- Title I ADA Coordinator Directory, Name Address Contact ADA - Title I Administrative Office of the Courts Human Resources PO Box 966 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Phone: 609-815-2900 ext. 54839 Confidential Fax: 609-826-7010 ADA - Title I Atlantic/Cape May Human Resources Atlantic County Civil Courts Building 1201 Bacharach Blvd. Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 Phone: 609-402-0100 ext. 47041 Confidential fax: 609-826-7031 ADA - Title I Bergen Human Resources Bergen County Justice Center 10 Main Street Suite/Room 425 Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Phone: 201-221-0700 ext. 25115 Confidential Fax: 201-221-0656 ADA - Title I Burlington Human Resources Burlington County Court Facility 49 Rancocas Road Suite/Room 704 Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060 Phone: 609-288-9500 ext. 38102 Confidential Fax: 609-826-7068 ADA - Title I Camden Human Resources Camden County Hall of Justice 101 South 5th Street Camden, New Jersey 08103 Phone: 856-650-9100 ext. 43120 Confidential Fax: 856-379-2271 ADA - Title I Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Human Resources Cumberland County Courthouse 60 West Broad Street Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302 Phone: 856-878-5050 ext. 15161 Confidential Fax: 856-379-2250 ADA - Title I Essex Human Resources Essex County Veterans Courthouse 50 West Market Street Suite/Room 612 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Phone: 973-776-9300 ext. 56748 Confidential Fax: 973-776-9470 ADA - Title I Hudson Human Resources Hudson County Administration Bldg 595 Newark Avenue Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 Phone: 201-748-4400 ext. 60522 Confidential Fax: 201-356-2603 ADA - Title I Mercer Human Resources Mercer County Annex - 209 209 S. Broad Street Floor 4 Trenton, New Jersey 08650 Phone: 609-571-4200 ext. 74007 Confidential Fax: 609-376-0812 ADA - Title I Middlesex Human Resources PO Box 964 New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903-0964 Phone: 732-645-4300 ext. 88826 Confidential Fax: 732-565-2932 ADA - Title I Monmouth Human Resources Monmouth County Courthouse 71 Monument Street Freehold, New Jersey 07728 Phone: 732-358-8700 ext. 87070 Confidential Fax: 732-358-5342 ADA - Title I Morris/Sussex Human Resources PO Box 910 Morristown, New Jersey 07960-0910 Phone: 862-397-5700 ext. 75090 Confidential Fax: 973-848-7819 ADA - Title I Ocean Human Resources PO Box 2191 Toms River, New Jersey 08753 Phone: 732-504-0700 ext. 64026 Confidential Fax: 732-435-8393 ADA - Title I Passaic Human Resources Passaic County Courthouse 77 Hamilton Street Paterson, New Jersey 07505 Phone: 973- 653-2930 ext. 24060 Confidential Fax: 973-424-6881 ext. 6884 ADA - Title I Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage 13 Human Resources Division PO Box 3000 Somerville, New Jersey 08876-1262 Phone: 908-332-7700 ext. 13260 Confidential Fax: 908- 527-7053 ADA - Title I Union Human Resources Union County Courthouse 2 Broad Street Elizabeth, New Jersey 07207 Phone: 908-787-1650 ext. 22550 Confidential Fax: 908-659-5956 Showing 1 to 16 of 16 items
- Designated OPRA Judges, Updated Sept. 10, 2025 , Vicinage, County(ies), Designated Judge , 1. Atlantic/Cape May Assignment Judge M. Susan Sheppard Judge Danielle Walcoff (backup) 2. Bergen Assignment Judge Carol V. Novey Catuogno Judge Kevin P. Kelly 3. Burlington Assignment Judge Terrence R. Cook 4. Camden Presiding Judge Sherri L. Schweitzer 5. Essex Judge Jennifer Critchley 6. Hudson Judge Peter J. Baker Presiding Judge Joseph A. Turula (backup) 7. Mercer Assignment Judge Robert T. Lougy Presiding Judge Douglas H. Hurd (backup) 8. Middlesex Assignment Judge. Michael A. Toto Judge Benajmin S. Bucca, Jr. (backup) 9. Monmouth Assignment Judge Marc C. Lemieux Judge Linda Grasso Jones (backup) 10. Morris/Sussex Assignment Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz Presiding Judge Frank J. DeAngelis(backup) 11. Passaic Judge Jason C. Tuchman Presiding Judge Darren J. DelSardo (backup) 12. Union Judge John M. Deitch Judge Daniel R. Lindemann (backup) 13. Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Assignment Judge Michael V. Cresitello, Jr. 14. Ocean Assignment Judge Francis Hodgson, Jr. 15. Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem Assignment Judge Benjamin C. Telsey Judge John C. Eastlack, Jr. (backup)
- Multicounty Litigation, Multicounty litigation involves a large number of personal injury cases that are all associated with a single product. The cases share common factual and legal issues. Also, the value of each claim is dependent on the value of all of the other claims., On This Page, Select a Case Abilify Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implants Asbestos Bard Implanted Port Catheter Products DePuy ASR Hip Implant Elmiron Fosamax GLP-1 Medications - Gastrointestinal Injuries GLP-1 Medications - Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) Vision Loss Pelvic Mesh - Bard Pelvic Mesh - Gynecare Physiomesh Pinnacle Metal-on-Metal (MoM) Hip Implants Proceed Surgical Mesh/Proceed Ventral Patch Prolene Hernia System Mesh Proton-Pump Inhibitors Roundup Products Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Detention Facilities Operated by the State of New Jersey Singulair Strattice-Hernia-Mesh Stryker Hip/ABG II Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 Femoral Heads Talc-Powder Tasigna Taxotere/Docetaxel Zostavax, Litigation Applications and Terminations, Applications and terminations currently before the court: Dec. 2025 - Atlas Data Privacy Corporation Daniel's Law Matters MCL Application , Guidelines and Resources, Directive #02-19 Directive #02-19 - Multicounty Litigation Guidelines and Criteria for Designation sets forth the procedures for the centralized management of MCL cases. 4:38A-Centralized Management of Multicounty Litigation Court Rule 4:38 established the Multicounty Litigation Program. Self-represented litigants can use the Civil Case Information Statement (CIS) - Appendix XII-B1 Civil Case Information Statement when filing in an MCL matter. Find contacts for multidistrict litigation (MDL) in other states. , MCL By County, Atlantic County Bergen County Middlesex County Abilify Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implants Asbestos Physiomesh Bard Implanted Port Catheter Products Fosamax Proceed Surgical Mesh/Proceed Ventral Patch DePuy ASR Hip Implant Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Detention Facilities Operated by the State of New Jersey Prolene Hernia System Mesh Elmiron Taxotere/Docetaxel Proton-Pump Inhibitors GLP-1 Medications - Gastrointestinal Injuries Zostavax Singulair GLP-1 Medications - Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) Vision Loss Strattice-Hernia-Mesh Pelvic Mesh - Bard Talc-Powder Pelvic Mesh - Gynecare Pinnacle Metal-on-Metal (MoM) Hip Implants Roundup Products Stryker Hip/ABG II Stryker LFIT CoCr V40 Femoral Heads Tasigna, Archived MCLs, Multicounty Litigation cases are archived by court order. See all archived MCLs. Accutane (Archived) AlloDerm (Archived) Benicar (Archived) Bristol Myers Squibb Environmental (Archived) Firefighter Hearing (Archived) HealthPlus Surgery Center (Archived) Levaquin (Archived) Mirena (Archived) Pompton Lakes Environmental Contamination (Archived) Propecia (Archived) Reglan (Archived) Risperdal/Seroquel/Zyprexa (Archived) Stryker Trident Hip Implants (Archived) Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella (Archived), Notices to the Bar, See all Notices to the Bar - Multi County Litigation Tag Notices to the Bar related to multicounty litigation., Out of State Attorneys, Attorneys from other jurisdictions must first comply with pro hac vice admission requirements and pay all required fees before representing clients in the New Jersey courts. Review New Jersey’s pro hac vice requirements in 1:21-2-Appearances Pro Hac Vice Court Rule 1:21-2 . With an initial mass tort pleading and, every year thereafter, as long as the case in which you are involved is pending, a certification must be filed with the court indicating: that you are an attorney-at-law holding a plenary license to practice in the State of New Jersey; the address of your bona fide out-of-state office; that pursuant to Rules 1:20-1(b), 1:28-2 and 1:28B-1(e), Pro Hac Vice all annual fees have been paid to the New Jersey Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection and all required registration statements have been filed; that in accordance with Rule 1:21-1(a), a power of attorney has been filed designating the Supreme Court of New Jersey Clerk of the Supreme Court as agent upon whom service of process may be made for all actions, including disciplinary actions; and that there are no disciplinary proceedings affecting your standing as a member of the bar in New Jersey or in any other jurisdiction. The Pro Hac Vice admission order should include: [Admitted attorney] shall abide by the New Jersey Court Rules including all disciplinary rules, R. 1:20-1 and R. 1:28-2; Admitted attorney] shall consent to the appointment of the Clerk of the Supreme Court as an agent upon whom service of process may be made for all actions against his firm that may arise out of his participation in this matter; [Admitted attorney] shall notify the Court immediately of any matter affecting his standing at the bar of any other Court; [Admitted attorney] shall have all pleadings, briefs and other papers filed with the Court signed by an attorney of record authorized to practice in this State, who shall be held responsible for them, the conduct of the cause and the admitted attorney herein; [Admitted attorney] cannot be designated as trial counsel; No delay in discovery, motions, trial, or any other proceeding shall occur or be requested by reason of the inability of [Admitted attorney] to be in attendance; [Admitted attorney] must, within 10 days, pay the fees required by R. 1:20-1(b) and R. 1:28-2 and submit affidavits of compliance; Automatic termination of Pro Hac Vice admission will occur for failure to make the required annual payment to the Ethics Financial Committee and the New Jersey Lawyer’s Fund for Client Protection. Proof of such payment, after filing proof of the initial payment shall be made no later than February of each year. Noncompliance with any of these requirements shall constitute grounds for removal; A copy of this order shall be served on all parties within seven (7) days. For questions regarding Pro Hac Vice admission, call the , Statewide Call Center, at 609-421-6100, Understanding the MCL Process, Each multicounty litigation is handled in one of three counties: Bergen, Middlesex, or Atlantic. The Supreme Court’s Order that designates a multicounty litigation also assigns it to one of those counties. All future cases be filed in that designated county as well. The judge assigned to oversee the MCL will prepare an initial case management order. The order will include: the date of the first case management conference; direction to counsel regarding issues they should discuss prior to this initial case management conference; instructions regarding notices on the Judiciary web page for multicounty litigation; instructions regarding contact with the court; obligations regarding preservation of records and e-discovery; and a process for the appointment of lead and liaison counsel. The court will work with federal courts that are handling corresponding litigation. This is called multidistrict litigation (MDL) at the federal level. MCL judges also must coordinate discovery efforts with related litigation in other state courts as well. The MCL judge is not bound by any decision from any other jurisdictions. MCLs usually have scheduled case management conferences every four to six weeks. Normally, the court requires that counsel confer prior to the conferences and submit a proposed joint agenda for each conference. At each conference, the court will ask about ongoing discovery issues; set a schedule for motion practice regarding any disputes; and set a schedule to complete written discovery, depositions, service of general expert reports, and depositions. The goal is to select a pool of cases to then be made ready for trial. From this pool of trial-ready cases, the court selects representative plaintiffs for bellwether trials. The bellwether trials assist in the settlement or dismissal of all the cases in the MCL litigation. Those trials establish trends or common rulings that can predict a potential outcome for some or all of the remaining cases. No two MCLs are the same. Each involves different products, and each has its own unique variables. There is no way to predict the length of time any MCL litigation will last. Typically, the judge that is assigned the MCL will be the judge overseeing the trial of the cases. Some MCL courts have allowed multiple plaintiffs to present their cases in one trial. First, the court must determine that a multi-plaintiff trial can be accomplished without undue prejudice to the defendants. Send comments and suggestions to CivilWebSites.Mailbox@njcourts.gov
- Elder Justice, Older adults could face increased risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. They might also face issues with housing, domestic violence, or consumer fraud. Elderly persons deserve equal justice. Get valuable resources for ensuring justice for the elderly., On This Page, Body, Report Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation, The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor responds to issues of fraud, abuse or neglect involving Medicaid recipients. Call their hotline at Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor-Hotline tel no 1-877-55-FRAUD (1-877-553-7283) or Elder Justice Questions and Issues tel number 1-609-292-1272 for elder justice questions and issues, including to report abuse. The New Jersey Adult Protective Services Adult Protective Services run programs in every county to investigate issues of abuse of individuals living on their own in the community. Use this service to report abuse. The New Jersey New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman Long-Term Care Ombudsman provides valuable resources for the elderly living in nursing homes or other care facilities and their loved ones. You can also file a complaint through their office. Older individuals are also vulnerable to insurance fraud. Report insurance fraud-Department of Law and Safety Report insurance fraud concerns to the Attorney General’s Office., Learn About Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence refers to any violence that occurs inside the home. This includes elder abuse from a family member or other resident in a shared home. Domestic Violence-Self Help Visit our Domestic Violence Self-Help center for resources to report and stop domestic elder abuse. Access the stop Elder Abuse brochure. Stop Elder Abuse brochure . It provides information and resources on identifying, reporting and stopping abuse. This Abuse in Later Life Wheel Abuse in Later Life Wheel discusses types of abuse and tactics abusers use. It helps you to recognize the signs and patterns of abuse so you can intervene. Access this Brochure on the Signs of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Brochure on the Signs of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation. Have additional questions? Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) FAQ. National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) FAQ., Guardianship of Incapacitated Adults and Supported Decision-Making, Some older adults have disabilities that make them unable to make decisions for themselves. They may need a court-appointed guardian to handle their affairs. Others may simply need support from people they trust to help them make their own decisions, instead of a court-appointed guardian making decisions for them. Visit our Resource Center for Guardianship Self-Help resource center for Adult Guardianship . Get information on obtaining a guardianship and reporting suspected abuse. Or you can contact your New Jersey Surrogates County Surrogate for more information. Some individuals in need of guardianship may be eligible for the New Jersey Office of the Public Guardian for the Elderly. Visit the Division of Aging Services office website for more information on their role and services. Financial abuse is another form of vulnerability for the elderly. Resources are available to help financial caregivers manage someone else’s money. Access guides on overseeing someone else’s finances. Access guides on overseeing someone else’s finances. The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) National Center for State Courts (NCSC) provides guidance on finding the right fit in elder care. You can also get information on the role of the decision-maker or advocate. The National Center on Law & Elder Rights provides a Resource for supporting an elderly person resource for supporting an elderly person . The American Bar Association also provides Resources-American Bar Association Website resources for decision-making support, including Guide to Support Decision making works How Supported Decision Making Works for Older Adults guide . The ACLU provides National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making a resource library for supported decision-making. Visit the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making for more information and resources., Housing Issues, Some elderly persons might face issues of foreclosure or eviction. The following information could help in these cases. Visit our Foreclosure Self-Help center Foreclosure Self-Help center for options in foreclosure cases. If facing an eviction, visit our Landlord/Tenant Self-Help center Landlord-Tenant Self-Help center. The NJ Department of Community Affairs also provides Housing and community affairs resources housing and community affairs resources ., Consumer Fraud, The Division of Consumer Affairs provides a Handbook for the Senior Fraud Education and Protection Program handbook for the Senior Fraud Education and Protection Program . The division also provides an Anti-fraud toolkit-Nj Division of Consumer Affairs anti-fraud toolkit . Both resources can help you combat consumer fraud against the elderly., Get Legal Help for Older Adults, NJ Courts provides several resources to assist you with legal issues. You can Landlord/Tenant-Self-help center visit our Self-Help center for help with a variety of legal issues. You can contact the Directory of Superior Court Deputy Clerk’s Offices/ County Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices Legal Services Office in your county. You can also Ombudsman Directory contact your local ombudsman for court support and services. New Jersey is also dedicated ADA Title II Get Help to providing ADA accommodations in court . Legal Services of New Jersey Legal Services of New Jersey provides a wide range of options for legal help. On a federal level, the Department of Justice provides an Elder Justice Initiative--U.S. Department of Justice Elder Justice Initiative . The Department of Health and Human Services also provides Resources for Elder Justice-US Department of Health and Human Services resources for Elder Justice ., Resources for Elder Care and Support, Part of providing elder justice and preventing abuse is providing quality care. The following resources can help with ensuring elder care. NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging-Department of Human Services Division of Aging . The division provides a list of services to support the elderly. Find a program that works for you. NJ Department of Human Services Division of Aging- Aging and Disability Resource Connection Aging and Disability Resource Connection provides answers to common searches for elder care providers and programs such as home-delivered meals, transportation, and prescription drug assistance. The Division of Aging Services-County Offices on Aging Aging & Disability Resource Connection/Area Agency on Aging (ADRC/AAA) . This program from the Department of Human services provides support by county. Learn more about the program and how it can help. NJ Department of Health – Your Health NJ Department of Health – Your Health . Access a list of health and care resources for seniors. NJ Department of Health – Facilities NJ Department of Health – Facilities . Get information on nursing homes and other care facilities. Alzheimer's New Jersey Alzheimer’s New Jersey . This helpline is available for assistance with Alzheimer and dementia patients. New Jersey Regional Crisis Hotlines Regional Crisis Hotline . The New Jersey Technical Institute provides a list of emergency hotlines by area through the state. Mental Health and Addiction Services Mental Health and Addiction Services . Resources for support from the Department of Human Services.
