Finding Burlington County NJ court records used to mean a long drive to Mount Holly and a lot of squinting at microfilm. Honestly, it’s easier now, but the system is still a bit of a maze if you don't know which door to knock on. Whether you’re looking for a divorce decree, a property deed, or checking someone's criminal history, the process changes depending on what you need.
New Jersey doesn't have one single "Search Everything" button. Instead, records are split between the Superior Court, the County Clerk, and the Surrogate’s Court.
The Three Main Places Records Live
Most people start at the Burlington County Courthouse on Rancocas Road. But wait. If you’re looking for a will, you actually need the Surrogate. If it's a house deed, that's the Clerk.
1. The Burlington County Clerk
The Clerk’s office is where the "land records" live. We’re talking mortgages, liens, and deeds. They use a system called PRESS (Public Records Electronic Search System). You can look up property stuff by name or block and lot number. Most of the basic index searching is free, but if you want copies without that "Unofficial" watermark slapped across the middle, you’ve gotta pay.
2. The Superior Court (Vicinage 3)
This is the big one. This covers criminal, civil, and family cases. If someone was sued in Mount Holly or caught a felony charge, it's here.
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- Criminal Records: These are tracked in PROMIS/Gavel. It covers everything from the initial arrest through the final sentencing.
- Civil & Small Claims: These live in ACMS (Automated Case Management System).
- Divorce: Divorce records are technically public, but they are handled through FACTS (Family Automated Case Tracking System). You can usually see that a case exists, but the juicy details are often restricted to the people involved and their lawyers.
3. The Burlington County Surrogate’s Court
Think of the Surrogate as the "Death and Kids" office. They handle probating wills, estate litigations, and adoptions. They have their own online search portal specifically for estate indexes. If you’re doing genealogy or checking if a relative's will was filed, this is your stop.
How to Actually Get the Paperwork
You've got two main paths: the digital way or the "old school" way.
Searching Online (The DIY Method)
The NJ Judiciary website has a public access portal. It’s not the prettiest website—it looks like it was designed in 2005—but it works. You can search by a person’s name or a docket number.
A quick warning: If you use the Electronic Access Program (EAP) for deep-dive civil searches, it costs about $4 per minute. Yeah, you read that right. It’s mostly for law firms. Most regular folks should stick to the free "Web-Based Search" versions which give you the docket history without the timer running.
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Requesting Records via OPRA
If the record isn't popping up online, you use OPRA (Open Public Records Act). You fill out a form—you can email it to opra@co.burlington.nj.us—and the government has seven business days to get back to you.
Records aren't always free. While looking is usually free, copies cost money.
- Standard Letter Pages: $0.05 per page.
- Certified Copies: Usually around $5.00 to $10.00 depending on the document.
- Surrogate Records: These can be pricier. A certified copy of a will might run you $5 per page plus a $5 certificate fee.
What You Can’t See (The Privacy Wall)
Not everything is open for everyone to see. New Jersey is pretty strict about certain "sensitive" info. You won't be able to get your hands on:
- Juvenile delinquency records (strictly sealed).
- Adoption files (almost impossible to open without a court order).
- Domestic violence complaints (protected for safety).
- Social Security Numbers (redacted from public view).
If you’re looking for a "clean" background check for a job, don't just rely on a name search. People have the same names. I’ve seen folks get denied jobs because they shared a name with a guy who had a rap sheet in Evesham or Willingboro. Always double-check birthdates.
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Moving Fast in 2026
Since we're into 2026 now, the Burlington Vicinage has moved more toward "eCourts." If you are a self-represented litigant (meaning you’re your own lawyer), you can actually sign up for an eCourts account to track your own case in real-time. It’s a lifesaver compared to waiting for a letter in the mail.
Real Steps to Find Your Record Today
- Identify the Type: Is it a house (Clerk), a dead relative (Surrogate), or a lawsuit (Superior Court)?
- Try the Free Portals First: Use the NJ Judiciary "Case Search" or the Burlington County PRESS system for land records.
- Use a Docket Number: If you have it, use it. Name searches are messy and pull up too many "John Smiths."
- Visit in Person: If you're stuck, go to 49 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly. The staff at the Law Library on the 7th floor are surprisingly helpful, though they can't give you legal advice.
- File an OPRA: If the clerk says "we don't have that online," file the formal written request. It forces them to do a deeper search in the archives.
If you are looking for older historical records—like stuff from the 1800s—the Burlington County records are actually partially housed at the State Archives in Trenton. Anything pre-1900 is usually better found there than at the local courthouse.
Practical Next Steps:
Head over to the NJ Judiciary Public Access page to run a free name search for any civil or criminal dockets. If you need a specific property deed, use the Burlington County PRESS portal to search by the owner's last name. For older records, check the New Jersey State Archives online catalog to see if the microfilm has been digitized.