Franklin Township Divorce Decree Files
Franklin Township divorce decree records are filed at the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. Franklin Township is the largest town in Somerset County with about 68,000 residents. To get a copy of a divorce decree from Franklin Township, you go through the Somerset County court clerk. You can search for a Franklin Township divorce decree online or visit the courthouse in Somerville. All divorce decree cases for Franklin Township are part of the Somerset County court system.
Franklin Township Quick Facts
Franklin Township Divorce Decree Court
Franklin Township residents file for divorce at the Somerset County Superior Court, Family Division. The court is in Somerville, the county seat, about 10 miles northwest of Franklin Township. All divorce decree files for Franklin Township are stored at this courthouse. You file new cases, pick up copies, and attend hearings here.
| Court | Somerset County Superior Court, Family Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 20 N Bridge Street Somerville, NJ 08876 |
| Phone | (908) 332-7700 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
You can drive to the courthouse from Franklin Township by taking Route 27 north to Route 206 or by using Interstate 287. The courthouse is in the center of Somerville near the downtown shopping area. Street parking and public lots are close by. Bring a photo ID for security at the entrance. The clerk office on the main floor handles all Franklin Township divorce decree requests.
Franklin Township does not have its own Superior Court, so all family law cases go to Somerville. The township municipal offices cannot provide divorce decree copies. For local government information, the Franklin Township website has department contacts and hours, though the township site was not available at the time of this writing.
Search Franklin Township Divorce Decree Records
The quickest way to find a Franklin Township divorce decree is to search online. The New Jersey Courts portal at njcourts.gov/public/find-a-case covers all of Somerset County. Enter the name of one spouse or the case docket number. The results show the case type, filing date, and status. This online search is free for basic case data.
The search results will not include the full text of the divorce decree. To get the actual document, contact the Somerset County clerk at (908) 332-7700 or visit the courthouse in Somerville. Staff can pull the file and make copies for you. Certified copies of a Franklin Township divorce decree carry the court seal and are accepted for legal uses like name changes, remarriage, and insurance claims.
For more detailed case research, the Electronic Access Program gives access to expanded case information beyond what the free search offers. This can be useful if you need full docket entries for a Franklin Township divorce decree.
Note: Have the full name and approximate year of filing ready before starting your search.
Filing for a Divorce Decree in Franklin Township
To file for divorce in Franklin Township, at least one spouse must have been a New Jersey resident for 12 months. This is the rule under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-10. If you live in Franklin Township, your time here counts toward that requirement. You file the complaint at the Somerset County courthouse in Somerville and pay the $300 filing fee.
The complaint states your grounds for divorce. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2, most Franklin Township residents file on the no-fault ground of irreconcilable differences lasting six months or more. You do not need to prove that one spouse was at fault. Fault grounds like desertion, extreme cruelty, or separation for 18 months are also options if they apply to your case.
After you file, you serve the other spouse. The Somerset County Sheriff can serve the papers, or you can use a private process server or certified mail. The proof of service is filed with the court. Both sides then have time to respond, exchange financial information, and try to reach an agreement. If the case is uncontested, the judge holds a short hearing and signs the final divorce decree. This order ends the marriage and becomes a permanent record in the Somerset County court system for Franklin Township.
The Superior Court Records Center stores older case files. If you need a Franklin Township divorce decree from years ago, the clerk can check if the file has been sent to the records center and help you get copies.
Franklin Township Divorce Decree Costs
Filing fees for a divorce decree in Franklin Township follow the statewide schedule. The complaint costs $300 to file. A $25 surcharge applies if you file without a lawyer. Motions cost $15 each, and post-judgment motions to modify a divorce decree cost $30. You pay all fees at the Somerset County courthouse in Somerville.
Copies of a Franklin Township divorce decree also have fees. Certified copies cost more than plain copies, but they are needed for legal use. If you cannot afford the fees, you can ask the Somerset County court for a fee waiver. Fill out the application form and show proof of low income. The court reviews it and decides if you qualify to file your Franklin Township divorce decree case at no charge.
Note: Call (908) 332-7700 to check current copy fees before you visit the courthouse.
Legal Resources for Franklin Township Divorce Decree
Franklin Township residents who need help with a divorce decree case have several options. Legal Services of New Jersey at lsnj.org handles family law cases for low-income residents. Call their hotline at (888) 576-5529 to ask about help with a divorce decree in Franklin Township. Central New Jersey Legal Services also serves Somerset County.
The New Jersey Courts Self-Help Center provides free forms and step-by-step guides for people who want to handle a divorce decree case on their own in Franklin Township. You can download every form you need from the website. The Somerset County courthouse has a self-help area where staff can point you to the right forms. They do not give legal advice, but they help you find what you need for your Franklin Township divorce decree case.
The electronic filing system lets Franklin Township residents submit court papers online. You can file your complaint, motions, and other documents without making the drive to Somerville. Track your divorce decree case status through the system as well.
Franklin Township Divorce Decree and Certificates
A divorce decree from the Somerset County court contains the full terms of the divorce. A divorce certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health is a one-page document that confirms the divorce took place. The certificate shows names, date, and county but nothing about property, custody, or support.
You can order a divorce certificate by mailing a request and $25 fee to the Office of Vital Statistics in Trenton. For the full divorce decree with all terms, contact the Somerset County clerk. Under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, divorce decree records for Franklin Township are public records. The clerk must give copies to anyone who asks, though certain parts of the case file may be sealed if the judge ordered it.
Most Franklin Township residents who need proof of divorce for legal or financial matters will want the full divorce decree from the court. The certificate works if you just need to show that a divorce occurred on a certain date.
Somerset County Divorce Decree Records
Franklin Township is in Somerset County, and all divorce decree filings go through the Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. The county court handles cases for 21 towns and boroughs, with Franklin Township being the largest by population. For more on the county court system, full fee lists, and other resources, visit the Somerset County divorce decree records page.