- New Jersey Surrogates Roster, Updated Jan. 27, 2026, Atlantic County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, James Curcio Atlantic County Surrogate’s Office 5911 Main St. Mays Landing, NJ 08330 609-645-5800 609-645-5800 Atlantic County Surrogate Atlantic County Surrogate, Bergen County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Michael R. Dressler Bergen County Surrogate’s Office 2 Bergen County Plaza, 5th Floor, Suite 5000 Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-336-6700 201-336-6700 Bergen County Surrogate Bergen County Surrogate, Burlington County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Brian J. Carlin Burlington County Surrogate’s Office 50 Rancocas Road, 1st Floor P.O. Box 6000 Mount Holly, NJ 08060 609-265-5005 609-265-5005 Burlington County Surrogate Burlington County Surrogate, Camden County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Michelle A. Gentek-Mayer Camden County Surrogate’s Office 509 Lakeland Road Blackwood, NJ 08012 856-225-7282 856-225-7282 Camden County Surrogate Camden County Surrogate, Cape May County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, E. Marie Hayes Cape May County Surrogate’s Office 4 Moore Road Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 609-463-6666 609-463-6666 Cape May County Surrogate Cape May County Surrogate, Cumberland County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Rudolph A. Luisi Cumberland County Surrogate’s Office 60 W. Broad St., Suite A111 Bridgeton, NJ 08302 856-453-4800 856-453-4800 Cumberland County Surrogate Cumberland County Surrogate, Essex County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Alturrick Kenney Essex County Surrogate’s Office 495 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Newark, NJ 07102 973-621-4901 973-621-4901 Essex County Surrogate Essex County Surrogate, Gloucester County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Giuseppe Chila Gloucester County Surrogate’s Office 17 N. Broad St. Woodbury, NJ 08096 856-853-3282 856-853-3282 Gloucester County Surrogate Gloucester County Surrogate, Hudson County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Tilo E. Rivas Hudson County Administration Building 595 Newark Ave., 4th Floor, Room 407 Jersey City, NJ 07306 201-795-6378 201-795-6378 Hudson County Surrogate Hudson County Surrogate, Hunterdon County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Heidi Rohrbach Hunterdon County Surrogate’s Office 65 Park Ave. Flemington, NJ 08822 P.O. Box 2900 908-788-1156 908-788-1156 Hunterdon County Surrogate Hunterdon County Surrogate, Mercer County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Diane Gerofsky Mercer County Civil Court House 175 South. Broad St., 4th Floor, Room 420 Trenton, NJ 08650-0068 609-989-6331 609-989-6331 Mercer County Surrogate Mercer County Surrogate, Middlesex County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Claribel Cortes Middlesex County Surrogate’s Office 75 Bayard St., 1st Floor P.O. Box 790 New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732-745-3055 732-745-3055 Middlesex County Surrogate Middlesex County Surrogate, Monmouth County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Maureen T. Raisch Monmouth County Hall of Records 1 E. Main St. Freehold, NJ 07728 732-431-7330 732-431-7330 Monmouth County Surrogate Monmouth County Surrogate, Morris County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Heather J. Darling Morris County Surrogate’s Office 10 Court St., 5th Floor Morristown, NJ 07960 973-285-6500 973-285-6500 Morris County Surrogate Morris County Surrogate, Ocean County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Jeffrey W. Moran Ocean County Surrogate’s Office 118 Washington St. P.O. Box 2191 Toms River, NJ 08754 732-929-2011 732-929-2011 Ocean County Surrogate Ocean County Surrogate, Passaic County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Zoila S. Cassanova Passaic County Surrogate’s Office 71 Hamilton St., Room 101 Paterson, NJ 07505 973-881-4760 973-881-4760 Passaic County Surrogate Passaic County Surrogate, Salem County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Gordon J. Ostrum, Jr., Salem County Courthouse 92 Market Street, Suite A122 Salem, NJ 08079 856-935-7510 856-935-7510 Salem County Surrogate Salem County Surrogate, Somerset County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Bernice M. (Tina) Jalloh Somerset County Surrogate’s Office 20 Grove St, P.O. Box 3000 Somerville, NJ 08876 908-231-7003 908-231-7003 Somerset County Surrogate Somerset County Surrogate, Sussex County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Gary R. Chiusano Sussex County Surrogate’s Office 3 High St., Suite 1 Newton, NJ 07860 973-579-0920 973-579-0920 Sussex County Surrogate Sussex County Surrogate, Union County, Name , Address, Phone, Website, Christopher E. Hudak Union County Courthouse 2 Broad St., 2nd Floor Elizabeth, NJ 07207 908-527-4280 908-527-4280 Union County Surrogate Union County Surrogate, Warren County, Name, Address, Phone, Website, Michael J. Doherty Warren County Courthouse 323 Front St. Belvidere, NJ 07823 908-475-6225 908-475-6225 Warren County Surrogate Warren County Surrogate
- Civil Practice Division, The Civil Practice Division develops and implements policies and best practices to advance the goals and mission of the Judiciary in the civil part, special civil part, general equity and probate part matters. The office supports the local civil divisions in each Superior Court and coordinates the implementation of civil court rules. , On This Page, Body Visit our Self-Help Center Self-Help Center if you are representing yourself in court., Contact Information, Taironda E Phoenix, Assistant Director, Civil Practice Division 609-815-2900 ext. 54900 The following statewide directories are available: Civil Division Manager Conference Contact List Civil Division Managers Civil Division Offices Vicinage Civil Division Main Numbers Special Civil Offices Vicinage Special Civil Part Main Numbers Civil Division Presiding Judges Civil Presiding Judges Special Civil Part Supervising Judges Special Civil Part Supervising Judges General Equity Presiding Judges General Equity Presiding Judges Committee of Complex Business Litigation Judges Committee of Complex Business Litigation Judges Designated Mt. Laurel Judges Designated Mt. Laurel Judges Designated Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Judges Designated Open Public Records Act (OPRA) Judges Probate Part Judges Committee Probate Part Judges Committee County Surrogates County Surrogates, Programs and Services, Visit the Multi-county Litigation Center Multicounty Litigation Center for information about the centralized management of certain product liability cases. Learn more about the CDR Program Complementary Dispute Resolution (CDR) Program , including Civil Arbitration arbitration , Civil Mediation mediation , and other programs to expedite and assist in the resolution of civil cases without a trial. The Complex Business Litigation Program Complex Business Litigation Program helps streamline the resolution of certain complex business cases and has produced a Business Opinions body of law to help guide future litigation. Find Adult Guardianship resources for guardians of incapacitated adults and information on the Judiciary's Guardianship Monitoring Program. Refer to the Post Judgment and Pre-Judgment Interest Rates post-judgment and prejudgment interest rates . , Involuntary Civil Commitments, Review the latest Involuntary Civil Commitments Resource Binder Involuntary Civil Commitment Resource Binder and Civil Appendix Appendix for information on involuntary commitments., Online Tools, The civil division offers several online tools. These were developed to help attorneys and the public access important information. Key online tools include: eCourts eCourts can be used by attorneys in civil, special civil, and landlord tenant matters. https://proddrupal.njcourts.gov/self-help/jeds Judiciary Electronic Document Service (JEDS) can be used for chancery, judgment processing, and small claims. The mediator search tool mediator search tool lets users search for a mediator by name, location, area of expertise, and hourly rate. Most mediators provide the first two hours at no charge. Use the Motion calendar search tool motion calendar search tool to find scheduled motions. The Discovery end date search discovery end date search can be helpful in planning litigation. The discovery end date is when the discovery period ends in a case. Use the Model Civil Jury Charges System Automated Model Civil Jury Charges System (MCJCAS) to build jury charges for a particular case. The Civil and Foreclosure Public Access civil case public access portal allows inquiry-only access to docket information.
- Directories, The following directories provide contact information for New Jersey Courts. Find the correct directory below. Court Services Contact Information Local Title I ADA Coordinators ADA Title I Coordinators Title II ADA Coordinator Directory ADA Title II Coordinators Administrative Office of the Courts Directory Administrative Office of the Courts Directory of Superior Court Civil Division Offices County Civil Division Offices Directory of Criminal Division Offices County Criminal Division Offices County Deputy Clerk's Offices/Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices County Deputy Clerk's Offices/Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices County Family Division Offices County Family Division Offices County Special Civil Part Officers County Special Civil Part Officers County Special Civil Part Offices County Special Civil Part Offices New Jersey Surrogates list County Surrogates Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Staff Listing EEO/AA Officer Jury Management Office Contact List Jury Managers Municipal Court Address listing Municipal Courts Addresses New Jersey TASC Programs or TASC Evaluators New Jersey TASC Programs or TASC Evaluators Ombudsman Directory Ombudsman, Division Manager Contact Information, Civil Division Manager Conference Contact Lis Civil Division Managers Criminal Division Manager Conference Contact List Criminal Division Managers Family Division Manager Conference Contact List Family Division Managers Finance Division Manager Conference Contact List Finance Division Managers Human Resources Division Manager Conference Contact List Human Resources Division Managers Municipal Division Manager Conference Contact List Municipal Division Managers Operations Division Managers Contact List Operations Division Managers Probation Division Manager Contact List Probation Division Managers, Judges Rosters and Contact Information, Assignment Judges and Trial Court Administrators Assignment Judges and Trial Court Administrators Civil Presiding Judges Civil Division Presiding Judges Complex Business Litigation Judges Complex Business Litigation Judges Criminal Division Presiding Judges Criminal Division Presiding Judges Designated Environmental Litigation Judges Environmental Litigation Judges Family Division Presiding Judges Family Division Presiding Judges Conference of General Equity Presiding Judges General Equity Judges Judicial Biographical Information of Judges Judges' Biographies Judges' Chambers Listing Judges' Chambers Designated Mt. Laurel Judges Mt. Laurel Judges Municipal Presiding Judges Municipal Presiding Judges Designated OPRA Judges OPRA Judges Probate Part Judges Committee Probate Part Judges Recovery Court Judges and Coordinators Contact List Recovery Court Judges and Coordinators Special Civil Part Supervising Judges Roster Special Civil Part Supervising Judges Tax Court Judges Directory Tax Court Judges
- Court Services: Contact Information, The following directories provide contact information for Court Services at New Jersey Courts. Find the correct directory below. , List of Court Services: Contact Information, ADA Title I Coordinators Directory ADA Title I Coordinators Title II ADA Coordinator Directory ADA Title II Coordinators Administrative Office of the Courts Diirectory Administrative Office of the Courts Directory of Superior Court Civil Division Offices County Civil Division Offices Directory of Criminal Division Offices County Criminal Division Offices County Deputy Clerk's Offices/Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices County Deputy Clerk's Offices/Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices County Family Division Offices County Special Civil Part Officers County Special Civil Part Officers Directory of Superior Court Special Civil Part Offices County Special Civil Part Offices New Jersey Surrogates list County Surrogates Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Staff Listing EEO/AA Officer Jury Management Office Contact List Jury Managers Municipal Court Address list Municipal Courts Addresses New Jersey TASC Programs or TASC Evaluators New Jersey TASC Programs or TASC Evaluators Ombudsman Directory Ombudsman Statewide Pro Bono Coordinator Contact List Statewide Pro Bono Coordinators
- Copies of Court Records, Request court records for closed cases by completing and submitting a records request form. , On This Page, 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:, Description, Cost, 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
- Guardianship Self-Help, On This Page, Body, Adult Guardianship in New Jersey, Court-appointed guardians oversee adults who are not able to make decisions or care for themselves. They need to have legal authority to make decisions for the person under guardianship (also called “incapacitated person”). Only the courts can grant that power. Adult guardianship cases are filed with the county Surrogate’s Office and heard in Superior Court. Reasons why someone may need a guardian include: Mental illness Intellectual disability. Physical illness or disability. Chronic drug use. Chronic alcoholism. There are three types of guardianship:, Guardianship of the person and estate., The guardian takes care of the well-being and finances of the person under guardianship., Guardianship of the person only., The guardian only takes care of the well-being of the person under guardianship., Guardianship of the estate only., The guardian only manages the financial affairs of the person under guardianship. The court decides if the person needs general or limited guardianship., General Guardianship, . The guardian can exercise all rights and powers on behalf of the person under guardianship., Limited Guardianship, . The guardian’s role is less intrusive and more individualized, so that the person under guardianship can make some decisions for themselves. Guardians have important responsibilities. They must follow all court rules and file periodic reports. Learn more with the Guardianship of the Person Guardianship of the Person , Guardianship of the Estate Guardianship of the Estate , and Guardianship Reporting Forms brochures. You can also watch a Tutorial on court-appointed guardianship tutorial on court-appointed guardianship . Volunteers in the Guardianship Monitoring Program (GMP) Guardianship Monitoring Program (GMP ) help the court by reviewing reports and documents contained in guardianship files. The GMP is part of the court’s role in ensuring the affairs of incapacitated adults are being handled properly and in their best interest. Watch the https://vimeo.com/1108086895/b85e4f6cd9 GMP volunteer video ., Do I need a lawyer?, The court system can be confusing, and it is a good idea to get a lawyer if you can. