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Civil and Law Division Frequently Asked Questions, Do I need a lawyer? Should I hire a lawyer for my lawsuit? You have the right to represent yourself in court and are not required to be represented by attorney. If you can get a lawyer, however, it is a good idea to do so. New Jersey laws, the proofs necessary to present your case, and the procedural rules governing your case are complex. Since valuable claims or large judgments may be at stake, most litigants appearing in the Law Division, Civil Part have a lawyer. If you are being sued or are filing a lawsuit and you want to be represented by an attorney, you have several options. If you can afford an attorney, you can hire an attorney on your own. If you cannot afford an attorney, you can contact the legal services program in your county or the Legal Services of New Jersey to see if you qualify for free or reduced fee legal services. There are also a variety of organizations of minority lawyers throughout New Jersey, as well as organizations of lawyers who handle specialized types of cases. Contact information for the Directory of County Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Office of New Jersey is available on our Forms Self Help Resource Center forms page. Do I have to get a court order to get a title for an automobile issued in my name? This is a decision that the Motor Vehicle Commission must make. You may call the legal department there and you will be advised as to whether you need a court order or whether you can use their internal procedure to get the title issued in your name. The number for you to call is 609-777-4379 609-777-4379. How can I take the deposition of a person in New Jersey to use in a case filed in another state? Information and forms for taking a deposition in New Jersey for a case filed elsewhere can be found in our packet entitled " Information for Attorneys on the Procedure to Pursue Discovery of a New Jersey Resident for Use in Litigation in the United States District Courts or Another Country " on our Legal Forms page. How can I collect on a judgment? The Judiciary has published brochures that provide information on how to enforce or collect a judgment in the Law Division, Civil Part and Collecting a Money Judgment - brochure collecting a money judgment in the Special Civil Part. Who can serve my complaint? There are two ways to have your complaint served. In New Jersey, the sheriff’s officers in the various counties can serve complaints. You should contact the sheriff’s officers in the county where you filed your lawsuit. You can also use a private process server or any adult with no connection to or interest in the case. See By Whom Served; Copies Rule 4:4-3 . Where can I find information about how to change my name or my minor child’s name? The Judiciary has kits available for Name Change name changes for both How to Ask the Court to Change Your Name - Adult adults and How to Ask the Court to Change a Name in the Chancery Division, Family Part minors on our Self Help Resource Center. How do I remove a satisfied judgment or a tax lien from my credit report? If there is a judgment or lien on your credit report and that judgment has been satisfied, you must contact the credit reporting agency in writing and include copies of the documents that support your position, for example, a copy of the signed warrant to satisfy judgment. You must supply your complete name and address and identify each item in the report that you dispute. State your position and request the deletion or correction of the item in question. You should follow the same procedure if there is incorrect information on your credit report. When does the discovery period begin to run in a Law Division, Civil Part case? Pursuant to Rule 4:24-1(a), the discovery period begins to run from the date the first answer is filed or from 90 days after the first defendant is served, whichever occurs first. Can the court staff look over my form and tell me if I have completed it correctly? Court staff can only review your form to make sure you have answered all the questions. Staff cannot tell you whether the information you have provided is correct or complete. You are responsible to know whether your documents contain correct and complete information. How do I file a complaint against my lawyer? Against the judge? To register a complaint about an attorney, contact the [personnel_division] at [phone_number] and/or the [personnel_division] [phone_number] . To complain about a judge’s conduct, contact the [personnel_division] [phone_number] . How can I take the deposition of a person who does not live in New Jersey for a case filed in New Jersey? Rule 4:11-5 sets forth three ways in which a deposition may be taken outside New Jersey for use in New Jersey. You may take it on notice to all parties, or in accordance with a commission or letter rogatory issued by a court in this state, or in any manner stipulated to by the parties. The party seeking to take the deposition must apply to the foreign state pursuant to the rules of that state. New Jersey Court Rules are available on our website at Rules of Court njcourts.gov . How can I obtain a warrant for satisfaction of a judgment? You can use the Judiciary’s form for a Warrant to Satisfy Judgment warrant to satisfy judgment found on our Legal Forms page. If the docket number begins with a “J,” the warrant should be filed in the county where the judgment was obtained. If the judgment was docketed as a statewide lien and has a docket number that begins with “DJ,” the warrant should be filed with the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Trenton. Where can I find a subpoena form? There are two subpoena forms, depending on whether you want the person to submit documents or to appear in person. To subpoena documents, use the Subpoena Duces Tecum (For Use When Records Are Needed) subpoena duces tecum form. To subpoena a person to appear and testify, use the Subpoena Ad Testificandum (For Use When Someone's Testimony in Court is Needed) subpoena ad testificandum . If I am changing my entire family’s name, do I have to pay a fee for each family member? No, only one filing fee is required when multiple parties in the same family are changing their names. How can I enforce a judgment debtor from another state in New Jersey? If the debtor is in New Jersey, you can enforce the judgment in New Jersey. Instructions are available in our packet entitled “ Docketing Foreign Judgments Docketing Foreign Judgments ” located on our Legal forms page. When will the judge render a decision in my civil case? Court staff has no way of knowing when the judge will issue a decision in your case. What is the statute of limitations for the claim in my case? Court staff cannot tell you what the applicable statute of limitations is for your case. N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 et. seq. sets forth the limitations for various causes of action. You can refer to this statute to determine the statute of limitations in your case. In general, the statute of limitations for a contract action is 6 years and for a personal injury action is 2 years. You should be aware, however, that various factors may alter these time periods. What do I have to do to be admitted pro hac vice in New Jersey? Contact the [personnel_division] by calling [phone_number] or follow the instructions on our New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection web page. How do I obtain a letter rogatory? You must make an application to the court on notice to the parties in order to obtain a commission or letter rogatory. See In Foreign Countries - Letter Rogatory Rule 4:12-3 . Your application must include a proposed order. Once the judge has issued an order for a letter rogatory, send a copy of the order, the letter rogatory, and the $35.00 fee to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Trenton for processing. The Clerk of the Superior Court will sign the letter, affix and emboss a seal. What is the fee to file a warrant to satisfy judgment? The fee to file a warrant of satisfaction is $50.00 regardless of the judgment suffix (DJ or J) How much do I have to pay a witness to testify in my case? N.J.S.A 22A:1-4 states that a witness must be paid $2.00 per day to appear in court. If the witness does not live in the county where the case is to be heard, the witness gets an additional allowance of $2.00 for every 30 miles of travel from home to the court and back. Where can I get a notice of tort claim form? The Judiciary does not have a standard form on its website. The usual practice is to contact the entity against whom you wish to file the claim. In most situations, the entity has forms available for you to use. Another suggestion is to consult the New Jersey Practice books for model forms. Law libraries and some municipal or county libraries have that set of books. You should also look at the statute, N.J.S.A . 59:8-3, which sets forth what information must be included in the notice of tort claim. Where can I find a list of Court fees? Court Fees Court fees are listed in N.J.S.A . 2A:2-37.1 and 2A:2-37.2, and are also available on our Self Help Resource Center. How can I get a transcript of my hearing or trial? You should contact the Operations Manager in the county in which the case was heard. Has the statute of limitations run in my case? Court staff cannot make that determination. Whether the statute of limitations has run is a legal issue that must be decided by a court based upon the type of case you have, when the incident occurred that gave rise to the case or when the plaintiff became aware of it, and the applicable limitations period which is set by statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1 et seq . I am an attorney in New Jersey. How can I obtain a certificate of good standing? Contact the [personnel_division] [phone_number] . There is a cost for this service. Where can I get a marriage or civil union license? N.J.S.A . 37:1-3 states that the marriage or civil union license shall be issued by the licensing officer in the municipality in which either party resides or, if neither party is a resident of the State, in the municipality in which the proposed marriage or civil union is to be performed. What happens when someone obtains a judgment against me? The creditor will likely try to collect the amount of the judgment from you. This can happen in several ways. If you are employed, the creditor may obtain a court order to garnish you wages which will mean a certain amount of money will be deducted from your paychecks until the full amount of the judgment is paid. The creditor may also apply to the court for an order to turn over money in your bank accounts to satisfy the judgment. The creditor may also request the sheriff levy on your personal property (jewelry, electronic equipment, automobile, etc.) and sell the items at a public sale. You may designate $1,000.00 worth of your property as exempt from the sheriff’s levy. If the creditor dockets the judgment as a statewide lien, a creditor can also levy and execute on your real property. Where can I find a form for a motion that I can use in a Law Division, Civil Part case? The Judiciary has a self-help packet entitled How to File a Motion in the Superior Court of New Jersey - Law Division - Civil Part How to File a Motion in the Superior Court of New Jersey - Law Division - Civil Part that can be found on our Self Help Resource Center. You may have to adapt this packet to request the particular relief you want. How do I file a contractor (or mechanic) lien? The Judiciary does not have any forms for these liens on its website. The procedure is set forth in N.J.S.A . 