Bergen County, located in the northeast part of New Jersey, has a population of over 900,000 residents, making it the state's most populous county. Established in 1683, Bergen County covers an estimated area of 640 square kilometers and is known for its picturesque landscapes, such as the Palisade Interstate Park. Bergen County, one of the first four original counties of New Jersey, has its county seat in Hackensack.

Courts in Bergen County

Bergen County's court system is comprised of Superior, Surrogate, and Municipal Courts. The Bergen County Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The Bergen County Superior Court has different divisions based on case type. They include Civil, Criminal, Family, Chancery, and Probate Divisions.

The Bergen County Surrogate Court oversees the probate process in the county and handles matters primarily related to wills, estate, and guardianship. Bergen County Municipal Courts handle cases involving motor vehicles, traffic violations, local ordinance violations, and minor criminal offenses within the county’s municipalities.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Bergen County

Public court records are the papers and documents submitted or maintained by the courts from legal proceedings open to the public for inspection and copying. The Clerk of the Superior Court is the record custodian for criminal, civil, and family court cases filed in the county. In addition, Bergen County probate court records are available at the county’s Surrogate Office. Record seekers may request public court records in person at the clerk’s office, by email, or by mail. Furthermore, public court records from the Municipal Courts are available through the Municipal Court Case Search web tool.

Types of Public Court Records in Bergen County

The following court records are open to the public in Bergen County:

• Probate Court Records: Guardianship, conservatorship, wills and estate, name change, and trust records
• Family Court Records: Divorce records, spousal support, and child support records
• Criminal Court Records. Felonies and misdemeanors such as burglaries, murder, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, and petty theft
• Civil Court Records: Landlord/tenant disputes, property disputes, business litigation, contract disputes, and personal injury claims

Confidential Court Records in Bergen County

Confidential court records are documents from the courts excluded from public access. Confidential court records may be sealed by the courts or federal or state laws. Confidential court records contain sensitive or private information where disclosure may lead to an unwarranted invasion of privacy. The following court records are exempt from public access:

• Medical, psychiatric, and psychological records
• Alcohol and drug dependency records
• Notes and working papers used by the judge or judicial staff in the course of performing official duties
• Court records relating to grand jury proceedings
• Juvenile delinquency records, child victim of sexual abuse, paternity records, and adoption records

Confidential information on court records is excluded from the public. Confidential court records containing private information, such as financial account information,  Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers, are redacted from the public court records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Bergen, NJ

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Bergen County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in New Jersey often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1493 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Bergen County. Of that total, 80% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1194 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Bergen County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Bergen County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Bergen County, NJ

https://www.nj.gov/

County Seat:	Hackensack
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1683
Total Square Miles:	247
2019 Population:	948,406
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	One Bergen County Plaza County Administration Building Hackensack , NJ 07601-7076 http://www.co.bergen.nj.us