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can contact the legal services program in your county to see if you qualify for free legal services. Legal Services of New Jersey maintains a directory of Legal Services of New Jersey regional legal services offices or may be reached at Regional Legal Services Office Telephone Number 732-572-9100 . The NJ State Bar Association also maintains a list of County Bar Associations county referral services that might be helpful., Things to think about before you represent yourself in court, While you have the right to represent yourself in court, you should not expect any special treatment, help, or attention from the court. You must still comply with the Rules of the Court, even if you are not familiar with them. The following is a list of some things the court staff can and cannot do for you. Please read it carefully before asking the court staff for help. We can explain and answer questions about how the court works. We can tell you what the requirements are to have your case considered by the court. We can give you some information from your case file. We can provide you with samples of court forms that are available. We can provide you with guidance on how to fill out forms. We can usually answer questions about court deadlines. We cannot give you legal advice. Only your lawyer can give you legal advice. We cannot tell you whether or not you should bring your case to court. We cannot give you an opinion about what will happen if you bring your case to court. We cannot recommend a lawyer, but we can provide you with the telephone number of a local lawyer referral service. We cannot talk to the judge for you about what will happen in your case. We cannot let you talk to the judge outside of court. We cannot change an order issued by a judge., How to Become a Guardian, A person applying to the court for guardianship needs to prove the person is incapacitated. They are an alleged incapacitated person (AIP) until the court reaches a decision in the case. File your case with New Jersey Surrogates county surrogate in the county where the AIP Lives. Do you need a guardianship of the estate? Does the AIP have: Income from earnings or pension, Real property, or Stocks, bonds, etc. In many cases, guardianship of the estate is, not required if, : The AIP has no assets or real property. The AIP is only collecting Social Security Benefits. Some AIPs are eligible for Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) benefits. There are If the AIP is Eligible for DDD Benefits special filing instructions for these cases. For standard guardianship cases, you will need:, Certification of Physician or Psychologist , (2). A doctor must certify as to the AIP’s condition. A second doctor or psychologist also needs to certify as to their condition. They must conduct personal examinations of the AIP within 30 days of filing the application for guardianship. You will complete the top section of the form. The health professional(s) will complete the rest of the form., Adult Guardianship Case Information Statement (CIS)., This form outlines the details of the case. Instructions are provided with the form., Verified Complaint Form., This document describes why the AIP cannot make decisions or care for themselves and asks the court to find them incapacitated and appoint a guardian for them., Certification of Assets., This form lists all property and income of the AIP. It is required even if you are not seeking guardianship of the estate., Certification of Criminal and Civil Judgment History, . This form describes the proposed guardian’s criminal and civil judgment history, if any. Having a criminal or civil judgment history does not automatically prevent someone from serving as guardian. The court can use this information and other factors to help decide who should serve as guardian., Order Fixing Guardianship Hearing Date., The court needs to set a court date and assign an attorney for the AIP. You will complete the top section identifying yourself as plaintiff. Leave the docket number blank. The court will assign a docket number. The judge will set the date, assign counsel for the AIP, and return the completed form to you., Judgement of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian(s) of the Person and Estate OR Judgment of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian(s) of the Person, . Choose the appropriate form if you are seeking to be guardian of the estate or not. You will complete the top section. The judge will complete the rest of the judgment if approved. The attorney representing the AIP typically works pro bono. If the attorney is to be paid, you can use the AIP’s assets to pay the fees. If their assets are insufficient, you will have to pay the fees., If the AIP is Eligible for DDD Benefits, Choose which packet applies: How to Apply for Guardianship of the Person and Estate (Property) of an Individual Eligible for Services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) How to Apply for the Guardianship of the Person and Estate. Adult Guardianship - How to Apply for Guardianship of the Person of an Individual Eligible for Services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) How to Apply for the Guardianship of a Person Only. Complete the forms in the appropriate packet. Detailed instructions are provided. A doctor or psychologist must examine the AIP. They need to sign an affidavit certifying as to the AIP’s condition. They need to personally examine the AIP within six months of filing. A second document is needed to support the case. It can be: An affidavit from the DDD program administrator. An affidavit from a designee of the DDD. An affidavit of a second doctor or psychologist. A copy of the person’s Individualized Education Program. It must include any medical or other reports. It cannot be older than two years prior to filing. An affidavit from a licensed care professional., File Your Case, Attach the required certifications to the forms. Make at least 2 copies of all forms. Keep a set of copies for your records. Include the originals and one copy of each when you file. Include a fee of $200. Send the fee, completed forms and copies to the NJ County Surrogates county surrogate . You can deliver them in person or by mail., After You File, The court will appoint an attorney to represent the AIP. The judge sets a court date. The attorney will interview the AIP and others involved in the AIP’s care. They then write a report for the court. If the AIP contests the guardianship, the attorney may file an answer to the complaint instead of a report. During the hearing, you will present your case. You need to prove that the AIP is incapacitated and needs a guardian. If you succeed, the judge will complete the written judgment naming the guardian. Keep the written judgment in your records., Obtaining Letters of Guardianship, You cannot act as guardian until you qualify with the NJ County Surrogates county surrogate . You must qualify within 30 days of the judgment. To qualify: Sign papers from the county surrogate, including an Acceptance of Guardianship. Acknowledge receipt of guardianship training guide(s). Acknowledge completion of guardian background screening, if it applies to you. Post a surety bond**, if ordered by the judge., Letters of Guardianship, are issued after you qualify. These letters give you the power to act as guardian. Keep the letters in your records. Do not give them out. You can use short certificates to prove you are a legal guardian. Examples include providing short certificates to doctors or banks. You can purchase short certificates from the county surrogate. ** Surety bonds protect the ward’s assets. If a guardian steals or misuses the assets, the bond covers their loss. Guardians will still be legally liable for any improper use of funds., Payment for Guardians, Guardians of the estate are entitled to compensation for their efforts. The commission structure is based on the total value of the estate. In addition, guardians can receive a percentage of any income. Guardians can also apply to court to cover: Out-of-pocket costs related to guardianship. Court fees and other required fees. Attorney fees for reasonable actions. Paying for professional services (doctors, housecleaners, etc.) Guardians: Cannot receive fees or other payments from the person under guardianship unless specifically ordered by the court. Cannot receive gifts from the person under guardianship without prior court approval. Guardians can also ask the court for permission to make gifts on behalf of the person under guardianship. It is very important to keep detailed financial records. You will need to include this information in your periodic reports to the court. You might need to show proof of expenses. The court can request more information on spending. Friends and family members of the person under guardianship can ask the court to look into your spending. Keep all receipts, invoices, etc. for your records., Concerns About a Guardianship, The friends and family of the person under guardianship have the right to check up on the guardianship. They can check to see if the person is being treated fairly. They can ask the court to review financial records. The guardian has a responsibility to show they are doing the right thing. Use the Adult Guardianship - How to File a Motion in a Guardianship Case Motion Kit to file with the court once guardianship goes into effect. Any party-in-interest can file a motion. This includes the guardian themselves, the ward, or friends and family. You can file a guardianship motion if you want to: Modify guardianship protection (such as reducing the amount of a surety bond).. Modify reporting requirements. Review a guardian’s conduct. Review a guardianship., Guardianship Reporting Requirements, Most guardians are required to periodically file reports with the court. The written judgment states your reporting requirements, including when you need to report and which forms to use. Begin with the Adult Guardianship - Reporting Forms - Introductory Instructions Introductory Instructions . You should also learn the Adult Guardianship - Terms and Procedures Guardianship Terms and Procedures . These documents will help you learn the ins and outs of reporting. All periodic guardian reports must include the Report of Guardian Adult Guardianship - Report of the Guardian Cover Page Cover Page . Save this form. The Adult Guardianship - Report of Well-Being Report of Well-Being states the overall care of the person under guardianship. You need to answer the questions about the person under guardianship to the best of your ability. The report needs to include the Adult Guardianship - Certification of Examining Professional Certification of Examining Professional ., Guardianship of the Estate Reporting, Guardians of the estate need to file more involved reports. Typically, you must file the Adult Guardianship - Guardian Inventory Guardian Inventory within 90 days of the written judgment. This document lists all assets and income of the person under guardianship. In most cases, the Guardian Inventory only needs to be filed once. You will need to complete one of two forms: Adult Guardianship - EZ-Accounting Form EZ Accounting Form. Adult Guardianship - Comprehensive Accounting Form Comprehensive Accounting Form ., Copy of Social Security Representative Payee Report, . The judgment will say which form to use, how often to file the report, and when the report is due. Reports typically require a fee of $5 per page made payable to the county Surrogate. Contact the county Surrogate’s Office for payment details. For questions about how to complete periodic guardian reporting forms, contact the , Civil Practice Division, at 609-815-2900 ext. 54900 or NJGuardianship.Mailbox@NJCourts.gov . For questions regarding how to file guardian reporting forms, contact the appropriate New Jersey Surrogates County Surrogate's Office.
- Adult Guardianship, The Judiciary provides instructions and resources for people who want to seek guardianship for an incapacitated person., On This Page, Body, Guardianship Overview, The Superior Court can assign a Guardian guardian to care for an adult who cannot care for themselves. First, the court must determine whether a person is Incapacitated incapacitated . Until the court decides, the person is an Alleged incapacitated person (AIP) alleged incapacitated person (AIP) . After the court determines incapacitation, they become a protected person or ward. Examples of Incapacitation incapacitation include: Mental illness or deficiency. Physical illness or disability. Chronic drug use. Chronic alcoholism. Developmental disability. There are three types of guardianship:, Guardianship of the person and estate., The guardian is responsible for the individual’s healthcare and financial management. This applies when the ward also has assets that qualify as an estate. Guardianship of the person Guardianship of the person only . This applies when the ward needs to be looked after but does not have assets to manage. Guardianship of the estate Guardianship of the estate only . The guardian only manages the ward’s financial affairs. The court determines if the individual needs general or limited guardianship. General Guardianship. General Guardianship . The guardian can exercise all rights and powers of the incapacitated person. Limited Guardianship Limited Guardianship . The guardian’s role is less intrusive and more individualized., Forms and the Guardianship Process, If you are seeking to represent yourself in a guardianship case, please visit our Guardianship Self-Help self-help resources page. The Civil Division, Superior Court works with county surrogates in guardianship cases. The initial guardianship request is filed with the County surrogate’s office county surrogate’s office . A Superior Court judge Superior Court judge then hears and decides on the case. If incapacitation is determined, the court-appointed guardian must qualify with the county surrogate. Potential guardians can file for a standard guardianship. If the AIP is eligible for benefits from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) , there are special filing instructions. The alleged incapacitation person needs to be examined by a doctor. A second doctor or psychologist must also Certify certify the condition. The following forms are required in standard guardianships: Adult Guardianship - Certification of Physician or Psychologist Certification of Physician or Psychologist (2). A doctor must certify the AIP’s condition. A second doctor or psychologist needs certify the condition. The personal examinations must be within 30 days of filing. You will complete the top section. The health professional(s) will complete the rest of the form Adult Guardianship - Case Information Statement (CIS) Case Information Sheet (CIS) . This form outlines the details of the case. Instructions are provided with the form. Adult Guardianship - Certification of Assets Certification of Assets . This form lists all property and income of the AIP. Adult Guardianship - Certification of Criminal and Civil Judgment History Certification of Criminal and Civil Judgment History . This form lists the criminal and civil history of the potential guardian. Adult Guardianship - Order Fixing Hearing Date and Appointing Attorney for Alleged Incapacitated Person Order Fixing Guardianship Hearing Date . The court needs to set a court date and assign an attorney for the AIP. Adult Guardianship - Judgment of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian(s) of the Person and Estate Judgment of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian(s) of the Person and Estate , or Adult Guardianship - Judgment of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian(s) of the Person Judgment of Incapacity and Appointment of Guardian(s) of the Person . For DDD eligible AIPs, the guardian will complete either of these two packets: How to Apply for Guardianship of the Person and Estate (Property) of an Individual Eligible for Services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) How to Apply for the Guardianship of the Person and Estate Adult Guardianship - How to Apply for Guardianship of the Person of an Individual Eligible for Services from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) How to Apply for the Guardianship of a Person Only All guardianship cases require a fee of $200. After filing, the court will appoint an attorney to represent the AIP and set a court date. Attorneys will need to follow the Guidelines for Court-Appointed Attorneys in Guardianship Matters Guidelines for Court-Appointed Attorneys in Guardianship Matters and complete the Adult Guardianship - Report of Court-Appointed Counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person Report of Court-Appointed Counsel for the Alleged Incapacitated Person. During the hearing the potential guardian must prove incapacitation. If successful, the judge completes the Judgment judgment of incapacity and appoints the guardian(s). Court-appointed guardians must then Qualify qualify with the county surrogate. The guardian needs to affirm their willingness and ability to act as guardian. Once they qualify, they receive Letters of Guardianship. These are the official documents authorizing the person(s) to act as guardian. Guardians will also purchase Short certificates short certificates. These are shortened versions of the Letters of Guardianship that can be given as proof of guardianship. Guardians of the estate receive compensation. The amount guardians are paid is based on the total value of the estate. Guardians can also receive a percentage of any income earned by the estate. All guardians should be familiar with the Guardian Monitoring Program Brochure Guardianship of the Person , Guardianship of the Estate Guardian of the Estate - Summary of Responsibilities Guardianship of the Estate, and Guardianship Reporting Forms brochures, and should view the tutorial on court-appointed guardianship ., Guardianship