2A:44A-6 et seq . Statute books are generally available in municipal or county libraries or in law libraries. Section N.J.S.A . 2A:44A-8 has a sample notice of claim which is to be filed with the county clerk within 90 days of the date payment was due. You may also contact the county clerk’s office. That office may have a form available for you to use and may be able to give you more specific instructions. Sample forms also can be found in the New Jersey Practice series of books, available at libraries as well. What are the pre-judgment and post-judgment interest rates? The judiciary publishes the Post Judgment and Pre-Judgment Interest Rates pre-judgment and post-judgment interest rates on the Civil Practice Division web page. This information is also contained in Interest; Rate on Judgments; in Tort Actions Rule 4:42-11 . If I disagree with the judge’s decision in my case, what can I do? You can file either a motion for reconsideration or use the How to Appeal a Trial Court, Tax Court or State Agency Decision kit for filing a notice of appeal to the Appellate Division. How many copies of the complaint should I file? It is recommended that you file an original and at least two copies of your complaint along with your filing fee, a completed Civil Case Information Statement (CIS) Pro Se version with instructions Civil Case Information Statement , and a self-addressed stamped envelope (so that the court can return the Track Assignment Notice). Court staff will mark the copies “filed” and return them to you. Copies of the filed complaint must be served on all parties to the case and you can keep additional copies for your records. More information about How to File a Complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey - Law Division - Civil Part how to file a complaint in the Law Division is available on our Self Help Resource Center. How can I incorporate my business? The New Jersey Department of the Treasury Division of Revenue New Jersey Department of the Treasury Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services provides information and links to help you form and register a business entity. Who can solemnize or perform a marriage or civil union? The following individuals may perform ceremonies in New Jersey: Judges of the following courts: United States Court of Appeals for the 3d circuit, Federal District Court, Municipal Court, Superior Court and Tax Court as well as retired judges of the Superior Court or Tax Court or a judge of the Superior Court or Tax Court who has resigned in good standing. U.S. Magistrates, surrogates of any county, county clerks, mayors or deputy mayors who have been authorized by the mayor to solemnize a marriage, chairpersons of any township committee or village. Ministers of every religion, religious societies, institutions and organizations may perform marriage ceremonies according to the rules and customs of the society institution or organization. Information about individual authorized to perform ceremonies can be obtained from the county or federal court house or the New Jersey Lawyers Diary . How can I satisfy a judgment against me? A judgment can be fully satisfied by paying the judgment creditor (the person who has the judgment against you) in full and receiving from the creditor a Warrant of Satisfaction. The Warrant of Satisfaction must be filed as set forth above. If the judgment creditor refuses or cannot be located to sign a warrant of satisfaction, you must How to File a Motion in the Superior Court of New Jersey - Law Division - Civil Part file a motion in the county where the judgment was entered and ask the court to enter an order stating that the judgment is satisfied. Include proof of payment of the judgment with your motion. For information on motions, see related Question. If an objection is received, the matter will be scheduled for a hearing. If you claim the lien was discharged in bankruptcy, you must obtain an order from the United States Bankruptcy Court specifically discharging the lien of the particular judgment. This must be done within one year of the date of the bankruptcy discharge. If more than one year from the date of the discharge in bankruptcy has passed, you must file a motion to discharge the lien of the judgment in Superior Court in the underlying action giving rise to the judgment. May I speak with the judge handling my case? When your case is scheduled for a hearing, a conference, or a trial, you will have the opportunity to speak to the judge. The judge will not speak with one party unless everyone in the case is present.
Foreclosure FAQs, If I don't file an answer to the foreclosure complaint, what will happen? If the defendant does not file an answer, he or she is deemed to have admitted the claims in the foreclosure complaint. The Plaintiff's attorney can seek entry of default against the defendant and thereafter seek a final judgment of foreclosure. Will my case automatically be dismissed if I catch up on my arrears before the answer is due? No. Catching up on arrears will not cause the foreclosure proceeding to be automatically dismissed. The Plaintiff's attorney must seek to have the case dismissed if the defendant has worked out a deal with the lender and caught up on any arrearages. I am the tenant of a property that is being foreclosed upon, what do I have to do and what are my rights? Legitimate residential tenants have the right to stay in the property even though the property is being foreclosed upon. Until ownership of the property changes or the tenant is otherwise informed by the court or mortgage holder, the tenant should continue to pay rent to the landlord. A tenant who wants to remain in the home can only be removed through a court process. The tenant may be protected by the New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act, which protects a tenant's right to remain in the property. Tenants may refer to Notice to Residential Tenants of Rights During Foreclosure. Notice to Residential Tenants of Rights During Foreclosure . After a Final Judgment has been filed, how much time do I have to file a motion objecting to the final judgment and is that the only way a foreclosure can be stopped? According to the language provided in the Notice of Motion for Final Judgment, a defendant has 10 days to file an objection to the Affidavit of Amount Due attached to the Notice of Motion for Final Judgment. The Notice of Motion for Final Judgment provides direction on where to send the objection. If an objection is received, it will be reviewed by the Office of Foreclosure to determine whether a valid objection to the amount due, which is attached to the Notice of Motion for Final Judgment, has been raised. Filing an objection does not stop the foreclosure. If an objection to the amount due is valid, the case will be transferred to the vicinage judge, who will make a final determination on the matter. After the vicinage judge makes a decision on the objection, the case will be transferred back to the Office of Foreclosure to process the Final Judgment request. Once a Final Judgment has been entered, the only way a defendant can object to it is by motion to the General Equity judge. A defendant should discuss with an attorney whether the defendant has valid circumstances which may warrant the reversal of a final judgment. The types of correspondence a I receive from the mortgage company are not the same pleadings found in my foreclosure file. The foreclosure file will contain only those documents which the court requires to be filed in a Foreclosure proceeding. Generally, the foreclosure file will not include correspondence the mortgage company has sent to the borrower about the defaulted loan, as the submittal of these documents are not required by the New Jersey Rules of Court. Should I file an answer even though my 35 days are up? The SCCO cannot provide legal advice and will not advise a defendant to file an answer or not to file an answer. An attorney can evaluate a defendant's circumstances and help him determine whether it is in his best interest to file an answer after the 35 days are up. If a defendant wishes to file an answer, written consent may be obtained from the Plaintiff's attorney by way of a Stipulation Extending Time to Answer, or a Motion Extending Time to Answer may be filed with the Office of Foreclosure (if the final judgment package has not been filed) or with the General Equity Judge General Equity judge (if the final judgment package has already been filed). Can a bankruptcy stop a foreclosure? In most cases, filing for bankruptcy will trigger the automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. The automatic stay prevents a party from starting or continuing a foreclosure proceeding; this means that all activity on the foreclosure case must stop. Filing for bankruptcy will not cause the foreclosure proceeding to be automatically dismissed. Once the bankruptcy case is resolved (closed, dismissed, or discharge granted or denied) or the bankruptcy stay is vacated, the foreclosure proceeding will pick up where it left off before the automatic stay took effect. The defendant should consult an attorney who can evaluate the defendant's circumstances and help him determine whether it is in his best interest to file for bankruptcy. What happens after I file my answer to the foreclosure complaint? Answers are reviewed to determine whether the answer is contesting or non-contesting. If the answer is determined to be contesting it is transferred to the General Equity judge in the county of venue (the county in which the foreclosed property is located). If the Defendant's answer is deemed non-contesting, the foreclosure action will continue, with the Plaintiff's attorney taking the steps necessary to seek a final foreclosure judgment. Can a Final Judgment be reversed after it is filed? A final judgment can be vacated voluntarily by the Plaintiff. Sometimes this occurs if a settlement has been reached between the lender and the mortgagor either privately or through the foreclosure mediation process. Otherwise a final judgment can only be reversed on motion to the General Equity judge. A defendant should discuss with an attorney whether the defendant has valid circumstances which may warrant the reversal of a final judgment. Can the SCCO confirm that the information found in my foreclosure file proves that an illegal practice has been done by the mortgage company? The SCCO cannot provide legal advice or legal analysis of any kind. If a defendant has a question regarding the legality of the mortgage company's actions, he should consult a private attorney. An attorney would have the legal expertise necessary to identify whether or not illegal practices were conducted on the part of the mortgage company If I don't get an extension of time to answer and am past the 35 days can I still file an answer? Would it have any bearing on the case? We cannot provide legal advice. An attorney could advise you whether you might benefit from filing an answer after 35 days. Also See question " Should I answer even though my 35 days are up? Should I answer even though my 35 days are up? " above. How much time do I have to file a bankruptcy during