerk's office directly to confirm the schedule.
Online tools for checking the status of a case:
- Open the Find a Case portal — it allows you to search civil, criminal, and family cases by party name or case number.
- For criminal cases, use PROMIS/Gavel Public Access — a system that shows hearing dates, charges, and current status.
- Municipal court cases (fines, traffic tickets) can be searched through Municipal Court Case Search.
Note: not all schedule details are published online. If you need the exact date and time of a specific hearing, call the relevant clerk's office.
Mercer County Civil Courthouse
Mercer County Criminal Courthouse
How to Get a Copy of a Mercer Court Document
The procedure depends on whether the case is still open or already closed, as well as the type of copy — regular or certified.
Open Cases
Contact the court clerk's office where the case is being heard. In most cases, it is sufficient to provide the case number or the parties' names. Copies can be obtained in person or ordered by mail.
Closed Cases
To obtain documents from closed cases, fill out the Records Request Form (CN 10200). In the form, specify:
- Your name and contact information
- Case number or parties' names
- Type of document needed
- Preferred method of receipt — pickup, mail, or email
Send the completed form to the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Choose the appropriate division and specify Mercer County.
Divorce Cases
Closed divorce cases are stored in the county court where the divorce was filed. Certified copies of divorce decrees can also be ordered through the Superior Court Records Center.
Certified vs. Regular Copies
A regular copy is suitable for review. A certified copy has the court's seal and is accepted by other institutions as an official document — it is required for submission to other courts, government agencies, or when processing documents.
Mercer Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for court document copies in New Jersey are set at the state level according to the Rules of Court. Below are the main rates:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular copy (per page) | $0.05 |
| Document certification | $5.00 per document |
| Certified copy with seal (exemplification) | $10.00 |
Payment is usually accepted by check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Some clerk's offices also accept cash for in-person requests — confirm this in advance by phone.
For requests through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), a separate fee schedule may apply. The law specifies that the fee for copies should not exceed the actual cost of reproducing the document.
If you are ordering documents by mail, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope or specify the preferred delivery method in the form. The processing time for requests depends on the volume and complexity — simple requests are usually fulfilled by the clerk's office within a few business days.