Cherry Hill Divorce Decree Records
Cherry Hill Township divorce decree records are filed at the Camden County Superior Court in Camden. Cherry Hill is a large suburban township in Camden County with about 70,000 residents, located right across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. If you need a divorce decree from Cherry Hill, the court clerk at the Hall of Justice can help you find it. You can also search the state courts website to look up basic case details for any Cherry Hill divorce decree on file.
Cherry Hill Township Quick Facts
Cherry Hill Divorce Decree Court
All Cherry Hill Township divorce decree cases go through the Camden County Superior Court. The Family Division is on the second floor of the Hall of Justice in Camden. The drive from Cherry Hill to the courthouse is about 20 minutes depending on traffic. The clerk handles new filings, case updates, and certified copies of divorce decree records for cases less than three years old.
| Court | Camden County Superior Court, Family Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 South 5th Street Camden, NJ 08103 |
| Phone | (856) 379-2204 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Cherry Hill Township website at cherryhill-nj.com offers local government services but does not store divorce decree records. The image below shows the township portal.
Divorce decree records are always held at the county court level, not by the township. Cherry Hill's health department handles birth and death records only.
Searching Cherry Hill Divorce Decrees
Start a search for a Cherry Hill divorce decree at njcourts.gov/public/find-a-case. The tool covers all Camden County cases. Enter a party name or docket number to pull up case data. Filing dates, party names, and case status are free to view. The full text of the divorce decree is not shown online. For that, you need to contact the clerk or visit the courthouse.
At the courthouse, the clerk searches by name or docket number. Bring your photo ID and the names of both parties. If you have the docket number, service is faster. Same-day copies are often available for recent Cherry Hill divorce decree cases. Call (856) 379-2204 before your visit to ask about current fees for plain and certified copies.
Cherry Hill sits near the Pennsylvania border. Cases that involve cross-border issues, like a spouse who lives in Philadelphia, may have extra steps. The court handles jurisdiction matters at the start of the case. Once a Cherry Hill divorce decree is entered, it is valid regardless of where the other spouse lives.
Filing for a Divorce Decree in Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill residents must meet the 12-month residency rule under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10 before filing on no-fault grounds. Living in Cherry Hill Township counts. You file the complaint for divorce at the Camden County courthouse on South 5th Street in Camden. The filing fee is $300. Without a lawyer, there is an extra $25 surcharge.
Most Cherry Hill residents file using irreconcilable differences under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2. The marriage must have been broken for at least six months. Fault grounds like adultery, extreme cruelty, or desertion are also options but require proof. After you file, the other spouse must be served. You can use the Camden County Sheriff, a process server, or certified mail.
If both sides agree on all terms, the case is uncontested. An uncontested divorce decree in Cherry Hill can be done in two to three months. Contested cases may go to mediation, an early settlement panel, or trial. The judge enters the final judgment, which is the divorce decree. It is a public record under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.
Note: Cherry Hill is close to Philadelphia, so some cases involve cross-state property and custody questions.
Older Cherry Hill Divorce Decree Records
The Camden County court holds divorce decree files for about three years. After that, they move to the Superior Court Records Center in Trenton at 171 Jersey Street. Call (609) 421-6100 for help finding an older Cherry Hill divorce decree. Staff can search by party name or docket number. If the file is in active storage, same-day service may be possible. Files in off-site storage take 10 to 15 business days.
Camden County was created from Gloucester County in 1844. Any divorce decree filed before that year would be in Gloucester County records. The State Archives at 225 West State Street in Trenton can help with very old records. They charge $1.00 per page for copies and will search up to a five-year range. The Records Center page has more details on the request process.
Cherry Hill Divorce Without a Lawyer
Cherry Hill residents can file for divorce on their own. The NJ Courts Self-Help Center at njcourts.gov/self-help/divorce provides all forms and guides for free. You download and print the forms, fill them out, and file at the Camden County courthouse. For electronic filing, use the JEDS system to submit papers online from Cherry Hill.
The NJ Courts self-help divorce page is shown below.
If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk about a fee waiver. You need to show proof of financial hardship or that you get public aid. Legal Services of New Jersey at lsnj.org provides free legal help to qualifying residents. Call (888) 576-5529. The NJ State Bar referral service at 1-800-792-8315 offers brief first consultations with family law attorneys in the Cherry Hill area.
Cherry Hill Divorce Decree vs. Certificate
A divorce decree is the full court order. It covers property, custody, support, and all other terms. A divorce certificate is a short form from the Department of Health. It only shows names, date, and county. Most legal needs call for the decree. Some agencies accept the certificate as proof that a divorce took place.
Certificates cost $25 from the NJ Department of Health. Extra copies at the same time are $2 each. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 370, Trenton, NJ 08625-0370. You can also visit their office at 140 East Front Street in Trenton. Visit nj.gov/health/vital/registration-vital/divorce-decrees for details.
Note: Divorce certificates from the Department of Health go back to 1848 in New Jersey.
Camden County Divorce Decree Records
Cherry Hill Township is in Camden County. All divorce decree filings from Cherry Hill, Camden, Gloucester Township, and other towns go through the same court. For full details on the county court, fees, and related records, visit the Camden County page.