Monitoring Program and Oversight , The Guardian Monitoring Program Brochure Guardianship Monitoring Program (GMP) provides an ongoing relationship between the guardians and the courts. Guardians are typically loving family members or friends. At times, an attorney can act as guardian. Most guardians care for and protect their ward. However, the authority entrusted to guardians can create opportunities for abuse. The court system is devoted to eliminating those opportunities. Qualified volunteers in the GMP GMP track and report guardian actions. Volunteers enter information into eCourts Guardianship, a Judiciary computer application. Volunteers review guardian reports and other documents contained in guardianship files. This helps identify errors and discrepancies that could signal abuse. In these instances, GMP volunteers record their findings in eCourts Guardianship. The findings could be referred to court staff or Probate Part judges for possible follow-up action. Guardians are required to treat their wards with dignity and integrity. They must follow all court rules and file periodic reports. These reports include: Adult Guardianship - Report of the Guardian Cover Page Report of Guardian Cover Page . This form is required with all guardian reports. It provides summary information about the guardianship. This includes any changes or updates to the ward’s condition or estate. Adult Guardianship - Report of Well-Being Report of Well-Being . A report to keep the court informed of protected person’s overall care. Adult Guardianship - Certification of Examining Professional Certificate of Examining Professional . This form is completed and filed in the initial guardianship request. Updated certifications are required. These helps alert the court of any changes in the protected person’s health conditions. Adult Guardianship - EZ-Accounting Form EZ Accounting Form and Additional Accounting Form Pages additional pages . This form is for simple accounting, typically when there is no estate or a very small estate. Adult Guardianship - Comprehensive Accounting Form Comprehensive Accounting Form . This report is for more complex estates. Guardians are required to complete Certification of Assets when filing for guardianship. After guardianship is established, they must complete the Adult Guardianship - Guardian Inventory Guardian Inventory . Volunteers can then compare the accounting forms to these initial forms to identify any issues regarding the estate. Due to the complex nature of guardianship monitoring, volunteers need specialized skill sets. Volunteers must be comfortable using computers and should have some experience and/or interest in learning how to read and understand basic legal and financial documents. Qualified volunteers will also be interviewed to determine their ability to serve in this function. https://www.njcourts.gov/public/overview-volunteer-services/gmp Learn more about volunteering for the GMP Volunteer Application Apply to become a GMP Volunteer https://vimeo.com/1108086895/b85e4f6cd9 GMP volunteer video, Additional Oversight, The court considers itself legally responsible to care for protected persons. From the very start of the process, the court’s goal is what’s in the best interest of the AIP/protected person. This starts with appointing counsel to represent the AIP. The assigned attorney must be a “zealous advocate” for their client. Guardians of the Estate may also be required to post a surety bond surety bond . This helps protect the ward’s assets. The surety bond can be paid from the estate. If the guardian violates the terms of the guardianship, the bond company can sue them for the bond amount. The ward’s friends and family have the right see if the person is being treated fairly. They can ask the court to review financial records. Interested parties can use the Adult Guardianship - How to File a Motion in a Guardianship Case Motion Kit to file with the court. Examples of guardianship motions: Modify guardianship protection. Modify reporting requirements. Review a guardian’s conduct. Review a guardianship., Guardianship Terms, Alleged Incapacitated Person (AIP) : The alleged incapacitated person (or AIP) is the individual over whom the plaintiff(s) is/are seeking guardianship. Certification : A certification is a statement that certain facts are true to the best of the knowledge of the person making the statement. It is like an affidavit, but it is not sworn before a notary or other authorized person. County of Settlement : The county of settlement is the county responsible for a share of the charge incurred for services provided to persons unable to pay. Typically, this is the AIP’s county of residence at the time of application for DDD services. However, it is possible that the county of residence and county of settlement may be different depending on the residential history of the AIP. County Surrogate : The county surrogate is an elected Constitutional Officer who serves as judge of the Surrogate’s Court for uncontested probate and estate matters. A Surrogate also serves as Deputy Clerk to the Superior Court for the Probate Part, including guardianships of incapacitated adults, as well as adoptions in the Family Part. Docket Number : A docket number is the number the court assigns to your case so that it may be identified and located easily. Once you have a docket number, you must include it on all your communications with the court. File : To file means to give the correct forms and fee to the court to begin the court’s consideration of your request. General Guardianship : General guardianship is a “complete in every respect” type of guardianship in which the guardian is able to exercise all rights and powers of the incapacitated person in terms of the area of responsibility he or she is granted. Also known as full or plenary guardianship. Guardian : A guardian is an individual appointed by the court with authority over the person and/or the estate of an adjudicated incapacitated person. A guardian may have general or limited authority. Guardian of the Estate : An individual appointed by the court to handle the financial affairs of another person who has been adjudicated incapacitated. Unlike a guardian of the person, a guardian of the estate is not responsible for decisions regarding the personal well-being of the protected person. Rather, the guardian of the estate handles assets, income, expenses and liabilities. Guardian of the Person : An individual appointed by the court to handle the personal affairs of another person who has been adjudicated incapacitated. Unlike a guardian of the estate, a guardian of the person does not manage the financial affairs of the incapacitated person, except that a guardian of the person may serve as representative payee for Social Security benefits. Guardianship Monitoring Program (GMP) : The New Jersey Judiciary Guardianship Monitoring Program (GMP) is a comprehensive statewide program that monitors guardians appointed to handle the affairs of incapacitated adults. Trained GMP volunteers review reports and other documents contained in guardianship files to ensure guardians comply with court-ordered requirements and manage the affairs of incapacitated adults properly and in their best interest. Incapacitated Person : An individual adjudicated by the court as unable to govern himself or herself and/or unable to manage his or her affairs. Also known as a protected person or ward. Formerly referred to as an incompetent. Incapacity : Inability to govern oneself and/or to manage one’s affairs. Incapacity may be general (as to all areas) or limited (as to specific areas only). Interested Parties : A person or agency that has an involvement with the incapacitated person who is the subject of the guardianship. Interested parties (or parties in interest) are typically the same individuals entitled to notice of the initial application for guardianship – i.e., the incapacitated person’s spouse, parent, adult child, county of settlement, DDD. Judgment : The official decision of a court in a case. For purposes of guardianship, Judgment refers to the Judgment of Incapacity and Guardian Appointment, also known as the Judgment of Incapacity and Order Appointing Guardian. Letters of Guardianship : Letters of Guardianship are documents issued by the County Surrogate upon an individual’s qualification as guardian, after the entry of a Judgment by the Superior Court. Limited Guardianship : A less intrusive, more individualized, type of guardianship in which a guardian is appointed with authority as to some – but not all – areas. A limited guardianship is established based upon a court’s finding that the person alleged to be incapacitated lacks the capacity to do some, but not all, of the tasks necessary to care for himself or herself. Proof of Service : Proof of Service is documentation showing that parties actually received the papers that you sent to them. Service is established for all parties other than the alleged incapacitated person by a certification that the documents were sent by regular mail and certified mail, and the regular mail was not returned to you. If the signed return receipt (green cards) are received, these may be attached to the certification of service. As to the alleged incapacitated person, you must file a certification stating that he or she was personally served. Qualification : A process conducted before the County Surrogate, or Surrogate’s staff, following entry of a Judgment of Incapacity and Guardian Appointment. As part of qualification , the person appointed as guardian affirms his or her willingness to fulfill the duties of a guardian. If a bond is required, the bond must be posted in order for the guardian to qualify and obtain Letters of Guardianship. Restricted Assets : Assets over which a guardian of the estate does not exercise full control. The most common restricted asset is real property. The restriction can be found in the Judgment and sometimes the Letters of Guardianship. It typically provides that the guardian of the estate “cannot sell, transfer, mortgage, or otherwise encumber the real property of the incapacitated person absent court approval.” Service : Delivery of papers in a legally appropriate way. For example, notice of an application for appointment of a guardian is served upon the alleged incapacitated person by personal service, meaning that copies of the papers are personally delivered. Short Certificates : Short forms of the Letters of Guardianship, stating that by judgment of a particular date, the guardian was appointed with authority of the person and/or estate of the named incapacitated person. A short certificate will state that as of the date it was issued, the guardianship remains in effect. Additional short certificates may be purchased by a guardian, from the Surrogate, for $5.00 each as long as the guardianship remains in effect. Unlike the original Letters of Guardianship, short certificates should be provided to doctors, care facilities, and other institutions that require proof of a guardian’s authority. Superior Court Judge : For purposes of guardianships, the judge of the Superior Court, Probate Part, who decides if the alleged incapacitated person is in fact incapacitated and in need of a guardian. The Superior Court judge makes the substantive decisions about the guardianship, including the determination of capacity and the choice of guardian. The Superior Court judge conducts any hearing(s) and signs the Judgment of Incapacity and Guardian Appointment. Surety Bond : A contract between at least three parties: the obligee (the party who is the recipient of an obligation), the principal (the primary party who will perform the contractual obligation) and the surety (who assures the obligee that the principal can perform the task). A bond functions much like an insurance policy so that if the guardian of the estate steals or misuses the money, or makes some other mistake, the incapacitated person will be protected. The price of that insurance policy (the bond premium) can be paid from the guardianship estate. Surrogate’s Court : A county office headed by the County Surrogate that may be in the same location as the Superior Court or may be in a different location. The Surrogate’s Court is the filing court for Probate Part actions, including actions to appoint a guardian. It is also where the guardian goes to qualify after entry of the Judgment. Verified Complaint : A verified complaint is a sworn document in which the plaintiff tells the court the facts of the case and states what relief is sought.
- Family Courts: Child Abuse, Kinship, and Adoption, Information on adoption, children-in-court matters, and kinship/legal guardianship. , On This Page, Body, Child Abuse and Neglect, The Division of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P) must investigate all reports of child abuse and neglect. If CP&P determines that a child has been or is currently in danger of being harmed, CP&P will file a complaint against the parent(s) or caregiver(s) with the family court. Family cases involving CP&P are also known as Children in Court (CIC) cases. Children in Court Parent's Handbook Learn more about Children in Court (CIC) Cases ., You have a right to be represented by an attorney in this case type., If you cannot afford an attorney, you might qualify for a public defender. You can provide financial information about yourself to determine if you are eligible for a public defender. Court staff will contact you to tell you if a public defender will be assigned to represent you. If you have questions about the process, contact your Ombudsman Directory local court ombudsman ., Kinship Legal Guardianship, A Relative or Other Person Becoming Long-Term Legal Guardian for a Child., A kinship legal guardian is a relative, close family friend, or other adult who is appointed by the court to raise a child when the parents are unable to do so. Kinship legal guardianship (KLG) does not terminate parents’ rights. This means that parents can still seek visitation, and they are still financially responsible for the child. If you are interested in becoming a kinship legal guardian to a child in your care, a Kinship Navigator Program Kinship Navigator Program can assist you. , KLG Through CP&P Involvement., If CP&P has been involved with a family, CP&P can file for KLG on behalf of a caregiver. , Termination of Parental Rights, If CP&P determines that a child cannot be safely returned to a parent, CP&P can file a complaint to terminate parental rights. You have a right to be represented by an attorney in this case type. If you cannot afford an attorney, you might qualify for a public defender. You can provide financial information about yourself to determine if you are eligible for a public defender. Court staff will contact you to tell you if a public defender will be assigned to represent you. If you have questions about the process, contact your Ombudsman Directory local court ombudsman . Children in Court Parent's Handbook and Planner Learn more about Children in Court (CIC) Cases ., You can appeal a termination of parental rights. , If the court terminates your parental rights, you have 21 days to file an appeal. To appeal, you must submit the following to the Appellate Division Appellate Division of Superior Court: A completed Notice of Appeal notice of appeal with the court. A Requesting a Superior Court or Tax Court Transcript for Your Appeal transcript request . A copy of the family court order being appealed. All paperwork should be mailed to:, Appellate, Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex P.O. Box 006 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0970 See the Appellate Division Appellate Division web page for more information., Adoption, To adopt a child, contact your county NJ Surrogates Office Surrogate's Office for information., Contesting an adoption, ., , If you receive a notice of an adoption that will affect your parental rights to a child, the notice will include information on your rights and next steps. If an adoption agency placed the child for adoption, you would receive an Notice of Rights in Adoption Proceeding - Agency Placement agency placement form to complete and return to the county surrogate's office. If a private person placed the child for adoption, you would receive a Notice of Rights in Adoption Proceeding - Non-Agency Placement non-agency placement form to complete and return to the county surrogate's office. These forms contain information on what to do if you want to contest an adoption. They also have information on how to find an attorney to represent you. If you have questions about the forms or the process, contact your Ombudsman Directory local court ombudsman ., Locating Adoption Records Are you looking for adoption records?
