Established in 1688, Somerset County is one of America’s oldest and wealthiest counties. As of the 2020 Census, it had a population of 345,61 people and a median household income of $135,577. The county’s seat, Somerville Borough, is a popular commercial hub in New Jersey.

Courts in Somerset County

Somerset County is home to the Superior Court of New Jersey, the Somerset County Surrogate Court, the New Jersey Tax Court, and several Municipal Courts. 

The Superior Court of New Jersey in Somerset County has two divisions: the law division and the chancery division. The law division comprises the criminal part, the civil part, and the special civil part. The criminal part has jurisdiction over the violation of crimes involving adults, though it tries juveniles in severe cases. Meanwhile, the civil party adjudicates contract disputes, claims for money and property, landlord-tenant matters, and other civil claims involving over $20,000. On its part, the special civil part hears two kinds of cases. First are civil cases where the plaintiff claims monetary relief ranging from over $5,000 to $20,000. Second are small claims involving $5,000 or less.

Non-monetary claims fall within the authority of the chancery division. The general equity part of the chancery division hears claims for equitable reliefs, while the probate part hears contested probate matters, including cases on wills, trusts, and guardianships. Likewise, the family part of the division hears cases on domestic and juvenile matters such as divorce, custody, juvenile delinquency, and domestic violence.

The New Jersey Tax Court handles appeals of tax matters from the Somerset County Tax Board, while the Somerset County Surrogate handles uncontested probate matters. Furthermore, each city and town in Somerset has a Municipal Court that hears traffic matters, ordinance violations, and juvenile motor vehicle complaints.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Somerset County

The Superior Court Clerk’s Office is responsible for maintaining court records in Somerset County. Interested residents can access these records online on the New Jersey eCourts System.  The system is classified into several portals which contain different kinds of records. The civil case portal contains civil cases, including those of the chancery division. Depending on the outcome of the case, criminal records are accessible on either the criminal judgment or criminal convictions portal. Additionally, there is the Tax Court and Municipal Courts records portal. Researchers can also find case information through the New Jersey Electronic Access Program (EAP).

However, to obtain copies of court records in Somerset, submit a completed records request form to the Judicial Electronic Documents Submission portal.  Note that requests for records of the Tax Court should be submitted via email. Also, requesters must contact the County’s Surrogate for adoption records and certain probate records. 

Types of Public Court Records in Somerset County

Documents and materials containing information about cases heard by the courts constitute court records in Somerset County. Such records are publicly accessible, except a law or court order makes them confidential. Examples of public court records are:

• Civil case records and foreclosures
• Small claims records
• Criminal case records
• Municipal Court records
• Tax Court records

Confidential Court Records in Somerset County

Confidential court records are protected from public access. Some examples of them in Somerset County include:

• Juvenile records
• Probation records
• Case records sealed by court order
• Case records revealing trade secrets
• Records pertaining to child victims of sexual abuse

Juvenile Delinquency in Somerset, NJ

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

In 2017, a total of 696 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Somerset County. Of that total, 41% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 282 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Somerset County, NJ

https://www.nj.gov/

County Seat:	Somerville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1688
Total Square Miles:	305
2019 Population:	335,432
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	20 Grove St County Administration Building Somerville , NJ 08876-2306 https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/