a foreclosure process? The defendant should consult an attorney who can evaluate the defendant's circumstances and help him determine whether it is in his best interest to file for bankruptcy and when such filing should be made. How long do I have after the Judge hears the contested case (answer)? How long it will take for a judge to hear a contested case cannot be determined definitely. After a contested answer is filed and transferred to the General Equity judge, the Plaintiff's attorney will often file a motion for summary judgment or to strike the answer. The date that these matters are scheduled to be heard by the judge will depend on when the Plaintiff's attorney files the motion and how much notice all parties must be given before the matter is heard by the judge. If the judge does not enter summary judgment in the Plaintiff's favor or strike the defendant's answer or if the Plaintiff's attorney does not file a motion, the judge will schedule a pre-trial conference. How long that will take is dependent on the judge's calendar. The defendant will receive notices alerting him of these matters which he should read and follow carefully. If a judge grants a motion for summary judgment or motion to strike the answer, deeming the case non-contesting, the case will be transferred back to the Office of Foreclosure and the Plaintiff may proceed to seek a final judgment of foreclosure against the defendant. How long can I stay in my house after a final judgment is filed? Unless the defendant has entered into an agreement with the lender stating otherwise, the defendant usually does not have to vacate the property until some time after the Sheriff's sale. The Sheriff must advertise the sale of the property for a minimum of four weeks before holding the sale. Once the Sheriff's sale is completed, the Plaintiff must seek a Writ of Possession from the court, which instructs the Sheriff to remove any occupants from the property. The defendant will be notified by the Sheriff of the date on which they must leave the property. Why have certain pleadings been filed in the foreclosure action and what bearing does the document have on the foreclosure case? The following documents are most commonly filed in foreclosure actions: Foreclosure Complaint . This document is filed by the lender (plaintiff), usually a bank or mortgage company, after the debtor-homeowner (defendant) defaults on his or her loan. The Foreclosure Complaint states the terms of the mortgage and the event of default and asks the court to allow the property to be sold to satisfy the debt. It is the first document filed by the lender which starts the legal Foreclosure process. Answer. This document is filed by the defendant and provides a response to all of the allegations in the Complaint. The Answer gives notice to the court that the defendant opposes the relief requested in the Complaint. Affidavit of Non-Military Service. This document is filed by the plaintiff and certifies as to whether or not the defendant(s) are in active military service. The purpose of this document is to protect the rights of those who may not be able to defend themselves in a foreclosure action because they are currently serving in the military. Affidavit of Service/ Return of Service. This document is completed by the process server (the person who served the summons and complaint on the defendant) and provides proof to the court that the defendant was, in fact, properly served. Affidavit of Inquiry . When a defendant is not personally served, this document must be submitted by the plaintiff's attorney, explaining why the defendant(s) had to be served by alternate means. Request for Default . When a defendant fails to file an answer to the foreclosure complaint, the plaintiff will file this document with the court to notify it that the defendant(s) failed to answer. A Request for Default must be submitted for the court to formally note on its records that the defendant failed to defend against the claim. A plaintiff cannot seek a Final Judgment in Foreclosure unless the plaintiff first obtains an entry of default against the defendant(s). Notice of Motion for Default and Order for Default . These documents serve the same purpose as the Request for Default, but are filed in place of the Request for Default when more than 6 months has passed since the defendant failed to file an answer. If the motion is granted an Order for Default will be entered by the court. Notice of Mailing Default (Proof of Mailing) . The plaintiff submits this document to notify the court that it has mailed a copy of the entered Request for Default or the Order for Default to the defendant, as required by the Court Rules. Certification of Mailing Notice to Cure . This document is filed by the plaintiff in cases where the Fair Foreclosure Act applies. This document notifies the court that the plaintiff has mailed the appropriate notice to the defendant and provides the court with a copy of the mailed notice. Mediation Certification . This document is submitted by the plaintiff to notify the court whether or not the plaintiff mailed a mediation packet to the defendant. Notice of Motion for Final Judgment and Proof of Amount Due . This document is submitted to request that a Final Judgment of Foreclosure be entered by the court. It includes a breakdown of the amount owed by the defendant. If the defendant has a valid objection to the amount due as stated in the Affidavit attached to the Notice of Motion for Final Judgment, he must submit it to the court within 10 days of receiving the Motion. Final Judgment. The Final Judgment of Foreclosure is an order from the court which includes the following: 1. amount due to the plaintiff, 2. orders payment to the plaintiff, 3. provides for the judicial sale of the mortgaged property, 4. bars the defendant's right to redeem the mortgage after default, and 5. if requested, awards possession of the mortgaged property to the plaintiff/purchaser. Writ of Execution. This document is submitted with the Final Judgment document and is used to enforce the Final Judgment. The Writ of Execution authorizes the sheriff to sell the property in satisfaction of the Final Judgment of Foreclosure. I've worked out a deal with the lender, do I still have to file an answer? Working out a deal with the lender will not automatically stop the foreclosure proceeding. An attorney can evaluate a defendant's circumstances and help him determine whether it is in his best interest to file an answer. What happens after the request for default is filed? Once a request for default is filed, it is reviewed by the SCCO staff to determine whether the request complies with the Court's requirements. If the request for default meets the Court's requirements, default is entered against the parties requested. A copy of the filed default is sent to the Plaintiff's attorney, who is then responsible for mailing a copy of the default to the defendants, notifying them that default has been entered against them. An entry of default against a defendant simply means that the Court notes on its records that the defendant failed to defend against the claim by filing an answer with the Court. An entry of default is not a final foreclosure judgment, nor does it give the Plaintiff the right to take and sell the defendant's home. After entry of default is made, the Plaintiff's attorney is then allowed to seek a final judgment of foreclosure against the defendants. Why was a foreclosure case started but nothing else ever filed – not even a dismissal? The SCCO cannot speculate as to why no other pleadings were filed by the Plaintiff or why a Plaintiff has not dismissed the case. The defendant may contact the Plaintiff's attorney to discuss their concerns regarding these matters. If a defendant feels he has special circumstances that might warrant the dismissal of the case, he should discuss this matter with an attorney who can help him evaluate his options. If a pleading is returned for corrections, and copies of the pleading have already been sent to the other parties involved, do the corrected pleadings need to be re-served on the other parties? The Return Notice completed by the Office of Foreclosure staff will usually specify whether or not a copy of the corrected document must be re-served on the other parties. When a pleading is returned by the SCCO staff, the Return Notice will not specify whether the document needs to be re-served, however, the SCCO recommends that documents returned for corrections be re-served. If it is not my property but I am named in the case, do I still have to file an answer? Numerous parties can be named in a foreclosure case who are not the borrower but who have a legal interest in the outcome of the foreclosure action, such as judgment creditors, tenants, or secondary mortgage lien holders. An attorney can evaluate this type of defendant's circumstances and help him determine whether it is in his best interest to file an answer. The SCCO cannot provide legal advice and will not advise a defendant to file an answer or not to file an answer. Can I stop a Final Judgment procedure? The Plaintiff is the only party who may voluntarily stop a final judgment procedure. There are a limited number of circumstances under which a Final Judgment procedure may be stopped. If a defendant works out an agreement with the lender, the Plaintiff (lender) may dismiss the foreclosure proceeding. If a defendant is eligible for foreclosure mediation and a mediation settlement is reached, the settlement may include a provision that the Plaintiff will dismiss the foreclosure proceeding. If a defendant feels he has special circumstances that might warrant the dismissal of the final judgment procedure, he should discuss this matter with an attorney who can help him evaluate his options. What types of motions are filed with the Office of Foreclosure and what types are filed with the county? There are several types of motions that may be filed in relation to a foreclosure proceeding. Some motions should only be filed with the Office of Foreclosure, while others should only be filed with the General Equity judge in the county of venue (the county in which the foreclosed property is located). Certain motions may be filed either with the Office of Foreclosure or with the county General Equity judge, depending, in part, on whether or not a foreclosure final judgment package has been filed with the Office of Foreclosure., Types of Motions filed with the Office of Foreclosure:, Motion for Entry of Final Judgment Motion for Entry of Default Out of Time Motion to Vacate Default (if the final judgment package has NOT yet been filed) Motions Extending Time to Answer (if the final judgment package has NOT yet been filed) Motion to file an Amended Complaint (when any answer—contesting or non-contesting—has been filed) Motion for Surplus Funds (if payment of surplus funds is not contested and the party seeking the funds was a party to the original foreclosure case), Examples of Motions filed with the county judges:, Motion Extending Time to Answer (if the final judgment package has already been filed) Motion to Vacate Default (if the final judgment package has already been filed) Motion for Summary Judgment Motion Appointing Guardian Ad Litem Motion Appointing Rent Receivers Motion Appointing Attorney for Party in Military Service Motion for Substituted Service Motion to Set Aside Final Judgment or Summary Judgment Motion to Stay Foreclosure Proceeding (There are various reasons to stay foreclosure proceedings; the defendant will need to contact an attorney to determine if this option is available to him.) Motion to Stay Sheriff's Sale Motion to Stay Eviction Motion to Vacate Sheriff's Sale
