NJ Kinship Guardianship Background Checks: CARI, Fingerprinting, and DV Registry

Three Checks, Every Adult in the Household

New Jersey requires background checks before a court will grant Kinship Legal Guardianship. Under N.J.S.A. 3B:12A-5, these checks are mandatory — the court cannot sign your KLG order without them, and they cover every adult aged 18 and older living in your home, not just you.

There are three separate checks, each searching a different database.

1. Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) — Fingerprinting

This is a state and federal criminal background check processed through LiveScan electronic fingerprinting. It searches both the New Jersey State Police database and the FBI's national criminal records.

You and every adult household member will be fingerprinted at a designated LiveScan vendor. The Kinship Navigator agency that handles your assessment will direct you to the specific location. Expect to pay approximately $65 to $80 per person for the fingerprinting fee.

A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. The court reviews the nature, severity, and recency of any offenses in the context of the child's safety and best interests. A decades-old misdemeanor is treated very differently from a recent offense involving violence or children.

2. Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) Check

The CARI check searches the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) central registry for any prior substantiated findings of child abuse or neglect against you or any adult in the household.

This is not the same as a criminal background check. A person can have a clean criminal record but a substantiated CARI finding, or vice versa. The CARI check specifically looks at whether the state's child protection system has ever made a formal finding against the individual.

DCF's CARI Unit conducts this check. You do not request it independently; the Navigator agency coordinates it as part of the caregiver assessment process.

3. Domestic Violence Central Registry (DVCR) Check

The DVCR is a confidential statewide registry maintained by the Administrative Office of the Courts. It includes people who have had domestic-violence restraining orders entered against them, people charged with domestic-violence offenses or order violations, and records of active and dismissed temporary and final orders.

The New Jersey State Police conducts the DVCR check. You do not request it independently; the Navigator agency coordinates it as part of the KLG process.

Who Runs These Checks

For private KLG cases, start by calling 2-1-1 to reach the regional Kinship Navigator agency. The agency coordinates the caregiver assessment and fingerprinting. DCF's CARI Unit conducts the CARI check, and the New Jersey State Police conducts the DVCR check; the Navigator agency coordinates both checks and submits Form CN 10267.

The Navigator agency then issues a Certification of Requested Background Checks (Form CN 10267), which you file with your KLG Complaint.

If CP&P is already involved in the case (the child came to you through a Division placement), the CP&P caseworker handles the assessment and background checks directly — the Navigator program is not used in those cases.

How Long the Checks Take

The New Jersey State Police says LiveScan applicant and noncriminal fingerprint checks are completed within 10 business days. DCF states CARI requests are processed within 45 business days. DVCR checks vary but generally process within a similar timeframe. The Navigator assessment as a whole — which includes the background checks, a home visit, and interviews — can take several weeks to complete.

Starting the process early matters. Call 2-1-1 to initiate the Navigator assessment as soon as you know you will be filing for KLG. The background checks are often the longest piece of the timeline, and the court cannot move forward without them.

What If Something Shows Up

A finding on any of the three checks does not mean your KLG petition is automatically denied. The court evaluates the results in context. Factors that matter include how long ago the incident occurred, the nature of the offense, whether there is a pattern, and what has changed since.

That said, certain findings carry more weight. A substantiated CARI finding involving the specific type of harm the child experienced, or an active restraining order, will face intense judicial scrutiny. If you know a background check will flag something, being upfront with your Navigator case manager and the court works in your favor.

Our New Jersey Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide includes an assessment progress tracker to help you monitor each background check's status and keep the process on schedule.

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