Rule 5:26.[Expungement of Family Court Records]
Last amended September 1, 2023 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
Full Text of Rule 5:26
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “Note” beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; a “Source” line names the former rule the current one grew out of, and “R. (1969)” citations refer to the earlier numbering it replaced.
Note: Adopted August 4, 2023 to be effective September 1, 2023.
Plain-English Summary
The last rule in Part V is a routing rule, and a useful one to know exists. Expungement of Family Court records is administered in accordance with the procedures in the criminal rules, not under a separate family procedure.
Three categories are named: juvenile delinquency matters, contempt of domestic violence restraining order matters, and violations of probation. A person seeking to clear any of those looks to Rules 3:30-1 and 3:30-2 for the procedure.
Expungement is distinct from the confidentiality that already attaches to juvenile records under Rule 5:19-2. Those records are shielded from public inspection from the outset; expungement is what removes them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I expunge a juvenile record in New Jersey?
Expungement of Family Court records, including juvenile delinquency matters, is administered in accordance with the procedures set forth in R. 3:30-1 and R. 3:30-2.
What records does this cover?
Family Court records including juvenile delinquency matters, contempt of domestic violence restraining orders matters, and violations of probation.
Is that the same as juvenile records being confidential?
No. Juvenile records are already safeguarded from public inspection under Rule 5:19-2; expungement is the separate process for removing them.