Once a divorce is final, in New Jersey, the divorce is recorded as a public document. Because of the intensely intimate nature of the documents, they are more challenging for the public to obtain than other public records.
Financial records, testimony about private, personal topics, and sensitive information about the children of the divorce are within divorce records. The very nature of a divorce makes many couples lean towards privacy and discretion. While these records are public, some laws have made them more difficult to access.
The Superior Court of New Jersey has full authority over who can obtain divorce information and what information they can obtain. There are fees charged to people who want to acquire divorce records when they are not one of the divorced parties.
What Information is Unavailable?
Some of the information from the divorce documents is redacted. Mostly, this is personal information that could harm the parties if released for public consumption. These redacted items might include:
- Social security numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- Credit card information
- Telephone numbers
- The identities of minor and domestic abuse victims
Even though the identities are redacted, it could be easy to conclude who was involved. Sometimes, the parties involved in the divorce may want the entirety of the information about the divorce proceedings to be sealed. Sealing a divorce case can be a highly complex task. Nitti & Nitti, P.C., can guide you through this process.
Having portions of the case redacted is a less complicated way to keep things private. Speak to your divorce attorney about your concerns.
What Information is Available in Divorce Records?
Divorce Certificates
Archives from a divorce case include a few different documents. The divorce certificate is easily obtained. It declares that a divorce has been completed in the state of New Jersey by a superior court. These documents are required when a person wants to change their name after a divorce or apply for a new marriage license.
A third party will be charged a fee if they wish to obtain a copy of another couple’s divorce certificate.
Divorce Decrees
Divorce decrees provide more detail than divorce certificates. More detail is included in these documents, such as the following:
- Location of the divorce
- Official judgments
- Agreements made when settling the case
- Allocation of property and assets
- Alimony agreements
- Child custody arrangements
- Child support information
The distribution of divorce decrees is the responsibility of the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Center. They maintain the records and distribute them as they deem appropriate.
Complete Divorce Record
Complete divorce records are possible to obtain, but third parties will find it more challenging to access these. These records contain things like the following:
- Divorce certificate
- Divorce Decree
- Transcripts of the divorce proceedings
- All documents submitted during the divorce
- Documents generated during the case
The divorced couple will each be given a copy. But for a third party to acquire the complete divorce record, they must apply and pay a fee. Typically, this fee is around $10.
Contact Us With Further Questions About Documents Surrounding Divorce
Nitti & Nitti, P.C., divorce law attorneys in Essex county, New Jersey, are available to help with any questions you may have. They understand New Jersey law and offer guidance about divorce documents and how to have them sealed or how to have sensitive information redacted. Your privacy is important, and our experts understand how to help.
