How to Get Certified Copies of Divorce Decree in New Jersey

Why You Need Certified Copies (Not Photocopies)

Many post-divorce tasks require a certified copy of your Final Judgment of Divorce — the version with the original court seal. Banks typically require one to close joint accounts. The MVC requires one to process a name change. The county clerk will want one to record a quitclaim deed. A regular photocopy or the version your attorney emailed you won't work.

Order at least three certified copies upfront. If you're changing your name, transferring property, and dividing retirement accounts, you could easily use all three simultaneously rather than waiting for each agency to return the document.

Where to Request Copies Depends on When You Divorced

Divorces finalized 2014 to present: Contact the Family Division of the specific county courthouse where your divorce took place. Each county's family division handles its own records. Call the county courthouse first to confirm their current fees and processing time — these vary slightly by county.

Divorces finalized 2013 or earlier: These records are archived at the Superior Court Records Center (RIC) in Trenton. To request a copy, you'll need your case docket number (the FM number), the names of both parties, and the county where the divorce was filed.

For requests through the Superior Court Clerk's Office, the standard fee is $25 per certified copy. County fees, search fees, and certification costs for 2014-present records may vary. You can request copies online through the NJ Courts website or by mail through the Superior Court Clerk's Office. Online requests are processed by the Clerk's Office and mailed to you.

What Information You'll Need

Have this ready before you contact the court:

• Your full case docket number (format: FM-XX-XXXXX-XX, where XX is the county code)
• Both parties' full legal names as they appeared on the complaint
• The county of venue (where the divorce was filed)
• The approximate date of the final judgment

If you don't have your docket number, the Clerk's Office can search by name, but this may take longer and some counties charge a search fee.

How Long It Takes

Processing times vary by county and request method. Contact the relevant office before relying on a same-day or mailed request.

The Difference Between a Final Judgment and a Marriage Certificate

These are two different documents from two different agencies. Your Final Judgment of Divorce comes from the Superior Court. Your marriage certificate comes from the NJ Department of Health's Office of Vital Statistics. If you need to correct your name on a marriage or birth certificate after a divorce, that's a separate $2 correction request to the State Registrar, plus $25 for the first certified copy of the corrected record.

Putting Your Copies to Work

Once you have your certified copies in hand, the New Jersey After-Divorce Checklist shows you exactly where each one goes — from the Social Security office to the county clerk's deed recording window — in the right order to avoid wasted trips.

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