Juvenile Probation FAQs, What does it mean to be on Juvenile Probation? You will have to comply with all conditions of probation and anything the court may order. This includes having regular contact with your probation officer at their office and in your home; taking drug tests; attending school or getting employment; paying fines; getting permission to leave the state; following all laws; not having access to a weapon (including a paint ball gun); completing community service; going to treatment; and more things to help you succeed. You might also have the opportunity to participate in positive activities with your Probation Officer. You and your family will work with your Probation Officer on everything you need to complete and how you will do that. How can I get an expungement? Juvenile Records are not automatically erased, expunged or sealed at the end of the supervision term or when the youth reaches their 18th birthday. Expungement or sealing of the records is another court process that you would need to start. Contact your lawyer for further information. What is an "adjudication?" By law, a juvenile who commits an offense under the age of 18 cannot be "convicted;" they do not have a criminal record. However, the youth does go through a formal court process: they appear in court represented by a lawyer and a judge orders a final decision known as a disposition of the case. It is this final disposition that is called an "adjudication." What do I do if I cannot pay my fines? Discuss with your probation officer. Your probation officer can provide resources to gain employment or request the judge to change a payment plan Where can I find mental health or addiction services? For mental health, behavioral, and addiction services, you can contact PerformCare at 1-877-652-7624 1-877-652-7624 or Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services. Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services . What do I need to know about sexual offenses charges and Megan’s Law? Specially trained probation officers supervise youth who receive a sexual offense charge or have been placed on Megan’s Law. These probation officers are skilled in areas including Megan’s Law and are able to link you with Juvenile Probation Supervision specific resources you may need. Please ask your probation officer any questions you may have. Are my juvenile probation records confidential/sealed? Juvenile court records are not sealed unless ordered by the court. Juvenile court records are not released without approval from you or by court order. However, by law, only juvenile charges are confidential, the final court order by the judge is not. This could allow information to legally be made available without your knowledge. In completing any applications, such as for jobs, college, financial aid or the military, questions about a Family Court record must be answered truthfully. Can I choose where I do my community service? No, your probation officer will provide guidance as to what approved places you can perform your community service at or provide other options. What happens if the rules of Probation are not followed? Is jail a possibility? Your probation officer will work with you on following the rules, however will also put sanctions in place. Sanctions can include more frequent reporting, having a curfew, writing an essay, or a review with a probation supervisor. At times a Violation of Probation (VOP) may need to be filed. A VOP is a new charge and will require legal representation. During a VOP you will be brought back in front of the judge and the judge can order new things including an extension of probation, specific services or placement in detention. Will my probation officer contact my school? Probation officers work with the school principal or someone the principal assigns, as required by the laws of New Jersey. These contacts are to watch for changes in school attendance, behavior, and any problems with complying with Probation. Your probation officer may conduct visits at the school also. What if I have a problem working with my probation officer? Probation officers are trained to work effectively with you and your family to help you successfully complete probation. Our customer service policies require our staff to treat our clients respectfully at all times. If you believe any probation staff are not reflecting these goals and policies, you can bring this to the attention of the probation supervisor, assistant chief probation officer or Probation Division Vicinage Directories vicinage chief probation officer, ., Their names/contact information are made available during the Intake process. Is Juvenile Probation different from Adult Probation? Juvenile cases are heard in the family division and adult cases are heard in the criminal division. Juvenile Probation officers work closely with the youth, families, schools, and other supports/services to help the youth in making positive changes and successfully completing their probation term. How can I get an Early Discharge from juvenile probation? An early discharge from Probation can be possible when your (or your child’s) performance has been acceptable and the following requirements have been met: All conditions of probation have been met. You are regularly making payment on your fines/fees. The case has been reviewed and approved by the vicinage chief probation officer or assistant chief probation officer. The judge provides approval. Can I travel out of the state or out of the country while on probation? Travel out of state needs permission of the probation officer based on compliance with Probation. A travel permit is needed for trips lasting longer than 24 hours. The needed information to process the travel permit must be given to the probation officer at least two weeks before when you plan to leave. Your parents/guardians must be available to sign the travel permit. Probation officers will submit requests for travel out of the country to the judge for approval. What is a Deferred Disposition? A deferred disposition is when the Court sets aside sentencing you to anything specific, such as a term of probation or incarceration for a period of time. If you receive a deferred disposition you will be assigned a probation officer who will help you successfully complete your conditions. You will have some contact with your probation officer in your home, at their office, or by phone. At the end of your deferred disposition term, your probation officer will update the court on how you have done. If you do not re-offend and complete your conditions, the complaint against you will be dismissed and you will not have to reappear in court. If you receive new charges or do not complete your conditions, you may have to return to court. Can I pay fines online? Not at this time. Other information on payment and community service can be found under the Fines, Restitution and Community Service Fines, Restitution and Community Service.
Child Support Enforcement FAQs, COVID-19 Health Reminders, COVID-19 Health Reminders, Services for Clients During COVID19, Emergency Child Care Centers Housing Assistance Field Office Directory NJ MH Screening Centers By County NJSP DMI COVID19 Resource Guide Online Telephone Support Groups Recovery Podcasts Shelter Food Resources by County State Resource Links NJ CARES Resource Guide
Intensive Supervision FAQs, How long is the application process for ISP? The entire process from application to an appearance before ISP judges takes approximately four to six weeks Do I need attorney representation for ISP? Normally, applicants are represented by a private attorney or a public defender (PD) if they qualify. At the interview, you will be asked if you are applying for PD representation and will fill out a form for that purpose. In rare cases, the Resentencing Panel allows the applicant to represent themselves; however, this approach is not recommended. Do I need a place to live in order to apply for ISP? While specified housing is preferable, we do place applicants in shelters or halfway houses according to availability of space. Can I apply for ISP if I have a period of parole ineligibility (otherwise known as stipulation or “stip”)? You can apply. However, a court date will not be scheduled until after the period of parole ineligibility (“stip”) has expired. How long will I be under supervision in ISP? If your sentence is five years or less, you must be under ISP supervision for a, minimum of 12 months, . However, the actual number of months served and your successful discharge from ISP depends on your performance under supervision. You cannot be on supervision for less than one year or longer than five years minus the time served in prison. Must I live in New Jersey to apply for ISP?, You must live in New Jersey to participate in the ISP program., My offense is a 2nd degree offense. Am I still eligible to apply to ISP? Yes. Anyone interested in the ISP Program can apply for admission. However, if the prosecutor objects, you must serve at least six months of your sentence and be within nine months of your earliest parole eligibility date to be considered for ISP admission. Does successful completion of ISP erase my record? No. Successful completion of ISP does not automatically erase a participant’s criminal record. There is a separate process to apply for an expungement of criminal records. Can I reside with a convicted felon if I apply for ISP? This would depend on a number of factors and would have to be reviewed and approved by the ISP Program and the ISP Resentencing Panel of judges. Are there offenses or circumstances that would make me ineligible for ISP? Yes. The following offenses and circumstances make you ineligible for the ISP program: • criminal homicide • robbery • certain sexual offenses* • bribery and corrupt influence (including conspiracy or attempt) • misconduct in office/abuse in office (including conspiracy or attempt) • immigration detainer • not a resident of New Jersey • not a state inmate • certain drug court violations* • organized crime* • current or past conviction for a first-degree crime • certain weapons offenses* • other good cause as found by the ISP Judicial Panel or ISP Program *Note: Not all sexual offenses, drug court violations, organized crime offenses and weapons offenses are excluded from eligibility. If you have been convicted of one of those offenses and are interested in ISP, you should apply. Can I fill out an application for ISP for my spouse, boyfriend, or relative? Yes. However, if they are unable to sign the application, they should follow up with a letter confirming their desire to apply to ISP. What is the Cost of Supervision Fee for ISP? The cost of supervision will be determined and ordered at the time of acceptance into ISP. Do I need a sponsor to get into ISP? Having a sponsor is a crucial part of the case plan and most participants do have sponsors. However, even if you do not have a sponsor, you can still be eligible for ISP consideration. Can I re-apply for ISP for a new offense after previously completing ISP? Yes. If you have previously completed ISP, you can re-apply to the program. However, there is no guarantee you will be accepted.