- Civil Mediation, Parties in civil cases can use mediation to reach a solution to their dispute instead of having the court decide the case. , On This Page, Body, Litigant Resources, What is Civil Mediation? , A mediator helps the plaintiff and defendant reach an agreement on some or all of their issues. Mediators do not issue a decision on a case. Their job is to help both parties find common ground for a settlement. Statewide Mediation (Non-Foreclosure) Program - brochure Read the brochure and Statewide Civil Mediation Program - Frequently Asked Questions visit our FAQ to discover more about mediation. The Civil Mediation Program Resource Manual Civil Mediation Program Resource Manual contains detailed information about the program. During mediation, the parties get to: Express their feelings and diffuse anger. Clear up misunderstandings. Discover underlying interests or concerns. Find what they agree on. Use common ground to reach a solution. Use the Civil Mediators Search Civil Mediators Search to find a mediator for your case. , Surveys , Mediation surveys help improve the program. Please complete the survey after your mediation. Survey Online Form Title Attorney Survey Monkey Statewide Attorney Questionnaire (Sample Form) 10524 Litigant Survey Monkey Statewide Litigant Questionnaire (Sample Form) 10525 Mediator Survey Monkey Statewide Mediation Case Information Form (Sample Form) 10526 , Mediator Resources, CLE Opportunity for Mediators:, New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM) is hosting a 40-Hour Civil Mediation Training in February 2026. The fee for the 40-hour mediation training is $1,525. Registration is required. Learn more about the course Learn more about the course and register in advance register in advance . For more information about the 40-Hour Mediation Training requirement please, see 1:40-12(b) Court Rule 1:40-12(b)(5) . Mediators can satisfy their 2025 CLE requirement with one of two remote trainings on Nov. 6 and Dec. 11. The courses will be conducted by Eric Max of Max Mediation. The fee for the 4-hour Zoom session is $250. Registration is required. Learn more about the course https://maxmediation.com/cle here . For more information about mandatory CLE for mediators, see Court Rule 1:40-12(b)(2). All mediators should use the Mediator’s Tool Box Mediator’s Tool Box . Mediators need to know the 1:40-Complementary Dispute Resolution Programs CDR (Rule 1:40) and rules on compensation. Before mediation, you and the parties need to sign a disclosure. After the mediation session, you need to submit a completion form. CN Title 11183 Disclosure Concerning Continuation of Mediation and Mediation Preparation Time Disclosure Concerning Continuation of Mediation and Mediation Preparation Time 10827 Completion of Mediation Form Completion of Mediation Form, How to Become a Mediator , Potential mediators need to apply. Use the application form: CN TITLE 10523 Application for Admission to the Roster of Mediators Application for Admission to the Roster of Mediators If approved, you will be added to the Roster of Mediators. All mediators should know the Standards of Conduct. , STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR MEDIATORS IN COURT-CONNECTED PROGRAMS , [, As Adopted by the Supreme Court January 4, 2000, ] Preamble, Scope and Purpose These standards of conduct are intended to instill and promote public confidence in the mediation process and to be a guide to mediators in discharging their professional responsibilities. Public understanding and confidence are vital to a strong mediation program. Persons serving as mediators are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that will merit the confidence of parties, members of the bar, and judges. These standards apply to all mediators when acting in state court-connected programs. Definition of Mediation Mediation is a process in which an impartial third party neutral (mediator) facilitates communication between disputing parties for the purpose of assisting them in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. Mediators promote understanding, focus the parties on their interests, and assist the parties in developing options to make informed decisions that will promote settlement of the dispute. Mediators do not have authority to make decisions for the parties, or to impose a settlement. Principle Of Self-Determination A mediator shall proceed with the understanding that mediation is based on the fundamental principle of self-determination by the parties. Self-determination requires that the mediation process rely upon the ability of the parties to reach a voluntary agreement without coercion. A mediator shall inform the parties that mediation is consensual in nature, that the mediator is an impartial facilitator, that any party may withdraw from mediation at any time as specified in Complementary Dispute Resolution Programs R.1:40-4(a) through (h) , and that the mediator may not impose or force any settlement on the parties. The primary role of a mediator is to facilitate a voluntary resolution of the dispute, allowing the parties the opportunity to consider all options for settlement. Because a mediator cannot personally ensure that each party has made a fully informed choice to reach a particular agreement, a mediator should make the parties aware of the importance of consulting other professionals, where appropriate, to help them make informed decisions. Impartiality A mediator shall always conduct mediation sessions in an impartial manner. The concept of mediator impartiality is central to the mediation process. A mediator shall only mediate a dispute in which there is reason to believe that impartiality can be maintained. When a mediator is unable to conduct the mediation in an impartial manner, the mediator must withdraw from the process. When disputing parties have confidence in the impartiality of the mediator, the quality of the mediation process is enhanced. A mediator shall therefore avoid any conduct that gives the appearance of either favoring or disfavoring any party. A mediator shall guard against prejudice or lack of impartiality because of any party's personal characteristics, background, or behavior during the mediation. A mediator shall advise all parties of any circumstances bearing on possible bias, prejudice, or lack of impartiality. Conflicts Of Interest A mediator must disclose all actual and potential conflicts of interest reasonably known to the mediator. After disclosure, the mediator may proceed with the mediation only if all parties consent to mediate. Nonetheless, if the mediator believes that the conflict of interest casts doubt on the integrity of the mediation process, the mediator shall decline to proceed. A mediator shall always avoid conflicts of interest when recommending the services of other professionals. If requested, a mediator may provide parties with information on professional referral services or associations that maintain rosters of qualified professionals. Related Matters: A mediator who has served as a third party neutral, or any professional member of that mediator's firm/office, shall not subsequently represent or provide professional services for any party to the mediation proceeding in the same matter or in any related matter. Unrelated Matters: A mediator who has served as a third party neutral, or any professional member of that mediator's firm/office, shall not subsequently represent or provide professional services for any party to the mediation proceeding in any unrelated matter for a period of six months, unless all parties consent after full disclosure. Competence A mediator shall only mediate when the mediator possesses the necessary and required qualifications to satisfy the reasonable expectations of the parties. A mediator appointed by the court shall have training and education in the mediation process, and shall have familiarity with the general principles of the subject matter involved in the case being mediated. A mediator shall have information available for the parties regarding the mediator's relevant training, education, and experience. A mediator has an obligation to continuously strive to improve upon his or her professional skills, abilities, and knowledge of the mediation process. Confidentiality To protect the integrity of the mediation, a mediator shall not disclose any information obtained during the mediation unless the parties expressly consent to such disclosure, or unless disclosure is required by applicable rules or law. A mediator shall not otherwise communicate any information to the court about the mediation, except: (1) whether the case has been resolved in whole or in part; or (2) whether the parties or attorneys appeared at a scheduled mediation. Consistent with Mediation – General Rules Rule 1:40-4 , a mediator shall: Preserve and maintain the confidentiality of all mediation proceedings and advise the parties of the Rule's provisions; Prior to the commencement of mediation, reach agreement with the parties concerning the limits and bounds of confidentiality and non-disclosure; Conduct the mediation so as to provide the parties with the greatest protection of confidentiality afforded by court rule and mutually agreed to by the parties; Maintain confidentiality in the storage and disposal of all records and remove all identifying information when such information is used for research, training, or statistical compilations, except minimum identifiers necessary to link research documents; and Not use confidential information obtained in a mediation outside the mediation process. Quality Of The Process : A mediator shall conduct the mediation fairly, diligently, and in a manner consistent with the principle of self-determination by the parties. To further these goals, a mediator shall: Work to ensure a quality process and to encourage mutual respect among the parties, including a commitment by the mediator to diligence and to procedural fairness; Assess the case and determine that it is appropriate and suitable for continuing the mediation; Provide adequate opportunity for each party in the mediation to participate fully in the discussions, and allow the parties to decide when and under what conditions they will reach an agreement or terminate the mediation; Not unnecessarily or inappropriately prolong a mediation session if it becomes apparent to the mediator that the case is unsuitable for mediation, or if one or more parties is unwilling or unable to participate in the mediation process in a meaningful manner; Only accept cases when the mediator can satisfy the reasonable expectations of the parties concerning the timetable for the process, and not allow a mediation to be unduly delayed by the parties or their representatives; and Where appropriate, recommend that parties seek outside professional advice or consider resolving their dispute through arbitration, counseling, neutral evaluation, or other processes. Fees For Service: A mediator shall fully disclose and explain any applicable fees and charges to the parties. Payment for mediation services shall be in accordance with Mediation – General Rules Rule 1:40-4 of the Rules of Court. Fees charged by the mediator shall be reasonable, taking into account, among other things, the subject area and the complexity of the matter, the expertise of the mediator, the time required, and the rates customary in the community. A mediator shall provide parties with sufficient information about fees in writing at the outset of a mediation. A mediator shall not enter into a fee agreement in which the amount of the fee is contingent upon the result of the mediation or the financial amount of the settlement. Source : Standards adopted by Supreme Court January 4, 2000. Contact your Arbitration and CDR Point Persons point person from the Committee for more information New mediators also need to complete the Mentoring program mentoring program. Mediator Mentors have specific guidelines to follow: Following the successful completion of a qualified mediation course of at least forty (40) hours, each applicant for admission to the Roster of Mediators for Civil, General Equity and Probate Cases should attend and observe at least two (2) Superior Court Law Division– Civil Part or Chancery Division–General Equity or Probate Part Mediation – General Rules R. 1:40-4 and Mediation of Civil, Probate, and General Equity Matters -6 mediations of at least five (5) hours total duration. In the event that the two (2) mediation sessions were less than five (5) hours in duration, the applicant, in order to fulfill this requirement, would be required to attend additional sessions until the time requirement is met. The mediator mentor shall be an approved mediator on the Roster of Mediators for Civil, General Equity and Probate Cases who shall certify that they have completed at least fifteen (15) mediations under Mediation – General Rules R. 1:40-4 and Mediation of Civil, Probate, and General Equity Matters -6 or comparable mediation program. The approved mediator mentors list shall be published on the Judiciary’s website. The mediator mentor, in addition to permitting the applicant to fully observe all aspects of the process, shall meet with the applicant to describe the process and approach in advance of the session and to brief the applicant after the session, intending that this process be part of the education. The mediator mentor shall make available the submissions of the parties and include the applicant on the telephonic conference call. The mediator mentor shall, no later than the telephonic conference call, obtain the parties’ consent to the applicant’s attendance during the mediation process. The applicant shall be firmly bound by the standards of mediator conduct, including without limitation, the confidentiality of the process, the conflict-of-interest provisions, as well the reasonable expectation of the parties. There shall be no charge to the applicant, nor a fee collected by the applicant, for the sessions. Following completion of the required mentoring sessions, the applicant shall certify his/her compliance to the Civil Practice Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts by providing the name(s) of mentor(s), dates of each session, number of hours of each session, and the case names/docket numbers You can change or update your roster status if anything changes: CN Title 10826 Civil Mediator Roster Change / Update Form Civil Mediator Roster Change / Update Form Mediator Mentors For Civil Roster Applicants Mediator Mentors Civil Roster, Frequently Asked Questions, What is mediation? Mediation is a dispute resolution process in which an impartial third party - the mediator - facilitates negotiations between the parties to help them reach a mutually acceptable settlement. The major distinction of mediation is that a mediator does not make a decision about the outcome of the case. The parties, with the assistance of their attorneys, work toward a solution with which they are comfortable. What are the roles of counsel and litigants in mediation? The goal of mediation is to reach an amicable resolution. Attorneys and parties are required to make a good faith effort to cooperate with the mediator and engage in constructive dialogue toward this end. Attorneys should prepare their clients prior to mediation by explaining what will happen, and particularly what the roles of both attorneys and clients are. They should also agree on who will be the principal spokesperson in presenting the party's view early in the mediation session. Throughout the process, attorneys act as advocates for their clients' interests. For example, attorneys may make brief opening summaries of the issues as they see them, but clients should also be given an opportunity to speak. In mediation, understanding is often promoted when the parties explain their positions directly to each other. When it comes to discussing terms of settlement, the litigants must play an active part, for it is their case and their settlement. During this process, attorneys should provide counsel on the advisability of settlement options, suggest options and be available for any further consultation with their clients. What if the case is not resolved in mediation? Sometimes the parties are unable to reach agreement or only agree on certain aspects of the dispute. If certain aspects of the dispute remain unresolved, the parties can submit that portion to an expert for an opinion (binding or non-binding) or use some other creative means. The case also can be returned to court and continue on track towards trial. Even in these cases, the mediation process may have helped the parties clarify their positions and also move toward settlement. How is a mediator selected for a case? A roster of mediators is maintained by the court system and is posted on the Judiciary’s website at Civil Mediation njcourts.gov in a searchable format. When a case is referred to mediation, the parties have 14 days to select a mediator whom they feel is suitable, whether on the roster or not. If the parties do not select a mediator in a timely manner, the court-appointed mediator named in the Order of Referral will serve as the mediator. Court-appointed mediators have been approved for inclusion on a roster after careful screening to ensure that they meet educational, training and mentoring requirements set forth in Mediators and Arbitrators in Court Annexed Program Court Rule 1:40-12 . How does a case get into mediation? Appropriate cases for referral to mediation can be identified by judges, court staff, or the parties themselves, at any point in the life of a case. A form of order for referral is prepared and signed by the judge. Parties desiring their case to be referred to mediation should contact the Civil Division Manager in the county in which the case is pending. How much does mediation cost? Under Mediation – General Rules Court Rule 1:40-4(b) , any mediator who is on the roster will provide the first two hours on a case, including an initial one hour session, without charge before a party may opt out of mediation. Thereafter, mediators will generally be paid their market rate fee which is to be shared by the parties. Fees will be waived in any case covered by Proceedings by Indigents Court Rule 1:13-2(a) . Any mediator selected by the parties who is not on the roster may negotiate a fee with the parties from the outset and need not provide the free time. What are some of the advantages of mediation? Some advantages of mediation include: confidentiality; the result may benefit both or all sides and thus present a win/win solution; the outcome can be tailored to meet the unique needs of the case and the particular parties; specially trained mediators assist the parties in fashioning more creative solutions not customarily occurring with other CDR techniques; and mediation can be a more cost-efficient, less formal and more meaningful alternative to the traditional trial process. What happens in mediation? There are certain ground rules the mediator will ask participants to follow. The first, and most important, is that with a few exceptions covered in Mediation – General Rules Court Rules 1:40-4(c) and (d) , what goes on in mediation is confidential. That is, what is said in mediation cannot be discussed outside of the mediation process unless the parties consent. Prior to mediation, the mediator will usually ask the attorneys to prepare a brief summary of the issues in dispute. Then, at the mediation session, the mediator will ask attorneys and their clients to make brief presentations about the issues from their own perspectives. After that, the mediator will help the parties to explore areas of possible compromise and to develop a solution that meets everyone’s interests. Sometimes, the mediator may meet with the parties separately for a private discussion that might help move the parties toward a resolution. If an agreement is reached, a document will be prepared detailing the terms of the agreement. Thereafter, the mediator will notify the court that the case can be dismissed. If the case is not resolved, the mediator will advise the court, and the case will remain on the docket. What kinds of cases could benefit from mediation? Mediation has been used successfully in a broad range of cases which exhibit characteristics such as: the parties have an ongoing business or personal relationship or have had a significant past relationship; communication problems exist between the parties; the principal barriers to settlement are personal or emotional; parties want to tailor a solution to meet specific needs or interests; cases involve complex technical or scientific data requiring particular expertise; the parties have an incentive to settle because of time, cost of litigation, or drain on productivity; the parties wish to retain control over the outcome of the case; or the parties seek a more private forum for the resolution of their dispute. While there is not any case type that could not potentially benefit, commercial, construction, environmental, Law Against Discrimination (LAD) cases, and certain General Equity and Probate cases are particularly suited to mediation because they tend to exhibit some of the characteristics described above. What about pretrial discovery? Generally, pretrial discovery is not stayed while a case is in mediation. The case will be placed on the trial calendar at the end of the discovery period. If, however, the court determines that a stay of discovery is necessary, the court shall only provide for a stay of discovery by court order. Even if formal discovery is stayed, the mediator is authorized to facilitate the informal exchange of information materials needed to enhance the effectiveness of the mediation process. At what time in the court process should a case be referred to mediation? The earlier that a case can be referred to mediation, the greater the likelihood that parties can resolve their dispute at a cost savings to themselves and the court. Parties should feel they have enough information to discuss the dispute, which may mean that some information exchange should be completed. Mediators also can help the parties determine how much informal discovery is needed. Even if discovery has been completed, settlement negotiations have been unsuccessful, or the parties are close to a trial date, the mediation process may still help the parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
