Court records in Ocean County, New Jersey, are available through several channels. OceanCourt.us allows you to search for public information about county court cases. Additionally, records can be found through the official online portals of the state court system, the court clerk's office, and public terminals in court buildings. Below is a practical guide to searching, obtaining copies, and understanding the structure of county courts.
Ocean Court System & Jurisdictions
The New Jersey court system is unified and centralized. At the county level, the Superior Court operates, divided into three divisions, each handling separate categories of cases.
Law Division — civil claims over $15,000, criminal cases (indictable offenses, i.e., crimes requiring a grand jury indictment), and foreclosure cases.
Chancery Division covers:
- General Equity — disputes regarding contracts, trusts, injunctions
- Family Part — divorces, child custody, domestic violence, adoptions
- Probate Part — inheritance cases, will probations, guardian appointments
Special Civil Part handles small claims up to $3,000 and civil cases from $3,001 to $15,000, as well as landlord-tenant eviction cases.
Municipal courts operate separately in each city or township of the county. They handle traffic violations, disorderly persons offenses, and violations of local ordinances. Municipal court case searches are available through Municipal Court Case Search.
The Ocean County page on the NJ Courts website contains contact information for judges, administration, and hours of operation.
Ocean Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The Superior Court schedule is published daily and updated on the state court system portal. To find out which cases are being heard today, tomorrow, or during the week, use several resources:
- Call the office of the relevant court division. Numbers are listed on the Ocean County vicinage page.
- Visit the courthouse at 120 Hooper Avenue, Toms River — the schedule is posted near courtrooms and available on public terminals.
- Criminal cases can be checked through PROMIS/Gavel Public Access, which displays scheduled hearing dates.
Municipal courts maintain their own calendars. The schedule is usually available on the respective municipality's website or by calling the specific court.
Sheriff's officers maintain order in courtrooms and escort inmates to hearings — more details on the Judicial Services page of the county sheriff's office.
How to Get a Copy of a Ocean Court Document
Court document copies come in two types: uncertified and certified. A certified copy bears the court seal and clerk's signature — required for most official purposes.
Online Request
Submit a request through the Copies of Court Records page on the NJ Courts website. Select the division (Criminal Division, Civil Division, Family Division, or Superior Court Clerk's Office) and specify Ocean County. You will need:
- Case number (docket number) or full name of the party
- Approximate date of filing or indictment
- Type of document needed
In Person or by Mail
Contact the Superior Court clerk's office in Toms River:
For certified copies of closed divorce cases, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office in Trenton.
Family court records and juvenile cases have restricted access — the clerk will explain which documents can be obtained in your case.
Expungement
If a criminal record has been expunged, it is not available for public search. The expungement clerk at Ocean County Superior Court accepts requests at the same address — 120 Hooper Ave.
Ocean Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees for copies and record searches are set by the rules of the New Jersey court system. Specific amounts depend on the type of document and request method.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Uncertified copy (per page) | $0.75 |
| Document certification | $15.00 |
| Case search by request (name or number) | Free through online portal |
| Copy of court judgment | $0.75 per page + $15.00 for certification |
Payment is accepted at the court clerk's office by check or money order payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." Check with the clerk if credit cards are accepted — this depends on the specific division.
Requests for public records outside the court system — such as county documents — can be submitted through OPRA (Open Public Records Act). Fees for copies under OPRA are set separately by each government agency.
For free case information searches in the Superior Court, use the Find a Case portal — it allows you to find civil, criminal, and other cases by name or case number without registration and payment.