ADA Title I Jobs, The Judiciary ensures that its courts, programs, services, and activities are accessible to all members of the community and prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities., Accommodation requests for employees and job applicants with disabilities, Title I ADA Coordinator Directory Local Title I ADA coordinator directory for employees and job applicants Call the local contact number to request an accommodation., The ADA protects court employees and job applicants with disabilities., The New Jersey Courts will not discriminate against employees or job applicants with disabilities regarding the terms, privileges or conditions of employment. The New Jersey Courts will not discharge an employee because of a disability, provided the employee remains qualified and able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations. Those protections also apply to court employees and job applicants who have a history of having a disability or who are regarded as having a disability., The New Jersey Courts will provide a reasonable accommodation for your disability., Reasonable accommodations will be provided to employees and job applicants, provided that the accommodation does not fundamentally alter the nature of a Judiciary program, service, or activity. The accommodation cannot impose undue hardship on the Judiciary, and the individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. For more information, read our brochure on the New Jersey Judiciary’s Title I ADA Procedures for Employees and Job Applicants with Disabilities Title I ADA Procedures for Employees and Job Applicants with Disabilities., There are many ways the New Jersey Courts can accommodate your request., Examples of accommodations for employees include: Making facilities readily accessible to and usable by a person with a disability Obtaining or modifying equipment or devices Providing training materials in accessible formats Restructuring a job by allocating or redistributing marginal job functions Altering when or how an essential job function is performed Providing modified work schedules Reassigning an employee to a vacant equivalent position for which the employee is able to perform the essential function Examples of accommodations for job applicants include: Providing written materials in accessible formats, such as large print, Braille or audiotape Providing readers or sign language interpreters Holding recruitment, interviews, tests and other components of the application process in accessible locations and formats Providing or modifying equipment or devices Adjusting application procedures, How to request an accommodation, Accommodations are requested by the person with the disability. The employee or job applicant with a disability should tell the local Title I ADA coordinator that some type of assistance is needed to perform essential job functions or to participate in all aspects of the job interview and hiring process due to a medical condition. The request does not have to be in writing and no specific words need to be used. Title I ADA Coordinator Directory Find a local Title I ADA coordinator., Documentation might be requested., You might be asked for specific medical documentation about the nature of your medical condition and how that disability limits your performance of the job. The information you submit will be kept confidential., Information about your limitations might be shared with your supervisor or potential supervisor., The local ADA coordinator will not share information about your medical condition with your manager or supervisor. The coordinator might share your limitations, as needed, to determine a reasonable accommodation. Medical notes should not be provided to the supervisor. They should be given directly to the Title I ADA coordinator., Job applicants should contact the Title I ADA coordinator as early as possible., As soon as you realize that you will need an accommodation for some aspect of the hiring process, you should contact the local Title I ADA coordinator. The coordinator will need enough time to provide certain accommodations. The coordinator might ask for more information or documentation in order to understand how an accommodation would enable you to participate fully in all aspects of the job interview and hiring process., You have the right to appeal if you think the court has not resolved your issue., If your request for accommodation was denied, but you have some new or additional information to submit, contact the local Title I ADA coordinator. If your request was denied, but you have no new or additional information to submit, you can appeal the denial for accommodation to: Assistant Director of Human Resources Administrative Office of the Courts P.O. Box 966 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 or appeal by calling 609-815-2972., You can file a complaint if you believe the New Jersey Courts have discriminated against you because of a disability., You can file an internal EEO/AA complaint with the local EEO/AA officer in the county courthouse. You can file a complaint with the chief EEO/AA officer at: Administrative Office of the Courts P.O. Box 966 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 or file by calling 609-815-2972. You also can choose to file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights., Retaliation against anyone who complains about discrimination, files a discrimination complaint, or assists in the investigation of such complaints in prohibited, . If you think the New Jersey Courts have retaliated against you, can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Staff Listing local EEO/AA officer at the county level or the Judiciary’s Chief EEO/AA officer at the central office.
Ley para Estadounidenses con discapacidades (ADA), Procedimientos del Poder Judicial con respecto a solicitudes de arreglos, apelaciones y quejas de discriminación para, Los empleados y solicitantes de empleo (Título I) Los usuarios de los tribunales (Título II) El Poder Judicial se ha comprometido a cumplir con la Ley de Americanos con Discapacidades (ADA), la Ley de Nueva Jersey Contra la Discriminación (NJLAD) y otras leyes afines contra la discriminación. El Poder Judicial ofrecerá arreglos razonables para usuarios de los tribunales, empleados calificados y solicitantes de empleo que tengan alguna discapacidad con tal de que el arreglo no altere fundamentalmente la naturaleza de un programa, servicio o actividad del Poder Judicial o le imponga demasiadas dificultades al Poder Judicial. El Poder Judicial ha establecido procedimientos de la ADA titulados: (1) " Los Procedimientos del Poder Judicial de Nueva Jersey del Título I de la ADA para Empleados y Solicitantes de Empleo con Discapacidades” y (2) Los Procedimientos del Poder Judicial de Nueva Jersey del Título II de la ADA para Acceso a los Tribunales para Individuos con Discapacidades. Los procedimientos se proporcionan por separado en dos folletos – uno para empleados/solicitantes de empleo brochures (Título I) y el otro para usuarios de los tribunales (Título II). Los folletos también identifican los Coordinadores del Título I y del Título II de las vecindades y de la oficina central asignados a encargarse de las solicitudes de arreglos de individuos con discapacidades. Si tiene alguna pregunta con respecto a estos procedimientos, podrá comunicarse con su Coordinador del Título I o del Título II que figura en los folletos. Título II de la ADA para Acceso a los Tribunales para Individuos con Discapacidades - folleto Lista de las Coordinadores Locales del Título II de la ADA para Acceso a los Tribunales para Individuos con Discapacidades
New Jersey Mental Health Resources, The Judiciary provides an open door to justice for all court users. This page provides information for court users dealing with mental health concerns., NJ Suicide Prevention NJ Suicide Prevention Hotline - 855-654-6735 855-654-6735, The New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call any time. Or visit the NJ Hopeline website NJ Hopeline website to chat or email someone who can help., NJ Dept. of Health Screening Services by County, Each county has an agency designated to screen for psychiatric emergency services. Find your Designated Screening Services county designated screening information here., NJ Dept of Health Hotline Index, The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services provides Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services contact information for organizations that help people with mental health concerns. They also have contacts to help veterans, gamblers, and substance abusers., Division of Mental Health Frequently Asked Questions, Frequently Asked Questions - Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services Find answers to common questions about mental health resources in New Jersey., Mental Health Resources by County, This Directory of Mental Health Services directory of mental health resources by county includes addresses and phone numbers of all public and private services., Resources for Veterans, The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offers mental health and other resources for those who have served their country. Veterans can also call the NJ Vet2Vet Hotline at 866-838-7654 866-838-7654 to talk to someone who can help. Njvet2vet Visit their website to learn more., Recovery Court Program, The New Jersey Recovery Court Program can help defendants overcome substance abuse while resolving related criminal charges. Only non-violent criminal defendants are eligible. Recovery Courts Work! Learn more about recovery courts.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Staff Listing, Mailing Address:, EEO/AA Officer, Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex 25 Market Street P.O. Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 609-815-2915 EEOComplaint.mailbox@njcourts.gov Name Address Contact Administrative Office of the Courts Hopson, Tonya Chief Judiciary EEO/AA Officer Administrative Office of the Courts Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 Phone: 609-815-2915 Email: tonya.hopson @njcourts.gov Administrative Office of the Courts Douglas, Kimberly Affirmative Action Officer Administrative Office of the Courts Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 Phone: 609-815-2915 Email: kimberly.douglas @njcourts.gov Administrative Office of the Courts Nguyen, Rachel Attorney 2 Administrative Office of the Courts Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 Phone: 609-815-2915 Email: rachel.nguyen @njcourts.gov Administrative Office of the Courts Francis, Kyle EEO Investigator Administrative Office of the Courts Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 Phone: 609-815-2915 Email: kyle.francis @njcourts.gov Administrative Office of the Courts Mcdonald, Kaitlyn EEO Investigator Administrative Office of the Courts Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 Phone: 609-815-2915 Email: kaitlyn.mcdonald @njcourts.gov Administrative Office of the Courts Rodriguez, Monica EEO Investigator Administrative Office of the Courts Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 037 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0972 Phone: 609-815-2915 Email: monica.rodriguez @njcourts.gov Atlantic/Cape May Peyton, Linda EEO/AA Officer Atlantic/Cape May Atlantic County Civil Courthouse 1201 Bacharach Boulevard Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 Phone: 609-402-0100 ext. 47240 Email: linda.peyton @njcourts.gov Bergen Spekhardt, Amy EEO/AA Officer Bergen Bergen County Justice Center 10 Main Street Suite/Room 425 Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Phone: 201-221-0700 ext. 25118 Email: amy.spekhardt @njcourts.gov Burlington Chavez, Sarah EEO/AA Officer Burlington Courts Facility 49 Rancocas Road Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060 Phone: 609-288-9500 ext. 38675 Email: sarah.chavez1 @njcourts.gov Camden Urrea, Erika EEO/AA Officer Camden Camden County Hall of Justice 101 South 5th Street Suite/Room 105C Camden, New Jersey 08103 Phone: 856-650-9100 ext. 43110 Email: erika.urrea @njcourts.gov Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Locker, Kimberly EEO/AA Officer Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Cumberland County Courthouse 60 West Broad Street Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302 Phone: 856-878-5050 ext. 45022 Email: kimberly.locker @njcourts.gov Essex Porther, Colin EEO/AA Officer Essex Essex County Veterans Courthouse 50 West Market Street Suite/Room 514 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Phone: 973-776-9300 ext. 55727 Email: colin.porther @njcourts.gov Hudson VACANT EEO/AA Officer Hudson Hudson County Administration Bldg 595 Newark Avenue Suite/Room 500 Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 Phone: 201-748-4400 ext. 60475 Email: geabnir.taymes @njcourts.gov Pagination 1 Go to page 2 2 Go to next page > Next page Showing 1 to 20 of 35 items
Judicial Ethics Members and Staff, ACJC Contact Information All information provided to the ACJC goes through the committee's staff. For more information, please call [phone_number] . The fax number for the committee is [fax] . The office address is: [office_address_simple], Candace Moody, Executive Director/Chief Counsel, Maureen Bauman, Disciplinary Counsel, Daniel Burns, Assistant Counsel, Louis Taranto, Chief Investigator, Members of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, Chair: , Justice Virginia A. Long (Ret.) (Term Expiration: 2023), Vice Chair, : Hon. Stephen Skillman (Ret.) (Term Expiration: 2024), Members of the New Jersey Bar:, Hon. Edwin H. Stern (Ret.) (Term Expiration: 2023) Hon. Georgia M. Curio (Term Expiration: 2022) A. Matthew Boxer (Term Expiration: 2022) Vincent E. Gentile (Term Expiration: 2022) Diana C. Manning (Term Expiration: 2024), Lay Members, Not Holding Public Office:, Paul J. Walker (Term Expiration: 2024) David P. Anderson Jr. (Term Expiration: 2023) Karen Kessler (Term Expiration: 2022), All terms above expire on August 31 of year noted.