- Criminal Practice Division, The Criminal Practice Division develops and implements policies and best practices to advance the goals and mission of the Judiciary in areas related to criminal justice., On This Page, Body Contact Information Donna Westhoven, Assistant Director, Criminal Practice Division 609-815-2900 ext. 55300 The following statewide directories are available: Criminal Division Presiding Judges Criminal Division Presiding Judges Criminal Division Manager Conference Contact List Criminal Division Managers Recovery Court Judges and Coordinators Contact List Recovery Court Judges and Coordinators criminal division records room County Criminal Records Rooms, Services, Visit our Self-Help Center Self-Help Center if you are representing yourself in a court matter. You can also: Learn about New Jersey's successful Recovery Courts Recovery Court program and how to apply. Apply for the Pretrial Intervention Pretrial Intervention Program , which helps rehabilitate first-time non-violent defendants without criminal sentencing. Copies of Court Records Request a court record from the Superior Court Records Center. Expunging Your Court Records Expunge a court record for certain types of criminal cases. Learn about the Supreme Court's Expungement of Marijuana or Hasish Cases automatic expungement of thousands of marijuana and hashish cases . Find information on Criminal Justice Reform Criminal Justice Reform in New Jersey., Online Tools, The Criminal Practice Division offers several online tools. You can file cases electronically, look up criminal court cases, and find legal practice resources. Key online tools: eCourts eCourts can be used by prosecutors and defense attorneys in criminal cases. The eCDR/probable cause system eCDR/probable cause system is available to courts and law enforcement personnel. Search for Criminal Judgments Search criminal judgments. The online expungement system online expungement system can be used to file for an expungement for eligible cases. Use the Model Criminal Jury Charges Model Criminal Jury Charge System to prepare jury charges. The Criminal Sample Verdict Sheets Criminal Sample Verdict Sheets can be used to create verdict sheets for submission to the court. The Promis/Gavel public access sytem Promis/Gavel public access system provides public information from the criminal case tracking system shared by the courts, the prosecutors, and law enforcement. , Forms, Find the forms needed in the criminal practice division. CN Title 10079 Main Plea Form 10080 Plea-05 Supplemental Plea Form for Certain Sexual Offenses (Megan’s Law/Parole Supervision for Life/Community Supervision for Life) 10197 Written Acknowledgement - Notice of Trial 10304 Pretrial Intervention (PTI) Brochure 10557 How to Expunge Your Criminal and/or Juvenile Record 10693 Application for Public Defender (5A) - for Criminal Matters 10693 Application for Public Defender (5A) - for Contempt of Domestic Violence Restraining Orders 10753 Recovery Court Application 10778 Notice of Appeal Rights and Time to File a Petition for Post-Conviction Relief Colloquy 10778 Notice of Appeal Rights and Time to File a Petition for Post-Conviction Relief Form 10837 How to Appeal a Trial Court, Tax Court or State Agency Decision 10971 Waiver of Criminal Jury Trial Pursuant to Rule 1:8-1(a) 11000 Plea-06 Supplemental Plea Form for Drug Offenses 11077 Plea-02 Supplemental Plea Form for Non-Negotiated Pleas 11080 Plea-03 Supplemental Plea Form for Sexual Offenses Pagination 1 Go to page 2 2 Go to page 3 3 Go to next page > Next page Showing 1 to 15 of 44 items, Reports and Legal Reference, Here are some primary reference materials for criminal practice: Criminal Sample Verdict Sheets Criminal Sample Verdict Sheets Manual on NJ Sentencing Law Manual on NJ Sentencing Law NJ Rules of Evidence NJ Rules of Evidence Here are some key reports on the Criminal Practice Division. 2024 Report on Megan's Law Report of the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice Report of the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice 2012 Report on Identification Model Jury Charges 2012 Report on Identification Model Jury Charges 2012 report on Identification Procedures 2012 Report on Identification Procedures 2005 Report on Recordation of Custodial Interrogations 2005 Report on Recordation of Custodial Interrogations, The Criminal Justice Process, Intake, The Superior Court criminal division manages the criminal justice process. The process begins with an initial criminal complaint and ends with resolution or disposition. A defendant is charged with a criminal offense when: Police issue a formal complaint A citizen accuses them of a crime A grand jury issues an indictment Arrests can occur at the scene of a crime or from warrants or sworn statements. All arrests need to have probable cause. This means there is reason to believe the defendant committed a crime. Complaints list the reasons for the charge reference offenses listed in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice (Title 2C). The Superior Court hears or considers criminal offenses. A criminal conviction or guilty verdict in the Superior Court has major consequences. Punishment could include probation, fines and restitution, and imprisonment. Crimes are classified by degree from first to fourth., Degree, Potential Prison or Jail Term, First-degree 10-20 years Second-degree 5-10 years Third-degree 3-5 years Fourth-degree Up to 18 months in jail Defendants convicted of first- and second-degree crimes will probably go to prison. Third- and fourth-degree sentences might include prison or jail time, but it is not assumed. Complaints heard in municipal courts are disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons. Disorderly persons offense can result in up to 6 months in jail. Petty disorderly persons offenses might result in up to 30 days in jail., First Appearance and Setting Conditions of Pretrial Release, Once a complaint is issued, a defendant is either arrested on a warrant or issued a summons to appear before a judge. This is known as a first appearance. Criminal justice reforms Criminal justice Reforms , implemented on January 1, 2017, mandate a first appearance within 48 hours of going to county jail. During the first appearance, a judge will either: Set conditions of pretrial release Order pretrial detention, or Set a bail when applicable. The judge might issue an arrest warrant if the defendant does not show up for the first appearance., Bail, Criminal justice reform Criminal justice reforms , implemented on January 1, 2017, changed how bail works in New Jersey. Bail is an option in very limited number of cases. Defendants arrested prior to 2017 can still post bail. If bail is posted, defendants are released until the charges are resolved. Bail conditions are typically set during the first appearance. Defendants might be required to: Post or deposit funds or property as a guarantee they will appear in court Give a personal bond (Forfeiting a set amount of money as promise to appear) Defendants using a personal bond might pay a bail bondsman to post funds for them. These defendants could be ordered to post a higher bail or have no bail set. They will remain in jail until the charges are resolved. If they appear in court as required, bail money should be refunded in full at the end of the case. Once defendants are released, bail is discharged to the surety. Some defendants might qualify for a Release on Own Recognizance (ROR). This applies to first time offenders and defendants with significant community ties. ROR is an affidavit certifying that they are aware of the charges and will appear to face them. When a bail is set, a Superior Court judge in the criminal division might order a bail investigation. Bail investigators collect information on the defendant's: Ties and standing in the community. Names, addresses, dates of birth. Employment, criminal record, mental health, and drug abuse history. Amenability to bail. Bail investigation reports consider how serious the crime was and how severe punishment might be if convicted. They also report on the defendant's family ties and financial status. These factors are all weighed with the likelihood the defendant will appear in court. Bail investigators report to the judge, who decides the amount and form of bail to be set, if any., Right To Counsel, All defendants have a right to an attorney. Defendants can hire a private attorney or be assigned a public defender. Private attorneys are usually either self-employed or work for private law firms that charge an hourly rate for services. When a defendant claims they cannot afford an attorney, the criminal division launches an indigence investigation. Criminal division staff investigate the defendant’s finances to determine what they can afford. Defendants are assigned a public defender or pool attorney when it is determined they cannot afford a private attorney. If the investigation reveals that a defendant can afford an attorney, the application might be denied. A criminal division judge might make the final decision to order a defendant to hire an attorney, allow pro se (self) representation, or order a defendant to consult an attorney who might take their case at a reduced rate., Pre-Indictment Events, Before indictment, the county prosecutor’s office will decide whether to pursue the case. They will decide if the charges have merit and if there is sufficient evidence. This process usually includes reviewing police reports and interviewing victims and witnesses. If there is insufficient evidence, the charges could be downgraded, sent back to municipal court or dismissed., Substance Abuse Evaluations, According to state and federal estimates, up to 70 percent of people charged with a crime were on drugs during the crime. The criminal division’s treatment assessment services for the courts (TASC) evaluates criminal defendants. Substance abuse evaluators: Interview defendants. Subject them to urine drug screening. Prepare drug assessment reports for criminal judges. The reports detail drug abuse histories and identify treatment needs. When addiction support is needed, the report recommends counseling at local drug and alcohol treatment centers. Judges can order defendants into drug or alcohol treatment as a condition of their pretrial release or probation. This program helps judges determine appropriate community support systems for defendants released from jail. Failure to complete treatment can result in sanctions, including revoking probation and a loss of liberty. For defendants with severe drug addictions, receiving court-mandated treatment becomes not only a choice between jail and community living, but one of life and death., Plea Bargains, In many cases, the prosecutor and defense attorney will negotiate a plea bargain. In a plea agreement, the prosecutor might offer a reduced sentenced in exchange for a guilty plea. In some cases, the charges are downgraded or dismissed. Maximum sentence terms could also be part of negotiated agreements. Criminal Division individual judge teams, managed by team leaders, establish a court date for the plea to be entered on record. Defendants entering a plea must sign a statement certifying they: Understand the plea. Enter into the agreement voluntarily. Were not pressured from the prosecution or their own attorney. Know judges are not bound by the agreement during sentencing. If a judge concludes that the plea bargain is too lenient, the judge can reject the plea. The judge might then order the prosecution and defense parties to renegotiate, or order the matter set down for trial. Criminal Division probation officers conduct presentence investigations when defendants plead guilty. The Criminal Practice Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts tracks all criminal cases in all counties from the time a complaint is issued to its disposition. The collected data is used to create statistical reports and monitor backlog., Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI), Pretrial Intervention is a diversionary program that permits certain defendants to avoid formal prosecution and conviction. Defendants enter a term of court supervised community living, often with counseling or other support. Criminal division managers direct the program. Probation officers investigate the history of all applicants to ensure their eligibility. Their reports aid the Criminal Division Manager Conference Contact List Criminal Division Manager and the prosecutor when deciding to recommend approval. They also assist criminal judges determine if defendants will be admitted. Defendants opting for this program apply directly to appropriate criminal division manager’s office. Admission to PTI requires the consent of the prosecutor, the criminal division manager, and the judge. Certain charges and defendants are generally not admitted. These include: Defendants charged with violent offenses. Probationers and parolees since they have prior convictions. Persons accused of racketeering or organized crime. Public officials accused of abusing their positions for personal gain. Prosecutors must be consulted before an applicant charged with a first- or second-degree crime can even be considered for PTI. The objective of PTI is to incentivize first time, non-violent offenders to rehabilitate. Defendants need to comply with conditions attached to judicial orders for PTI. These can include: Urine drug screening. A TASC evaluation on substance abuse. Participating in substance abuse or mental health counseling. Paying restitution and fines Community service Surrendering firearms or a driver’s license. Participants have criminal charges formally suspended for up to three years. Once a participant completes the program, charges are dismissed. However, if defendants fail to complete special conditions attached to their term of PTI supervision, they can be terminated from the program. Termination resumes the formal criminal process. Defendants then face indictment, trial, and, if convicted, the penalties prescribed by the Criminal Code. The Administrative Office of the Courts maintains a computer registry of all PTI applicants. This ensures no one is admitted into PTI more than once. See the Pretrial Intervention (PTI) Brochure Pretrial Intervention (PTI) Brochure and Pre Trial Intervention (PTI) Application Pretrial Intervention (PTI) Application for further information or contact your l Criminal Division Manager Conference Contact List ocal Superior Court Criminal Division . For more information, Contact your Criminal Division Manager Conference Contact List local Superior Court Criminal Division., The Grand Jury and The Indictment Process, If a criminal case has not been downgraded, diverted, or dismissed, the prosecutor will present the case to a grand jury for an indictment. The grand jury is a group of citizens selected from voter registrations, drivers’ licenses, and tax lists. It is their civic duty to serve. The grand jury considers evidence presented by the county prosecutor. They then determine if there is sufficient evidence to formally charge defendants and require them to respond to the charge(s). An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Neither the defendants nor their attorneys are present. Witnesses normally testify regarding the crime. If a majority of the 23 jurors vote to indict, the finding is a true bill that triggers further proceedings in the Criminal Division of Superior Court. If a majority finds the evidence to be insufficient, the grand jury enters a no bill, and the charge(s) are dismissed. The jury might, however, decide to charge the defendant with a less serious offense. The defendant must then appear in municipal court to face a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons charge., The Arraignment, An arraignment is the formal notification of the charges against the defendant. It occurs within 14 days of the indictment. Once notified by the criminal division, the defendant must appear before a judge for the arraignment. Defendants can apply for a public defender at this point if they do not have represented. Prior to this conference, discovery or evidence is available to defense counsel. This exchange of evidence provides the defense with an opportunity to review the evidence the prosecution intends to use. After reviewing the discovery provided prior to the arraignment, the defendant might decide to apply for Pretrial Intervention (PTI), or to enter plea bargain negotiations. Defendants can also plead guilty. Criminal division probation officers investigate cases where defendants plead guilty at the formal arraignment. Sentencing will follow the presentence investigation, generally four to six weeks after convictions., Disposition/Status Conferences and the Pretrial Conference, Defendants who have pleaded not guilty at this point can continue plea negotiations or trial preparation. Pretrial case resolutions can occur at a disposition/status conference, where a defendant can plead guilty, with or without a negotiated plea bargain. At the pretrial conference, a plea cutoff date is set, after which no further plea negotiations can occur. If no plea agreement is reached, the matter will proceed to trial. Criminal division staff track conferences to ensure that cases are moving without undue delays. The Criminal Practice Division at the Administrative Office of the Courts evaluates statistics in each criminal court to monitor the overall case movements statewide. It also assists local court staff to address backlog if it should occur., Trials, Starting on January 1, 2017, Criminal Justice Reform laws require certain speedy trial deadlines. Defendants have a constitutional right to a jury trial but can waive this right in favor of a trial by a judge. Once a case has been tried, there are two outcomes: guilty or not guilty. Normally, an acquitted person has no further obligation to the court unless they face new charges. Prosecutors cannot appeal acquittals and defendants cannot be charged twice for the same offense. Defendants who are found guilty or convicted face sentencing. Punishments are rendered by the judge who tried the case. Once a trial is concluded, the criminal judge orders a presentence investigation. The criminal division investigates all defendants who have been convicted. Judges also set a date for sentencing., Presentence Investigation Reports and Sentencing, Criminal division probation officers prepare presentence investigation reports (PSIs) for criminal judges who render sentences convicted defendants. The reports assist judges in weighing the circumstances of the crime to the severity of the sentence. The PSI provides: A uniform assessment of a defendant's overall family, medical and criminal background. A summary of the offense and circumstances. Statements from victims and their families. Assessments of drug abuse history. A convict’s amenability to probations supervision a treatment. Financial conditions of the convict since sentences involve fines and restitution. The convict’s situation and suitability for probation. Reports generally recommend either prison or probation. Judges are not bound by the probation officers’ report, but their insight is essential in the criminal sentencing process. Judges consider the degree of harm and hardship imposed on victims and their families. They will with the mitigating factors of the crime against aggravating factors, which are elements that speak to the severity of the crime. Prior criminal record weighs heavily. It indicates a defendant's potential for rehabilitation and the risk posed for another crime. In most cases, judges have some discretion or choices on sentencing convicted defendants within the parameters of the Criminal Code. This discretion might extend to whether a defendant must serve time in prison or receive a term of probation. Of course, a judge's discretion can be limited if there is a plea agreement that contains a sentencing recommendation. Some crimes, such as convictions for using a gun during a robbery, carry mandatory prison terms. The judge must sentence a defendant to prison for at least a minimum term., Post-Conviction Motions, Convicted individuals can appeal their cases to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. The Appellate Division reviews trial records and determines if the judge’s decisions in the Superior Court are fair and equitable. Defendants can file motions or requests to their sentencing judge to have sentences modified or for other relief., Teams in Criminal Division Case Processing, Criminal Division offices are organized into "teams." There are individual judge teams, where each criminal judge is assigned a team leader. Teams include: Clerical staff A court clerk A group of probation officers Investigators All team members work on the cases their trial judge will hear. Each team manages the calendar and scheduling of all court events for that judge. The team also completes PTI and PSI reports. The team provides courtroom support, computer data entry, and manages active court files and records. The teams coordinate court dates with prosecutors and public defenders, who also are assigned to the judge. Team members work in unison and one member can generally perform the work of other members. Their familiarity with each other's work and their judge improves efficiency and the overall case flow., Veterans Assistance Project, The Veterans Assistance Project (VAP) is a voluntary referral service for veterans who come in contact with the court system and who may be in need of veterans services from their local veterans service office. The goal is to acquire services and support to improve the quality of life for the men, women, and families who have made sacrifices in the defense of the United States. Available services can include mental health counseling, addiction services, legal services, and housing. The project is a combined effort of the Judiciary, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA), and the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to connect service members who come into contact with the courts and who need help with existing community services as well as mentors to address those issues. It is not a diversionary program. The project is geared toward identifying veterans who have come into contact with the courts and referring them for available services. The referral is voluntary. The project also involves a mentoring component that is being developed by the Adjunct General. During the assessment process, the local veterans service officer will determine whether the veteran could benefit from assignment of a mentor. If so, and if a mentor can be identified pursuant to the list developed by the Adjunct General, one will be assigned., Highlights, The project targets court-involved persons who have served in the military. It is a collaborative effort involving the Judiciary, DMAVA, and DMHAS. The Judiciary component offers voluntary identification and referral to one of 16 state veterans services offices (VSOs). The project has been spearheaded by the criminal division. The Judiciary began a county-by-county rollout in December 2008. The project now operates statewide. The Adjutant General shall develop and coordinate a volunteer-based program comprised of former service members to assist and mentor veterans who become involved with the criminal justice system. In addition, the Adjutant General shall develop a registry of volunteer mentors and make the registry available. Statewide Referrals since Inception =, 4,946 (as of 01/01/2026), Facts, DMAVA estimates that, as of Sept. 30, 2023, there were 299,271 veterans in New Jersey, of which 26,358 were women. