How to Look Up Eviction Records in New Jersey 2026
Court portal, certified copy fees, and expungement laws for New Jersey
Where to Search New Jersey Eviction Records
Online portal: NJ Courts eCourts
Certified copy fee: $0.50/page
In New Jersey, an eviction case lives with the Special Civil Part of Superior Court, the landlord-tenant division that hears every residential summary dispossess action in the state. You do not have to drive to a county courthouse to find one: New Jersey runs a true statewide system, so a record filed in Newark sits in the same database as one filed in Camden or Toms River. You reach it through NJ Courts eCourts, the Judiciary's online case-search platform, which makes most landlord-tenant dockets searchable from anywhere without a clerk visit.
New Jersey is also one of the states where the record is not necessarily permanent. Sealing of eviction records is available under NJ S3691 (2022), and a separate rule caps how long an old case can be used against a renter. That combination, statewide online access plus a sealing pathway, shapes how both landlords and tenants should handle these records in 2026.
How to find a New Jersey eviction record
Start with NJ Courts eCourts, the statewide portal operated by the Judiciary. Because access is statewide rather than county-by-county, you can search a tenant or docket across all 21 counties from one place instead of contacting each county clerk separately. Search by party name or by docket number if you already have one; landlord-tenant filings sit under the Special Civil Part of Superior Court.
When you need an official copy for a lease file, lender, or legal proceeding, the court will produce a certified copy. Plan on roughly $0.50 per page for certified copies in New Jersey, charged by the page rather than as a flat fee. For most single-case dockets that keeps the cost modest, though long files with multiple motions and judgments add up. The online record itself is free to view.
Reading the result: a filing is not a judgment
The single most common mistake is treating any eviction entry as proof the tenant lost. A filing is not a judgment. A landlord in New Jersey opens a case by filing a complaint for possession in the Special Civil Part; that complaint appears in the record the moment it is docketed, long before any hearing. Many of those cases are settled, withdrawn, or dismissed.
So read the disposition, not just the existence of a case. Look for whether a judgment for possession was actually entered, whether the matter was dismissed, and whether the tenant prevailed. A dismissed or tenant-won case carries very different weight than an entered judgment, and under New Jersey law, those favorable outcomes may also be eligible for sealing, which changes what should appear on a report at all.
Expungement, sealing, and the FCRA caution for landlords
Sealing is real in New Jersey. Under NJ S3691 (2022), an eviction record may be sealed when the tenant wins or the case is dismissed, and a separate three-year limit restricts using adverse eviction records for tenant screening. The Anti-Eviction Act further protects certain tenants from having a record used against them. The governing authority is N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16 et seq. (S3691, effective 2021) and NJ Admin Code 5:7-5.2.
For landlords, this stacks on top of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. Do not act on a sealed record or on a stale case beyond the three-year screening window. A screening company that reports a sealed New Jersey eviction, and a landlord who denies an applicant based on it, both invite liability. Verify the disposition, respect the sealing status, and document an FCRA-compliant adverse-action process before declining any applicant.
The tenant's side: getting a record sealed
If you are a renter in New Jersey, the record is not automatically the end of the story. First, confirm what the record actually says by searching NJ Courts eCourts or asking the Special Civil Part of Superior Court for your docket. If your case was dismissed or you prevailed, you fall within the situations S3691 was written to cover, and the file may be eligible for sealing.
Pursue sealing through the same court that handled the case, citing the protections in N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16 et seq. Even where a record cannot be sealed, the three-year limit on adverse use and the Anti-Eviction Act give you grounds to push back when a screener or landlord relies on an old or improperly reported case. With average rent in New Jersey near $1,823, clearing an inaccurate or sealable record can be the difference in getting approved.
Step-by-Step: How to Search New Jersey Eviction Records
- Go to NJ Courts eCourts. Open https://portal.njcourts.gov in your browser.
- Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
- Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
- Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
- Check the filing date. Important: New Jersey has eviction record protections, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16 et seq. (S3691, eff. 2021); NJ Admin Code 5:7-5.2. Do not make adverse screening decisions on sealed, expunged, or protected records.
- Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the Special Civil Part of Superior Court clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $0.50/page.
Eviction Record Expungement in New Jersey
Landlords and screening companies may not use sealed or expunged eviction records as a basis for adverse tenant-screening decisions in New Jersey. Tenants who believe their records have been improperly used may have a civil claim under the applicable statute. If a tenant discloses an expunged eviction, you may ask for context but cannot deny housing based solely on the expunged record.
This page was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team using the New Jersey Judiciary's framework for the Special Civil Part of Superior Court and the NJ Courts eCourts case-search system, alongside the state sealing law (NJ S3691 (2022); N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16 et seq.; NJ Admin Code 5:7-5.2). Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed New Jersey attorney about a specific eviction record or sealing request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up an eviction record in New Jersey?
Eviction cases are handled by the Special Civil Part of Superior Court and are searchable statewide through NJ Courts eCourts, the Judiciary's online portal. You can search by party name or docket number from one place rather than contacting each county clerk. Viewing the docket online is free; a certified copy runs about $0.50 per page.
Are New Jersey eviction records public?
Yes. Landlord-tenant filings in the Special Civil Part of Superior Court are part of the public court record and are accessible statewide via NJ Courts eCourts. Note that a filing is not a judgment, always check the disposition, and that records sealed under NJ S3691 are no longer publicly usable for screening.
Can a tenant expunge or seal an eviction in New Jersey?
Yes. Under NJ S3691 (2022), an eviction record may be sealed when the tenant wins or the case is dismissed, and a three-year limit restricts using adverse eviction records for screening. The Anti-Eviction Act adds further protection. The authority is N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16 et seq. and NJ Admin Code 5:7-5.2; pursue sealing through the court that handled the case.
How much does a certified copy of a New Jersey eviction record cost?
Certified copies from the Special Civil Part of Superior Court are charged by the page, at roughly $0.50 per page. A short single-case docket stays inexpensive, while long files with multiple motions and judgments cost more. Viewing the record online through NJ Courts eCourts is free.
Related New Jersey Landlord Guides
Court portal information sourced from the New Jersey court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published New Jersey statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.