Custody/Visitation, Learn about custody and visitation arrangements in New Jersey., Child Custody, Parenting Time, and Visitation, For child custody, the rights of both parents are considered. Minor children must have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated. Parents are encouraged to share the rights and responsibilities of caring for their child(ren)., Custody, Joint Legal Custody, Fosters co-parenting and shared access to information., Sole Legal Custody, All major decisions are made by one parent., Primary Residential Custody, The child lives with one parent at least 51% of the time., Shared Residential Custody, The child resides with each parent equally., Parenting Time, Parenting Time is the time that a non-custodial parent spends with a child when the other parent has sole legal custody. Supervised parenting time means that the visits are overseen by a third person. The court can appoint a member of the family or another person to supervise., Visitation, A grandparent or any sibling of a child living in New Jersey can file in court to request visitation. The filer must prove that visitation is in the best interest of the child.
Consent Conference, Not all issues require a hearing. Consent conferences can help the parties reach agreement on custody, visitation, paternity, or child support. This process gives the parent or caregiver the chance to help write the court order for the judge to sign., Screening, All non-dissolution cases are screened to see if they are a good fit for a consent conference. A trained court professional will help the parties discuss the issues and try to reach agreement., Working It Out, The goal of the consent conference is to reach an agreement on the issues filed in court. Each issue in the court case is discussed. If an agreement is reached on some or all of the issues, the court staff writes up an order. The order lists issues where the parties agree. If they still disagree on some things, the order will say that., Judge Review, Both parties will sign the consent order. Then the judge will review and sign it. Once the judge signs the court order it becomes a binding agreement and enforceable. Copies of the signed court order are distributed to all parties., What Comes Next, The issues not resolved in the consent conference can go through further mediation. They also could be handled at a court hearing. The judge also could decide to dismiss them.
Glossary-Custody Parenting time, Glossary, Adult Neutral Party : An adult neutral party is an impartial third-party. They have no financial, official, or personal interest in a controversy, dispute, or issue. Affidavit : An affidavit is a notarized written statement made to the court swearing that the information contained in the filed papers is true. Appeal : An appeal is a written request asking a higher court to look at the decision of the judge and change that judge’s decision. Arrears : The word arrears means unpaid or overdue child support, alimony or spousal support payments. Caption : The caption is how the parties’ names were written in the original papers filed for your divorce. If you were the plaintiff or defendant, you are still the plaintiff or defendant for all subsequent filings. Certification : A certification is a written statement made to the court when you file papers, swearing that the information contained in the filed papers is true. Defendant : The defendant is the person or business against whom a case is filed. Exhibits : Exhibits are papers and information you provide to support what is in your motion. Family Case Information Statement (CIS) : The CIS tells the court your past financial status as well as your current status. If you are filing an FM motion and asking for any type of monetary relief such as an increase or decrease in support, you must complete and file a copy of the last CIS submitted to the court and complete a new and current CIS. File : To file means to give the correct forms and fee to the court to begin the court’s consideration of your request. Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system : The JEDS system is an electronic filing system for self-represented litigants for submitting documents to the court. Attorneys can only use the JEDS system in cases not managed through eCourts. Motion : A motion is a written request in which you ask the court to issue an order, change an order it has already issued, enforce an order it has already issued,, or ask the court to take some other action related to your case., Order : An order is a signed paper from the judge telling someone they must do something. Party : A party is a person, business or governmental agency involved in a court action. Plaintiff : The plaintiff is the party who starts the lawsuit. Pleading : A pleading is a formal written statement of the respective parties of their claim or response to a claim. Pro Se : The term pro se means that you are representing yourself in court without a lawyer. Process Server : A process server is a person (for example, a sheriff or deputy), who serves writs, subpoenas, etc. Relief : To ask for relief is to ask the court for something. Service : Service refers to the delivery of a writ, summons, or other legal papers to the person required to respond to them. Substantial Change : A substantial change , as used in this packet, means a significant change in your situation or circumstances affecting your case. Third Party : A third party is a person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation, especially a dispute. Warrant : A warrant is a notification to law enforcement that a person should be arrested when found.