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has identified substance use disorders as one of the three most common diagnoses amongst veterans, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury in second and third place. The January 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that approximately one out of six veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have a substance use disorder. A Veterans Health Administration National Center for PTSD fact sheet reports that PTSD symptoms can indirectly lead to criminal behavior or through direct linkage of a traumatic incident to a specific crime. 19 percent of the veterans who returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, roughly 300,000 people, reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. The Survey of Inmates in Local Jails reports that 9.3 percent of people incarcerated in jails are veterans. The primary offense for 70 percent of incarcerated veterans was a non-violent crime, and 45 percent had served two or more state prison sentences. At minimum, 90,000 of the 9 million unique inmates annually released from U.S. jails are veterans. A large majority (82 percent) are eligible for VA services, having been discharged either under honorable (65 percent) or general with honorable (17 percent) conditions., Collaboration, DMAVA provides a range of programs, assistance and support services to veterans and their families. DMAVA operates 16 VSOs that help veterans access federal and state benefits to which they may be entitled. For this project, once a veteran has been identified in the court system and volunteers to participate, the local VSO is notified and assists in identifying and providing the services needed by the veteran. DMHAS is the state mental health authority that oversees and has primary responsibility for funding the public adult mental health system. In addition to various psychiatric hospitals and units, the division has contracts with more than 120 not-for-profit community providers. For this project the DMHAS and its service providers assist in identifying veterans and providing mental health services for those veterans in need of such services. The cooperation of municipal prosecutors and public defenders, county jail personnel, health service providers, and superior court public defenders and prosecutors is also crucial. Each of these entities assists in identifying veterans and recognizing the need for services., History of the Program, In 2008, the New Jersey Judiciary piloted the VAP in the Municipal Court and Superior Court Criminal Divisions in the Atlantic and Union counties. Within the first year, three additional counties had implemented the project and five others were in the planning stages. The pilot project was designed to identify veterans as soon as possible after they entered the criminal justice system and when needed, provide referrals to the local VSO to connect those veterans to community resources to address the unique services they need. Those services could include a thorough assessment, identification of specific military entitlements, referrals for individual and family counseling, medical and legal assistance, educational and vocational training aid, and other community services. The intention was to connect defendants with services to which they are entitled and to help alleviate negative factors that may have contributed to their involvement in the criminal courts. Soon after the pilots in Atlantic and Union began, the Judiciary recognized that the VAP could be accessible to other court-involved veterans. Counties that were creating VAP planning teams and hosting meetings included representatives from the civil, family, municipal, and probation divisions. Today, the project is statewide and operates in all 21 counties., Process for Linking Veterans to Services, Veterans are identified at the earliest possible point as they enter the court system. There are multiple points at which a referral to a local VSO can be initiated. For example, self-identification as a veteran is solicited when persons enter county jails, municipal and superior courts, and as existing probationers report to the probation department. Once a veteran has self-identified, a referral to the VSO can be prepared if the veteran volunteers to participate. Completed referral forms are directed to the criminal division, where the referral is entered into the VAP database and then electronically sent to the local VSO., Management and Coordination, The Criminal Practice Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts provides programmatic support and assistance in the planning, implementation and operation of the VAP and collects and maintains monthly statistics that reflect the number of unique referrals forwarded to the local VSOs by each county. Each vicinage criminal division manager and staff provides local project management and coordination.
- How to File, If your motion involves child support, check ( Court Rule 5:6A Child Support Guidelines N.J. Court Rule 5 :6A) . to see the guidelines that are used to determine child support amounts., 12 Steps for Filing a Motion:, Fill out the Notice of Motion (Form A) This form tells the court and other party what you wish to change. It also lists the date the motion will be heard. Get a court date for your motion – Court Calendars, Schedules, and Agendas Court Calendar Use the link to go to the court calendar. Under “Miscellaneous,” select “Motion Day Schedule.” Pick a Friday that allows enough time to meet all requirements. Fill in that date on your Notice of Motion Form. Complete the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet eForm or download the document and complete it on your device. Fill out the Certification in Support of Motion (Form B) Type or print the reasons the court should agree to your request. Reasons must be based on facts. Include a copy of all pervious orders. Include any supporting documents, such as pay stubs or tax returns. Sign and date the form. Fill out the Proposed Order (Form C) Include everything you are asking the court. The original and two copies of your Proposed Order must be included. Do not use this form to establish a new child support claim. Do not use this form to increase or decrease your child support obligation. Fill out the Certification of Filing and Service (Form D) Tells the court the day you mailed or delivered your motion. Lists the method of delivery. Fill out the Notice to Litigants (From E) Use this form to inform the other party of your request., Failing to include the Notice to Litigants could get your case dismissed., Fill out the Statement for the Probation Division (Form F), Only use this form if child support is through the Probation Division., Fill out the Family Part Case Information Statement Case Information Statement (CIS) Use this form if you previously filed a CIS in the case. You must include a copy of the most recent CIS if you’re seeking monetary relief. Fill out the Letter to the Clerk (Form G) Complete the Letter to the Clerk of the Superior Court. This letter must be the first page of the documents you send to court. You must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Check your completed forms and make copies Check your forms. Make sure they are complete. Remove all instruction sheets. Make sure you signed where required. Make 3 copies of the entire packet. Make 2 extra copies of the proposed order. Keep one packet of copies for your records. Submit your forms Forms can be submitted electronically, by mail, or by delivery. You can upload your forms on Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) . To mail your forms or deliver them in person, find your Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices county courthouse. You can properly serve the packet the other party or their attorney by: Certified or regular mail through the USPS Process server or Courier Service An adult neutral third party Delivery by you You must be able to prove in court you delivered the packet to the other party The How to Ask the Court to Change or Enforce an Order in Your Case (Family Multipurpose Post-Judgment Motions) Family Multi-Purpose Post Judgment Motion Packet has more detailed instructions for filling out the required forms.
- Filing a Non-Dissolution Case, Follow these steps to file your case in family court. If you want to change an existing court order, see How to file a request to modify a Non-Dissolution "FD" Court Order previously issued by the court How to File a Post-Judgment Family Motion . , 8 Steps for Filing a Non-Dissolution case in Superior Court, Fill out the following form. You are the "Plaintiff." Non-dissolution "FD" Case - How to file a non-divorce application for custody, child/spousal support or parenting time (visitation) Verified Complaint or Counterclaim Include the current address of the other party. This is very important. The other party will receive a Notice to Appear in court and a copy of your court papers. If the other party cannot be reached, your case might be dismissed or delayed. What to do if you cannot find the other party If you are asking for child support, your county welfare office can help you locate the other parent. They receive federal funding to perform this service for child support recipients. If you are not asking for child support, you can complete the Certification of Diligent Search Kit Diligent Search Kit to show that you tried to find the other party. Your case cannot proceed until the other party is found. Complete the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet eForm or download the document and complete it on your device. Complete other forms as needed. For child support, establishment of paternity, spousal support, and/or health insurance coverage, fill out these forms: Certification in Support of Establishing Paternity Certification in Support of Establishing Paternity Financial Statement for Summary Support Actions Summary Form for Financial Information Family Part Case Information Statement (CIS) Family Case Information Statement Also complete the NJ Child Support Application Form child support application form at njchildsupport.gov For custody, parenting time or visitation, also complete the Certification of Non-Military Service Certification of Non-Military Service Double check the forms. Do not leave any blank spaces. Write N/A if something does not apply to you. Make sure you sign them where it is required. Make a copy of the forms and keep them in a safe place. There are 3 ways to deliver the forms. Option 1: You can upload your forms on Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) . If you are asking for child support, include the child support application form. You can pay the $6 fee with a credit card. Option 2: You can deliver your forms to the Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices county courthouse. If you are asking for child support, bring the child support application form and a $6 check or a money order payable to Treasurer, State of NJ. Option 3: You can mail your forms to the Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices county courthouse . If you are asking for child support, include the child support application and a $6 check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of NJ.
- Change a Court Order, Follow these steps to change a parenting time, custody, or visitation order. , Change a Non-Dissolution Court Order, Fill out the How to file a request to modify a Non-Dissolution "FD" Court Order previously issued by the court Application for Modification of Court Order or Cross-Application for Modification of a Court Order. Include the current address of the other party. This is very important. The other party will receive a Notice to Appear in court and a copy of your court papers. If the other party cannot be reached, your case might be dismissed or delayed. What to do if you cannot find the other party: If you are asking for child support, your county welfare office can help you locate the other parent. They receive federal funding to perform this service for child support recipients. If you are not asking for child support, you can complete the Certification of Diligent Search Kit Diligent Search Kit to show that you tried to find the other party. Your case cannot proceed until the other party is found. Complete the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet eForm or download the document and complete it on your device. If you are asking for child support or a change to your child support order, fill out the Financial Statement for Summary Support Actions Summary Form for Financial Information . If you are married and are asking for spousal support or a change to your child support order, fill out the Family Part Case Information Statement Family Case Information Statement. Double check the forms. Do not leave any blank spaces. Write N/A if something does not apply to you. Make sure you sign them where it is required. Make a copy of the forms and keep them in a safe place. There are 3 ways to deliver the forms. Option 1: You can upload your forms on Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) here. You can pay the $25 filing fee with a credit card. Fee Waivers Do you qualify for a fee waiver ? Option 2: You can deliver your forms to the Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices county courthouse . Bring a $25 check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of NJ Option 3: You can mail your forms to the Directory of Superior Court Family Division Offices county courthouse . Include a $25 check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of NJ.
- Responding to a Complaint, Learn about your options when you receive a non-dissolution complaint. , Responding to a Non-Dissolution Complaint Filed Against You, If you received a complaint, you have a choice: You have the right to file a response. You can also file a counterclaim asking the court to make other changes besides those that were requested. You are not required to respond. The court case will proceed anyway. To file a response to a non-dissolution complaint, follow the steps listed under "File a Case."" You are the "Defendant." Non-dissolution "FD" Case - How to file a non-divorce application for custody, child/spousal support or parenting time (visitation) Verified Complaint or Counterclaim Complete the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet eForm or download the document and complete it on your device. If you are asking for child support, establishment of paternity, spousal support, or health insurance coverage, complete these forms too: Certification in Support of Establishing Paternity Certification in Support of Establishing Paternity Financial Statement for Summary Support Actions Summary Form for Financial Information Family Part Case Information Statement (CIS) Family Case Information Statement Also complete the Njchildsupport.gov Child Support Application form. For custody, parenting time or visitation, also complete the Certification of Non-Military Service Certification of Non-Military Service
- General Jury Information, On This Page, Body, ADA Accommodation Requests and Information, If an ADA accommodation or ASL interpreter is needed for your summons date and you would like additional information on the types of accommodations offered or how to request an accommodation, click ADA Title II Get Help Request an ADA Accommodation for assistance., Courthouse Closings/Inclement Weather, For court closings and inclement weather, all jurors should check the Court Closing Info State Court Closing Information page before reporting to the courthouse. , Employed by State/Government Agencies, If you are employed full time by a State of New Jersey agency, you will not get paid for your jury service as outlined with N.J.S.A. 2B:20-16. Your state agency employer will continue to pay your regular wages during your service. If you are unsure if you work for a state or government agency, contact your Jury Office Contact Info local jury management office . Participants who are employed by a state agency should provide this information when completing the paper or New Jersey Jury Service Qualification Questionnaire online questionnaire as well as notifying the jury management office when reporting for service. If a check is issued to you in error, you will be required to return it to the Jury Management Office directly., Employers Are Not Required to Pay Staff During Jury Service, In New Jersey there is no statutory requirement that a private employer pay your salary during juror service. It is in your best interest to speak with your employer before your summons date to determine whether your employer offers juror pay and for the number of days provided for jury service. , Employers Cannot Penalize You for Jury Service, N.J.S.A. 2B:20.17 prohibits an employer from penalizing you because you serve as a juror. Penalties for a violation of this statute include the possibility of a criminal charge, as a disorderly person’s offense, and a possible civil action for monetary damages and for reinstatement of employment. , Juror Qualification, N.J.S.A., 2B:20-1 establishes six criteria for a person to qualify for jury service, : be a resident of New Jersey; be a citizen of the United States; be physically and mentally able to perform the functions of a juror (noting that the Judiciary will provide accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act); have no conviction for an indictable offense On January 11, 2026, the Office of the Governor issued an Executive Order No. 411 to restore the right to serve on a jury for certain individuals who were disqualified solely because of a conviction for a New Jersey indictable offense. Individuals with indictable (felony) convictions may be eligible to serve if all of the following criteria apply: The conviction occurred on or before January 10, 2026; The person has completed all non-monetary parts of their sentence (such as incarceration, probation, or parole); The conviction was under the jurisdiction of New Jersey Superior Court; and The conviction was not for impeachment or treason. Examples of persons who would be disqualified are anyone who was convicted of, or pled guilty to, a crime in Federal Court or another state court; or anyone currently on PTI (Pre-trial Intervention Program.) Examples of persons who would qualify to serve jury duty are anyone whose only convictions are in Municipal Court (most traffic violations fall into this category, as do most shoplifting charges;) or anyone who has been accused of a crime but has not yet been convicted or has yet to enter a guilty plea, or anyone who meets the criteria set forth in the Executive Order No. 411 as outlined above. Also, traffic offenses, juvenile and DWI related offenses that occurred in New Jersey are not grounds for disqualification. You are not disqualified with respect to criminal record if you successfully completed a Pre-Trial Intervention program (PTI) for an offense and have not been convicted or pled guilty to another disqualifying offense. be at least 18 years of age; and be able to read and understand the English language., Juror Scams, The Judiciary will, never, ask for, personal information, or, payments, over the phone or by email. Contact your Jury Management Office Contact List local jury management office if you have any concerns. The Judiciary will, never, request personal identifiers (such as social security numbers) or payment (credit card, checking, savings account information, etc.) for a fine for not going to jury duty over the phone or by e-mail. If you receive suspicious communication concerning jury duty, hang up and call or e-mail your Jury Management Office Contact List local jury management office . If you believe you have been the victim of a jury duty scam, contact your local jury management office and law enforcement in your county., Phone Use in the Courtroom, Cellphone use in the courtroom is not permitted. You, must not, take any photographs or digital images, including ZOOM displays, or make any audio or video recordings of any kind. This includes broadcasting or posting any proceedings during your time in the courthouse. If you are found to have violated this directive by creating a photograph, digital image, audio, video, or other recording, you may be subject to punishment under New Jersey law. Phones must be concealed at all times. Exposed phones will be confiscated. , Types of Jury Service & Payments, Petit Jury Service, Questionnaires are required to be completed, four days, before the date of service. Petit jury is for civil and criminal trials. Petit jurors listen to evidence presented by both parties during a trial and return a verdict. The role of a juror is to listen to all the evidence presented and render a verdict at the end of the trial. 12 jurors are typically selected for a civil or criminal trial. Jurors are paid, $5, for the first three days of attendance and, $40, for each day after. Juror Service Video Watch a video about jury service., Grand Jury Service, Questionnaires are required to be completed, four days, before the date of service. Grand jury examines allegations against a person or persons charged with a crime. Grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence, but whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed. The role of a grand juror is to determine whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. 23 jurors are selected to be on a panel. Depending upon the county, the term of service for a panel can be from eight weeks to 20 weeks long. Jurors are paid , $5 , for each day they attend., State Grand Jury Service, Questionnaires are required to be completed, 35 days, before the date of service. State Grand Jury is a statewide program with jurors summoned from every county in New Jersey. If you are one of the 23 jurors selected, you will serve one day per week for, 16 to 20 weeks., State Grand Jury is managed by the Mercer County Jury Management Office. Jury selection will be held virtually, and a Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before your summons date. If you are selected as a juror, you will be required to appear at:, Richard Hughes Justice Complex, Administrative Office of the Courts 25 Market Street 4th Floor Trenton, NJ 08625 Jurors are paid, $5, for each day they attend., Items Not Permitted in the Courthouse, To ensure everyone’s safety, all persons visiting the courthouse, including jurors, litigants, attorneys, employees, vendors, and other visitors, are subject to security screening when entering. Please allow sufficient time to pass through the court’s security system, as you will be required to walk through metal detection equipment. Illegal items will be confiscated and may subject you to prosecution., Prohibited Items, : Weapons of any kind Firearms Knives of any size Sharp objects, scissors, or cutting tools of any type Pepper spray Aerosol sprays or containers E-cigarettes or similar items Audio/visual equipment, including cameras, unless you have prior written permission from the court.
