Camden County Court Records

Court records in Camden County, New Jersey, are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk's Office and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. CamdenCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Camden County. Additional access points include the New Jersey Courts public case search, the Superior Court Clerk's Office, and Camden County government offices. The sections below explain how the court system works, which courts serve Camden County residents, and how to locate records and resources.

Camden County Court System Overview

Camden County is part of the Camden Vicinage (Vicinage 1) of the Superior Court of New Jersey. The Assignment Judge for the Camden Vicinage is Steven J. Polansky. New Jersey's court system is unified, meaning there is one Superior Court with divisions rather than separate district and magistrate courts. The Superior Court in Camden County includes a Criminal Division, Civil Division, Family Division, and General Equity. Municipal courts throughout the county handle lower-level matters. The primary courthouse is the Camden County Hall of Justice.

Courts Serving Camden County

Several courts at the state, municipal, and federal level serve Camden County residents:

Superior Court of New Jersey — Camden Vicinage

Camden City Municipal Court

The Camden City Municipal Court handles complaints and tickets issued by the Camden County Metro Police, New Jersey State Police, and other local agencies. Other municipalities in Camden County — such as Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, and Winslow — operate their own municipal courts.

United States District Court — District of New Jersey (Camden)

The federal court in Camden handles federal criminal and civil cases for the southern part of New Jersey. Federal bankruptcy cases for this region are heard by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

What Types of Cases Camden County Courts Hear

Courts in Camden County handle a broad range of case types across multiple divisions:

• Criminal: Indictable offenses (felonies), disorderly persons offenses (misdemeanors), petty disorderly persons offenses
• Civil: General civil litigation, contract disputes, personal injury, landlord-tenant, small claims (Special Civil Part)
• Family: Divorce, custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights
• Probate/Surrogate: Decedent estates, guardianships, trust matters (handled by the Camden County Surrogate's Office)
• Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency, child protective proceedings (DCPP matters)
• Traffic/Municipal: Motor vehicle violations, municipal ordinance violations, DUI

The sections below explain where each type of case is heard and how it moves through the system.

District Court Cases in Camden County

In New Jersey, the Superior Court serves the function that "district courts" serve in other states. The Criminal Division of the Camden County Superior Court handles all indictable offenses — the New Jersey equivalent of felonies. Cases typically begin when a grand jury returns an indictment, after which the matter is assigned to a Superior Court judge. The Civil Division hears cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000, as well as general equity matters such as foreclosures and injunctions. Appeals from municipal court decisions are also heard by the Superior Court. Post-conviction relief petitions and probation violation proceedings are managed here as well. Cases are assigned to individual judges by the Assignment Judge's office.

Magistrate Court Cases in Camden County

New Jersey does not have a separate magistrate court system. Instead, municipal courts handle the lower-level matters that magistrate courts address in other states. Camden County's municipal courts hear:

• Disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses
• Traffic and motor vehicle violations
• DUI/DWI cases
• Municipal ordinance violations
• Small claims cases (filed through the Special Civil Part of Superior Court, with a jurisdictional limit of $3,000; the Special Civil Part overall handles claims up to $15,000)

First appearances for indictable offenses may occur at the municipal level before cases are transferred to the Superior Court. You can search municipal court cases using the Municipal Court Case Search portal maintained by the New Jersey Judiciary.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Camden County

Family Law

Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence restraining orders, adoption, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Family Division of the Camden County Superior Court. Certified copies of divorce decrees are available through the Superior Court Records Center. The City of Camden Vital Statistics office holds records only for events that occurred within the city.

Probate and Surrogate Matters

Decedent estates, guardianships of incapacitated persons, and trust matters are handled by the Camden County Surrogate's Office, located in Blackwood, NJ (phone: 856-225-7130). The Surrogate admits wills to probate and appoints executors and administrators. Contested probate matters are transferred to the Chancery Division of the Superior Court.

Juvenile

Juvenile delinquency cases and child protective proceedings (involving the Division of Child Protection and Permanency) are heard by the Family Division. Juvenile records are confidential under New Jersey law and are not available through public case search tools.

How Cases Move Through the Camden County Court System

1. Filing/Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or indictment. Civil cases start with a complaint filed with the Civil Division clerk. Family matters are initiated by petition or complaint.
2. Assignment: Cases are assigned to a judge through the Assignment Judge's office. Municipal court matters are heard by a municipal court judge.
3. Initial Hearing: In criminal cases, a first appearance or arraignment occurs. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or track assignment.
4. Pre-Trial Phase: Criminal cases involve discovery, plea negotiations, and pre-trial motions. Civil cases go through discovery, mediation (often mandatory), and motions.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved by plea agreement, bench or jury trial, settlement, or default judgment.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, probation, or appeal. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgment or appeal to the Appellate Division.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Camden County

• Administration: The Camden Vicinage is led by Assignment Judge Steven J. Polansky. The Trial Court Administrator oversees day-to-day court operations. Contact the Camden Vicinage page for administrative contacts.
• Local Rules: New Jersey courts operate under uniform statewide Rules of Court. Any supplemental local practices for the Camden Vicinage are posted on the NJ Courts website.
• Public Access: Most court records are generally public under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the Rules Governing the Courts. Certain records — including juvenile, sealed, expunged, and some family records — are restricted. You can request copies of court records from the Superior Court Clerk's Office by specifying the division and county where the case was heard.
• Attending Hearings: Hearings at the Camden County Hall of Justice are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely via video; check with the specific division for current scheduling and remote appearance options.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Camden County

• Case Search — Superior Court: Use the Find a Case portal to search civil, criminal, and family case information across New Jersey courts.
• Criminal Case Search: The PROMIS/Gavel Public Access system lets you search criminal cases by defendant name or case number. Some records are restricted by statute.
• Municipal Court Case Search: Look up ticket and complaint information through the Municipal Court Case Search tool.
• Court Records Requests: The Superior Court Clerk's Office manages court records, judgment liens, and foreclosure filings. Request copies by contacting the office or submitting a written request.
• County Government Records: Historical records including deeds, mortgages, and early marriage returns are cataloged through the New Jersey State Archives county records page.
• Inmate Lookup — County: The Camden County Department of Corrections provides 24/7 automated inmate status information by phone at (609) 299-1694.
• Inmate Lookup — State: Search for individuals in state custody through the New Jersey Department of Corrections offender search.
• Sex Offender Registry: New Jersey's Megan's Law registry is maintained by the State Police and is searchable online at the NJ State Police Sex Offender Registry website.
• Property Tax Records: Property assessment and tax data for Camden County can be accessed through the NJ Transparency Center or the City of Camden Office of Assessments.
• Sheriff's Office: The Camden County Sheriff's Office handles civil process, courthouse security, and sheriff's sales. Contact them at (856) 225-5470.
• Camden County Government: The official Camden County website provides links to county departments, services, and public information.