Jobs, When you come to work for the New Jersey Judiciary, you will join a 9,000-member strong branch of government that operates with the highest standards of independence, integrity, fairness and quality service. Body We work hard every day to build the public’s trust and confidence in our court system, which resolves nearly one million Superior Court cases and 6 million municipal court cases each year. Whether it be in a courtroom, a courthouse, an IT office or in the field, our Judiciary workforce is improving the lives of countless individuals and families every day. We resolve disputes, foster rehabilitation, strengthen families, protect rights and provide information, programs and services critical to protecting public safety. The New Jersey Judiciary has been a national leader on many fronts. In addition to groundbreaking jurisprudence, the Judiciary has been recognized for its robust statewide information technology systems, its position on the cutting edge of criminal justice reform and juvenile justice reform, its high standards in the area of language services and programs for minorities and other protected groups, and its rehabilitative approach to helping individuals and families. Our culture is based on our strong belief in the importance of our work to all of those we serve. We honor the dignity and individualism of each member of our organization while fostering professionalism and continuous improvement in our work. Our benefits package includes highly competitive pension and health plans, on-the-job training, mentoring and professional development opportunities, and a generous holiday calendar., Work for NJ Judiciary, Job Postings NJ Court Employees Only Law Clerk Recruitment, Employee Benefits, New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (NJSHBP) Division of Pensions and Benefits Federal Student Aid Loan Forgiveness Program Deferred Compensation Flexible Spending Accounts Commuter Tax$ave Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust College Savings Plan, Programs and Policies, ADA Accommodations Access and Fairness Code of Conduct for New Employees Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Minority Concerns Mission, Vision and Core Values, Helpful Links, Become a Spoken Language Court Interpreter Civil Service Commission Directions Language Services My County Court Volunteer Opportunities
Resources for Reporters, Need content for overview page
Fair Share Housing Center, September 2016: Supreme Court COAH Case & Related Filings COAH Order In re Declaratory Judgment Actions - App. Div. Opinion March 2015: Supreme Court COAH Case & Related Filings March 10, 2015 - COAH Case Supreme Court opinion Mount Laurel Judges December 2014: Supreme Court To Hear Argument in COAH Case & Related Filings Dec. 4, 2014 - COAH Case 067126 Supreme Court Order M-392-14 October/November 2014: Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC) Motion in Aid of Litigant's Rights & Related Filings Nov. 14, 2014 - NJ Builders Association Answer Nov. 13, 2014 - Answer by Bernards Twp., Clinton Twp., Union Twp., Greenwich Twp. Nov. 13, 2014 - League of Municipalities Answer Nov. 13, 2014 - COAH Answer Nov. 13, 2014 - Atlantic Highlands Answer Nov. 12, 2014 - Martin & MTAE Answer Oct. 31, 2014 - FSHC Motion in Aid of Litigant's Rights February 2014: COAH's Motion for an Extension of Time & Related Filings March 14, 2014 - Supreme Court's March 14 Order March 11, 2014 - Supreme Court Interim Order in re the Adoption of NJAC 5:96 & 5:97 March 10, 2014 - Fair Share Housing - Brief Opposing Stay & Extension March 10, 2014 - Fair Share Housing - Appendix Opposing Stay & Extension March 10, 2014 - Answer Brief – Four Towns March 10, 2014 - Answer Brief – Kings Row March 10, 2014 - Answer Brief – NJ League of Municipalities March 10, 2014 - Answer Brief – NJ Builders Assoc. March 10, 2014 - Notice of Emergent Motion March 10, 2014 - Brief in Support of Emergent Motion March 10, 2014 - Appendix in Support of Emergent Motion March 7, 2014 - Order on Emergent Application for a Stay March 7, 2014 - Appellate Division Order on Motion Feb. 26, 2014 - Notice of Motion for Extension Feb. 26, 2014 - Certification in support of Motion for Extension
New Jersey Republican State Committee v. Philip D. Murphy, July 17, 2020 - Order July 17, 2020 - Verified Complaint July 28, 2020 - Order re: Jack M. Ciattarelli and James K. Webber Jr. July 28, 2020 - Order re: Liberty and Prosperity 1776, Inc. and Michael Smith Defendant’s Brief Plaintiffs' Brief Ciattarelli and Webber Amicus Brief Letter Brief in Opposition to Ciattarelli Amici Brief Letter Brief in Opposition to Liberty Amici Brief Plaintiffs’ Reply Brief Liberty and Prosperity 1776 Amicus Brief
Copies of Court Records, Request court records for closed cases by completing and submitting a records request form. Body, How to Request Court Records, These court records are available for public inspection. All exceptions are listed in Rule 1:38 Court Rule 1:38 . Civil division, including general equity records Special civil part records Criminal division records Family division Records Municipal court Records Tax Court Records (Note: Tax Court Record Requests should be emailed to the txctrecords.mailbox@njcourts.gov ) Complete the records request form and submit it electronically. This request system is for court records only. To get a Requesting a Superior Court or Tax Court Transcript for Your Appeal transcript of a court proceeding , contact the Appellate Division. Download Request Form Submit Completed Form Instructions: Download the form and save it to your computer. Complete the form and save it again. Include the correct processing location from the information below. Use “, SCCO, ” for records processed by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Submit the saved form using the “Submit Completed Form” button above. Records will be sent electronically to the email address you provide on the form. Fees for certified, exemplified, and sealed copies can be paid by credit card., Processing Locations, Open Cases For open cases in: Civil Division including Chancery General Equity Records Special Civil Part Records Criminal Division Records Family Division Records The division is the county Superior Court where the case was heard. You will be asked to choose one of these divisions on the form. Choose the division, and then the county. For open cases in: Statewide judgment lien records Foreclosure case records The division is the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO). Choose SCCO as the division, and then the county. Please be advised when requesting divorce documents, those documents will only be released to a party to the case or the attorney of record. If the party is requesting they must include a valid state id. Anyone else must provide a court order directing the clerk to release the documents. For questions regarding submitted records requests, email SCCO.Mailbox@njcourts.gov Closed Records For closed cases in: Civil Cases including Chancery General Equity until archived Criminal Cases Divorce Cases until archived Family Cases (except divorce cases) Special Civil Part Cases The division is the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO). Closed Archived Records For these archived records: Case Files Civil Cases (archived) Divorce Records Divorce Cases (archived) Foreclosure Cases (all) General Equity Cases (archived) Judgment Records Statewide judgment liens Satisfaction of statewide judgment liens The division is the Superior Court Clerk's Office (SCCO). Choose SCCO even if the record is a civil, divorce, or general equity record. Please be advised when requesting divorce documents, those documents will only be released to a party to the case or the attorney of record. If the party is requesting they must include a valid state id. Anyone else must provide a court order directing the clerk to release the documents. For questions regarding submitted records requests, email SCCORecordReq.Mailbox@njcourts.gov . Refer to the Judiciary Records Management Judiciary Records Retention Schedule to see how long the Judiciary keeps each type of court record. This will let you determine if the judiciary has the record., Types of Copies and Court Authentication, Plain Copy, : A plain copy is a photocopy of the court document., Certified Copy, : A certified copy is a plain copy with a stamp affixed with the Superior Court Clerk/Deputy Clerk's signature attesting to the authenticity of the document., Seal of the Court, : The seal of the Superior Court may be affixed to a certified copy., Exemplified Copy, : An exemplified copy includes the attestation of the clerk and seal of the court annexed, if a seal exists, together with a certificate of a judge of the court that the said attestation is in proper form. An exemplified copy is usually requested when the document shall be proved or admitted in other courts within the United States and its Territories and Possessions., Triple Exemplified Copy, : A triple exemplified copy contains an additional certification in which the judge certifies as to the form of the attestation in the verification and the authority of the Clerk of the Court who signed the exemplification, and the Clerk certifies as to the authority of the judge., Apostille, : An Apostille is provided attesting to the legal status of selected public officials, such as Judges, Clerks of Court and County Clerks. It is provided if the transaction involves a country that subscribes to the Hague Treaty and is processed through the New Jersey Division of Revenue New Jersey Division of Revenue . A requester must first receive the exemplified copy from the Superior Court Clerk's Office and forward to the Division of Revenue., NOTE, : We will need time and staff to find your records. Records stored off-site might take longer to retrieve. Some requests will be sent to local management for handling. This includes very large requests. It also includes requests to receive records on a regular basis. Judiciary staff must balance the need for public access and the Judiciary’s need for efficient court operations. They will work with you to come up with a reasonable timeframe for your request., Locating Divorce Records, In New Jersey, divorce cases (termed "dissolution cases" by the courts) are filed and heard in the Family Division of the Superior Court at the county court level. After a case is completed and a judgment of divorce issued, the case is closed. Records for closed divorce cases are stored and archived by the Superior Court Clerk's Office at our warehouse in Trenton. The number of years between the time a case is closed and the time the case records are transferred to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for archiving varies from county to county. In many circumstances it may not be necessary to obtain a copy of the actual Judgment of Divorce. The Superior Court Clerk’s Office can prepare a Certificate of Divorce for a nominal fee. The certificate contains the county of venue, docket number, names of the parties and date of the Final Judgment of Divorce, and is stamped with the Seal of the Superior Court. The Dissolution Files Inventory chart below shows the inventory of divorce case files currently stored at the RIC. The "Case Year" refers to the most recent docket year sent for storage at the RIC. This means that all divorce records up to and including the year listed under "Case Year" are available at the RIC. To determine whether your case file is located at the RIC you must know both the county in which the divorce case took place and the year the case was filed. This information can be determined from the docket number assigned to the case. The docket number will have either an "FM" or "M" pre-fix followed by a 7- or 9-digit number. The last two digits of the docket number indicate the case year. See the following for examples of docket numbers: Example 1: "FM-01-07500-00" would mean that the divorce case was filed in Atlantic County ("01") in the year 2000 ("00"). (Please note, when the docket number contains 9 digits, the first two digits may represent the county code. The two-digit county codes are listed on the chart below after the name of each county.) Example 2: "Atlantic County, M-07500-85" would mean that the divorce case was filed in Atlantic County in 1985 ("85")., NOTE, : If you do not know your docket number, please contact the Customer Service Unit