You can request a copy of your divorce decree online in NJ through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system, but you won’t download the document instantly. You upload a Records Request Form and your ID, pay by card or ACH, and the Superior Court Clerk’s Office processes the request and sends the copy to you. A certified copy of the Final Judgment of Divorce is $25; a shorter Certificate of Divorce is $10.
What to Have Ready Before You Submit
Have your case docket number in hand. New Jersey divorce docket numbers begin with an “FM” prefix and appear on any paperwork from the original case. If you can’t find it, the Clerk’s Office can look it up using the full names of both spouses and the approximate year of the divorce, though an additional search fee applies.
You’ll also need the full names of the plaintiff and defendant, the county where the divorce was granted, and the specific document you want (the full judgment or the one-page certificate).
Only a party to the case or the attorney of record can obtain divorce documents. If you’re the party, include a copy of a valid state-issued ID with your request. Anyone else needs a court order directing the Clerk’s Office to release the records.
How to Request Through JEDS
JEDS is the official online channel. It’s available around the clock, but submissions are processed during business hours on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding court holidays.1NJ Courts. Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) You’ll need a computer or laptop; the system doesn’t work on mobile devices.
Complete the Records Request Form from the New Jersey Courts website, then upload it through JEDS. When the system asks for a division, choose “SCCO” (Superior Court Clerk’s Office).2NJ Courts. Copies of Court Records Upload your state-issued ID with the form. Pay by credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer.1NJ Courts. Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS)
The Clerk’s Office mails the copy to you once it processes your submission. There is no download link at the end of the JEDS submission.
If You Can’t Use JEDS
Without access to a computer, you can mail your completed Records Request Form, a copy of your state-issued ID, and payment to:
Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
P.O. Box 971
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-09713NJ Courts. Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Mail-in payments must be by check or money order. Confirm the payee name with the Clerk’s Office before sending; a check made out to the wrong payee can delay the request.
For in-person requests, bring your completed form and valid ID to 25 Market Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08625. In-person visitors can pay with cash, check, or money order.2NJ Courts. Copies of Court Records
Fees for Divorce Records
The Superior Court Clerk’s Office charges the following:2NJ Courts. Copies of Court Records
- Certified copy of Final Judgment of Divorce: $25
- Exemplified copy: $50 plus the cost of plain copies
- Certificate of Divorce: $10
- Plain (non-certified) copies: $0.05 per letter-size page, $0.07 per legal-size page
An exemplified copy carries a higher level of court authentication and is sometimes required for use in another state or country. Because the per-page charge depends on document length, the office can’t quote an exact exemplified total until processing. For most everyday needs, a certified copy is what you want.
Certificate of Divorce or Full Judgment
Which document you request matters, because they aren’t interchangeable.
A Certificate of Divorce is a one-page document confirming your divorce happened, the date it was finalized, and the parties involved. At $10, it’s cheaper and faster to obtain, and some government agencies and employers accept it as sufficient proof that a marriage ended.
The Final Judgment of Divorce is the full order. It contains the terms of your divorce: property division, custody, alimony, and any other orders the court entered. You need the complete judgment whenever a lender, agency, or court needs to see those specific terms. Mortgage lenders refinancing a home after divorce, for instance, typically require the full judgment to verify who was awarded the property and whether refinancing deadlines applied.
If you’re not sure which one the requesting party wants, ask before you order. Paying $25 for the wrong document and then paying again for the right one is the most common avoidable mistake here.