Cape May County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Cape May County, New Jersey, is considered one of the least populous counties in the state. Home to over 95,400 people and covering a land area of 251.52 square miles, the county has also experienced a slight population decline in recent years. Despite its relatively smaller number, Cape May County operates an efficient judiciary system, which contributes to the prevalence of law and order in the county. The county's justice administration is primarily through three courts: the Superior Court, Surrogate Court, and Municipal Courts. Each court has its different jurisdiction, broadening the scope of disputes and matters the county's courts are equipped to address.

The Superior Court, located in Middle Township, hears civil cases involving any amount, criminal cases involving adult offenders, divorce, domestic violence, and juvenile and other family-related matters. The Surrogate Court primarily handles the appointment of a guardian for minors in estate matters and the supervision of an adoption. The Municipal Courts, such as the one in Cape May City, have jurisdiction over traffic and ordinance violations, motor vehicle violations, disorderly conduct, and related matters.

The Cape May County courts handle a wide variety of cases and decide a large volume of cases annually. The Superior Court has heard about 460,000 civil cases alone and the court handles nearly 8,000 filings annually. Despite the caseload, the courts are committed to ensuring the quick determination of matters, especially those that are criminal matters. Considering the general data indicates that the crime rate in the Cape May County area is mildly concerning, it is unsurprising why the courts are committed to this goal. Cape May County courts typically maintain a record of filed and decided cases, and documents filed before these courts. These constitute the courts' records and are generally available to members of the public on the New Jersey Public Case Database. Here are cases that deal with sensitive matters that otherwise are sealed without access until permission is granted.

In summary, the Cape May County court system remains essential to the county's governance, stability, and maintenance of law and order. By segmenting the jurisdiction over cases among courts, the county's justice administration system continues to reflect increasing efficiency. Granting access to court records online also highlights the county's commitment to transparency in the judicial process, ease of access to this process, and improving public trust in the judiciary. As the court system continues to improve, it provides helpful pointers to other counties across the state on running an efficient judiciary.