of , Superior Court Clerk's Office, at 609-421-6100 . A search can be conducted for your docket number if you provide the following information: the county where the divorce occurred, the approximate year the divorce occurred, and the names of the parties involved. Using the case docket number, find the county where the divorce case took place and the corresponding case year in the chart below. If your divorce case falls within the records listed in the chart, contact Customer Service about viewing your case or to obtain copies of case documents. Refer to our information on Copies of Court Records Copies of Court Records and subsequent authentication and/or Copy and Authentication Fees copy fees . If your divorce case file is not at the RIC in Trenton, contact the Family Division Manager Conference Contact List Family Division of the county court in which the divorce took place for information on how to obtain a copy., (FM) Dissolution Files Inventory, County Number, County, Case Year, 01 Atlantic 2012 02 Bergen 2015 03 Burlington 2014 04 Camden 2021 05 Cape May 2011 06 Cumberland 2008 07 Essex 2019 08 Gloucester 2016 09 Hudson 2015 10 Hunterdon 2013 11 Mercer 2023 12 Middlesex 2016 13 Monmouth 2009 14 Morris 2017 15 Ocean 2011 16 Passaic 2009 17 Salem 2015 18 Somerset 2014 19 Sussex 2014 20 Union 2015 21 Warren 2016* * FM – 1989 Boxes (1&2) lost in Transit by Contract Messenger Last Updated: 3/8/24, SM, Locating Adoption Records, Adoption records are not public records in the State of New Jersey. Refer to N.J. Rules of Court Court , Rule 1:38-3(16), . All judgments of adoption and all records of proceedings relating to adoption are sealed, which means that they are not open to inspection, copying or otherwise made public except upon order of the court. (N.J.S.A. §9:3-51 and 52.) The Surrogate’s Court in each county enters judgments of adoption, places adoption records under seal and maintains these records. In order for an adoption record to be opened, an order must be obtained from a judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part. This usually involves filing a notarized petition with the Surrogate and paying the required fees; however procedures may vary depending on the county in which the request is being made. To obtain specific information on filing procedures for obtaining adoption records, contact the NJ Surrogate’s Office Surrogate’s Office in the county in which you believe the adoption took place. The Surrogate’s Office can advise you on the necessary procedures and filing fees in connection with petitioning the court to open adoption records., Copy and Authentication Fees, Plain Copies: Letter size pages $0.05 Legal size pages $0.07 Certified Copy $15 Seal of the Court $10 Exemplified Copy: plus the plain copy fees $50 Triple Exemplified Copy $60 Certificate of Statewide Judgment Lien $10 Certificate of Divorce $10 Certified Copy of Final Judgment of Divorce $25, *NOTE:, When requesting copies of judgments of divorce, the terms of property settlement agreements are not always contained within or attached to the judgment. Additional copy fees may apply to a property settlement agreement that is not contained within the judgment of divorce., Methods of Payment for Copy Fees, Payment for fees is accepted in the form of check and money order; cash is only accepted in person only. Checks/money orders must be payable to Treasurer-State of New Jersey . , NOTE, : Only checks with pre-printed names will be accepted. Attorneys may use their Superior Court Attorney Collateral Account to pay for copies. Since for plain copies the copy fee is based on the number of pages, we cannot determine the exact fee for copies until the request is processed. Please ensure that you provide a daytime telephone number on your copy request form so that we can inform you of the copy fee for your request., How to Request Copies of Court Records, Please complete a Records Request Form (Multipurpose form - use for Tax Court records requests) Records Request Form and submit through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) Judiciary Electronic Document system . Choose “SCCO” as your division. If you do not have access to a computer, you can mail your request to. Attention: Customer Access, Superior Court Clerk's Office, Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex P.O. Box 971 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0971 For additional information on how to obtain copies of records, contact customer service at 609-421-6100, Record Retention Schedule, Judiciary Records Retention Schedules have been issued pursuant to Administrative Directive #3-01 - Records Management Administrative Directive #3-01 and subsequent related directives. Below are links to each section of the Records Retention Schedule in Adobe Acrobat .PDF format. In order to view or print each section, you will need to download and install Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader , which is available free of charge. A set of free tools that allow visually disabled users to read documents in Adobe PDF format is available at Adobe Accessibility Access.adobe.com . , Section I, Records Retention Schedules, #01 Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity #02 Appellate Division - Judiciary Records Management Appellate Division #03 Chancery Division - Family Chancery Division - Family #04 Chancery Division - General Equity Chancery Division - General Equity #05 Civil Practice (AOC) Civil Practice (AOC) #06 Clients' Security Fund Clients' Security Fund #07 Court Reporting Court Reporting #08 Criminal Practice (AOC) Criminal Practice (AOC) #09 Disciplinary Review Board Disciplinary Review Board #10 Facilities Management Facilities Management #11 Financial Records Financial Records #12 Human Resources Human Resources #13 Judicial Education Judicial Education #14 Judicial Performance Judicial Performance #15 Jury Management - Judiciary Records Management Jury Management #16 Jury Utilization & Management (AOC) Jury Utilization & Management (AOC) #17 Law Division - Civil Part Law Division - Civil Part #18 Law Division - Criminal Part Law Division - Criminal Part #19 Law Division - Special Civil Part Law Division - Special Civil Part #20 Legal Counsel to the Administrative Director Legal Counsel to the Administrative Director #21 Municipal Court Services Municipal Court Services #22 Municipal Courts - Judiciary Records Management Municipal Courts #23 Office of Attorney Ethics - Judiciary Records Management Office of Attorney Ethics #24 Office Services Office Services #25 Organizational Development and Training Unit Organizational Development and Training Unit #26 Payroll Records Payroll Records #27 Print Shop Print Shop #28 Probation Services (AOC) Probation Services (AOC) #29 Probation Services (Vicinages) Probation Services (Vicinages) #30 Professional Services Professional Services #31 Public Information Public Information #32 Purchase and Property Purchase and Property #33 Quantitative Research Quantitative Research #34 Superior Court Clerk's Office Superior Court Clerk's Office #35 Supreme Court - Judiciary Records Management Supreme Court #36 Surrogate Surrogate #37 Tax Court - Judiciary Records Management Tax Court #38 Trust & Special Funds Trust & Special Funds #39 Ombudsman - Judiciary Records Management Ombudsman #40 Judiciary Volunteer Programs Judiciary Volunteer Programs #41 Information Technology Office (ITO) Information Technology Office (ITO), Section II, Disposition of Records Disposition of Records, Section III, Standards for Microfilming Judiciary Records Standards for Microfilming Judiciary Records, Appendix I, Destruction Authorization Form Destruction Authorization Form, Appendix II, Microfilm Forms Microfilm Forms
Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Anti-Discrimination, Everyone who comes to court should be treated with respect. The New Jersey's Courts' Office of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA Office) addresses complaints of harassment and discrimination by or against court employees, court users, or others involved in the court process. The EEO/AA Office also works to maintain a diverse workforce. The EEO/AA Office cannot give legal advice The EEO/AA Office cannot interfere in a court case or a judge's decision The EEO/AA Office cannot change the judge assigned to your case, Send complaints for discrimination, To make a discrimination complaint, contact the statewide EEO/AA office or your local EEO/AA Office . You can also complete an EEO Complaint Form EEO complaint form and send it to EEOComplaint.mailbox@njcourts.gov , or mail it to: , Tonya Hopson, , Chief, Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Officer, Administrative Office of the Courts, Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex 25 Market Street Trenton, New Jersey 08625, EEO/AA Frequently Asked Questions, Will my EEO complaint be kept confidential? The EEO/AA Office seeks to protect your privacy. However, during the EEO/AA process it may be necessary to discuss the complaint with others who may have relevant information. The Judiciary Policy Statement on EEO/AA and Anti-discrimination New Jersey Courts' Anti-Discrimination Policy Statement prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports discrimination. How do I make an EEO complaint against an attorney? Contact the Office of Attorney Ethics , OAE, by phone at 609-815-2924 ,or by email, oae.mbx@njcourts.gov . What if I have an EEO complaint against someone who does not work for the NJ Courts? Contact the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at, 800-669-4000, and/or the NJ Division on Civil Rights at, 833-653-2748, ., More EEO/AA Information, The Judiciary Policy Statement on EEO/AA and Anti-discrimination New Jersey Courts' Anti-Discrimination Policy Statement explains discrimination protections. The New Jersey Courts' EEO/AA Master Plan New Jersey Courts' EEO/AA Master Plan outlines the responsibilities of all court employees for ensuring equal treatment by the court system. The New Jersey Courts' EEO Complaint Procedures Manual New Jersey Courts' EEO Complaint Procedures Manual outlines the steps followed when a discrimination complaint is made. Read the EEO Utilization Report Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Plan .
Fair Treatment Contact Information by Vicinage, The Judiciary's anti-discrimination policy protects all court users, including litigants, attorneys, witnesses, jurors, volunteers, vendors and job applicants. Click on a county or court below to view fair treatment contact information for that county:, Concerned About Fair Treatment Flyer, EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Atlantic/Cape May) Atlantic EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Bergen) Bergen EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Burlington) Burlington EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Camden) Camden EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Atlantic/Cape May) Cape May EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) Cumberland EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Essex) Essex EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) Gloucester EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Hudson) Hudson EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren) Hunterdon ( Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Fair Treatment - Spanish Spanish ) EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Mercer) Mercer EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Middlesex) Middlesex EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Monmouth) Monmouth EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Morris/Sussex) Morris EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Ocean) Ocean EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Passaic) Passaic EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) Salem EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren) Somerset ( Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Fair Treatment - Spanish Spanish ) EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Morris/Sussex) Sussex EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Union) Union EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren) Warren ( Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Fair Treatment - Spanish Spanish ) EEO Fair Treatment Flyer (Tax Court) Tax Court