- Notable Cases - Overview, These cases deal with issues and outcomes that affect state law, legal procedures, or public interest., On This Page, Body, State v. Paul Caneiro, The trial in State v Paul Caneiro is scheduled to begin on Jan. 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Superior Court Assignment Judge Marc Lemieux, Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument St., Freehold. • Dec. 5, 2025 - Order to Detain • Nov. 7, 2025 - Order to Detain • Oct. 10, 2025 - Order to Detain • Sept. 12, 2025 - Order to Detain • Sept. 9, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Release • Sept. 9, 2025 - State Motion to Amend Extension Tim • Sept. 5, 2025 - Consent Order Jurisdiction • Sept. 4, 2025 - State Motion to Stay Trial • Sept. 3, 2025 - Consent Order • Aug. 13, 2025 - Order & Opinion Change Venue • Aug. 10, 2025 - State Brief to State Preclude Photos Redacted • Aug. 10, 2025 - Defendant Omnibus Reply • Aug. 8, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Change Venue • Aug. 7, 2025 - Order & Opinion Ballistics • Aug. 7, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Preclude Electronic Communication • Aug. 7, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Preclude Photos Redacted • July 25, 2025 - Order Motion to Suppress • July 24, 2025 - Opinion Motion to Preclude Arson Test • July 10, 2025 - State Written Summation Ballistics • July 10, 2025 - Order & Opinion Suppression Redacted • July 10, 2025 - Order & Opinion Motion Dismiss Indictment Redacted • July 10, 2025 - Defendant Brief Motion to Preclude Ballistics • July 6, 2025 - State Response Motion Dismiss Indictment • July 6, 2025 - Defendant Reply Brief Dismiss Indictment • July 2, 2025 - Defendant Brief to Dismiss Indictment • July 1, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Preclude Testimony Redacted • June 29, 2025 - State Motion to Admit Redacted • June 27, 2025 - Confidential Defendant Brief Redacted • June 24, 2025 - Order to Suppress Motion to Suppress DVR • June 23, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Quash Subpoena Redacted • June 20, 2025 - State Response to Motion to Exclude Redacted • June 13, 2025 - State Motion to Admit Redacted • June 9, 2025 - Defendant Motion to Preclude Statements • June 5, 2025 - State Response Motion Preclude Financial • June 5, 2025 - State Response Brief Motion Preclude Arson • June 2, 2025 - Defendant Brief Motion to Suppress DVR • May 28, 2025 - State Brief Motion Suppress Items Warrant • May 28, 2025 - State Brief Motion Preclude Ballistics • May 27, 2025 - State Brief Response Motion Suppress • May 7, 2025 - State Brief Motion Limine • May 7, 2025 - Defendant Notice Of Motion Suppress DVR • May 7, 2025 - Defendant Motion Suppress Evidence Warrant Redacted • May 7, 2025 - Defendant Brief Motion Preclude Financial • May 6, 2025 - Order & Opinion Watson • May 6, 2025 - Order & Opinion Miranda • May 6, 2025 - Defendant Motion Preclude Arson Testimony • May 6, 2025 - Defendant Motion Preclude Ballistics Redacted • Apr. 23, 2025 - State Motion to Admit Statements • Apr. 23, 2025 - Defendant Response to Motion to Admit • Apr. 4, 2025 - Order to Change Venue Denied - Redacted • Mar. 24, 2025 - Defendant Response to Watson Motion Redacted • Mar. 21, 2025 - State Opposition to Defendant Motion Redacted • Mar. 21, 2025 - Defendant Reply Brief • Mar. 8, 2025 - Motion to Change Venue Redacted • Mar. 6, 2025 - Order Denying Defendant Omnibus Motion • Feb. 28, 2025 - State Motion In Limine Redacted • Jan. 21, 2025 - State Response to Motion Redacted • Jan. 17, 2025 - Defendant Brief Redacted, State v. Ernest Troiano, Steven Mikulski, and Peter Byron, A trial date in State v Ernest Troiano and State v Steven Mikulski has been rescheduled for Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. before Superior Court Judge Pamela D’Arcy at the Cape May County Courthouse, 9 N. Main St., Cape May Court House. Sentencing in State v Peter Byron has been rescheduled for March 6 before Superior Court Judge Pamela D’Arcy at the Cape May County Courthouse, 9 N. Main St., Cape May Court House. Oct. 15, 2025- Motion to Reconsider (Ernest Troiano) Motion to Reconsider (Ernest Troiano) Oct. 15, 2025- Order on Motion to Reconsider (Ernest Troiano) Order on Motion to Reconsider (Ernest Troiano) Oct. 15, 2025- Amended Order on Motion to Reconsider (Steven Mikulski) Amended Order on Motion to Reconsider (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- ernest-troiano-motion to dismiss indictment Motion to dismiss indictment (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- mikulski-steven-defense-reply-brief Defense Reply Brief (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- mikulski-steven- micellaneous correspondence Micellaneous correspondence (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- mikulski-steven-notice of motion to dismiss indictment Notice of motion to dismiss indictment (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- mikulski-steven-motion to dismiss indictment Motion to dismiss indictment (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- states-response to troiano dismissal indicment State's Response to Dismissal Motion (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- mikulski-steven-states-response to motion-brief to dismiss indictment State's response to motion Brief to dismiss indictment (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-scheduling-order Scheduling Order (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-letter-reply re qualification-of-jurors Letter Reply re Qualification of Jurors (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-letter-to-court-re-number-of-jurors Letter to Court re Number of Jurors (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-reply to-states-opposition Reply to State's opposition (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-states-response-to-motion-brief State's response to motion Brief (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-states response to motion to dismiss indictment-brief State's response to motion to dismiss indictment Brief (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- appellate- decision-re-motion for leave to appeal Appellate decision re motion for leave to appeal (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- byron-peter-compel-discovery-scheduling-order Compel Discovery Scheduling Orde r (Peter Byron) Jan. 22, 2025- byron-peter-brief-compel discovery Brief compel discovery (Peter Byron) Jan. 22, 2025- byron-peter motion to compel discovery Motion to compel discovery (Peter Byron) Jan. 22, 2025- mikulski-steven-letter-brief-re-motion-sever Letter Brief re motion Sever (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- Motion to Sever Motion to Sever (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- states-response-to-troiano-severance-motion State's Response to Severance Motion (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-motion-sever Motion Sever (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-amended-order-re-mo-to-dismiss-indictment Amended order re motion to dismiss indictment (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-motion-to-sever-scheduling-order Motion to Sever Scheduling Order (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest--order-granting-motion-to dismiss Order granting motion to dismiss (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest--orrder-re-defense-mo-to-dismiss-indictment Order Re Defense's motion to dismiss Indictment (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-letter-reply-to-court-re-opposition Letter Reply to Court re Opposition (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- Motion for leave to appeal filed with Appellate Division Motion for leave to appeal filed with Appellate Division (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-motion-to- dismiss-indictment Motion to dismiss indictment (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- State's response to motion to dismiss indictment Brief State's response to motion to dismiss indictment Brief (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 202- State's Objection to Continued Participation State's Objection to Continued Participation (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-reply-to-states-object-re-attorney-disqualification Reply to State's object re Attorney disqualification (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- Brief Reply defendant re motion to Sever Brief Reply defendant re motion to Sever (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- Compel Withdrawal Order Compel Withdrawal Order (Peter Byron) Jan. 22, 2025- State's Response re motion to compel discovery State's Response re motion to compel discovery (Peter Byron) Jan. 22, 2025- troiano-ernest-motion-to-sever-order Motion to Sever Order (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- Disqualify Attorney Letter Decision Disqualify Attorney Letter Decision (Ernest Troiano) Jan. 22, 2025- Motion in Limine Motion in Limine (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- State's response Brief re motion in Limine State's response Brief re motion in Limine (Steven Mikulski) Jan. 22, 2025- Motion to Sever Letter Decision Motion to Sever Letter Decision (Ernest Troiano), State v. Sean M. Higgins, A discretionary conference is scheduled for Feb. 24 before Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio at 1:30 p.m. at the Salem County Courthouse, 92 Market St., Salem. Jan. 15, 2026 - Order Jan. 15, 2026 - State Brief Jan. 15, 2026 - Order to File Overlength Brief Dec. 11, 2025 - Appellant Brief Nov. 10, 2025 - Motion to Suppress Order Motion to Suppress Order Oct. 30, 2025 - Defense Supplemental Brief, Motion to Suppress Defense Supplemental Brief, Motion to Suppress Aug. 25, 2025 - Higgins - Motion to Suppress Evidence Order Motion to Suppress Evidence Order July 24, 2025 - Defense Letter Brief in Support of Motion to Suppress Statements Defense Letter Brief in Support of Motion to Suppress Statements July 24, 2025 - State Response to Motion to Suppress Evidence State Response to Motion to Suppress Evidence July 22, 2025 - Amended Scheduling Order Amended Scheduling Order July 17, 2025 - Higgins - Defense Brief Motion to Suppress Data Defense Brief Motion to Suppress Data July 8, 2025 - State Letter on Motion to Suppress Statement State Letter on Motion to Suppress Statement June 11, 2025 - Higgins Scheduling Order Scheduling Order June 10, 2025 - Higgins - Motion to Suppress Statement Motion to Suppress Statement June 10, 2025 - Higgins - Motion to Suppress Data Motion to Suppress Data April 15, 2025 - Higgins Order on Motion to Dismiss Order on Motion to Dismiss April 15, 2025 - Order on Motion to Compel Discovery Order on Motion to Compel Discovery April 9, 2025 - State Motion in Limine State Motion in Limine March 31, 2025 - State Brief on Motion for Additional Discovery (Blood Evidence) State Brief on Motion for Additional Discovery (Blood Evidence) March 31, 2025 - State Brief on Motion to Compel State Brief on Motion to Compel March 31, 2025 - State Brief on Motion to Dismiss State Brief on Motion to Dismiss March 10, 2025 - Defense Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Defense Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss March 10, 2025 - Defense Brief in Support of Motion to Compel Defense Brief in Support of Motion to Compel Feb. 5, 2025 - Higgins Scheduling Motion Scheduling Motion Feb. 5, 2025 - Higgins Notice to Withdraw Discovery Request (Blood Testing) Notice to Withdraw Discovery Request (Blood Testing) Feb. 5, 2025 - Higgins Motion for Discovery (Blood Testing) Motion for Discovery (Blood Testing) Feb. 4, 2025 - Motion to Dismiss Indictment Motion to Dismiss Indictment Feb. 4, 2025 - Motion for Discovery (Plea Offer) Motion for Discovery (Plea Offer) Dec. 11, 2024 - Indictment Oct 23, 2024 - State Brief Oct 23, 2024 - Appellant Brief Oct. 22, 2024 – Appellate Division Order Oct. 18, 2024 - Order Dissolving Restraints Oct. 11, 2024 - Media Advisory Sept. 26, 2024 - L 221-24 Order to Show Cause Order to Show Cause Sept. 10, 2024 - Media Advisory Sept. 4, 2024 - Media Advisory, State v. George Norcross et al, July 23, 2025 - NJ State Bar Association Proposed Amicus Brief NJ State Bar Association Proposed Amicus Brief July 23, 2025 - NJ State Bar Association Motion to Appear as Amicus NJ State Bar Association Motion to Appear as Amicus June 16, 2025 - Brief of Amici Curiae June 11, 2025 - Appellant Brief Feb. 26, 2025 - Notice of Appeal Feb. 26, 2025 - Order and Statement of Reasons Feb. 24, 2025 - Norcross Withdrawal of Counsel Withdrawal of Counsel Jan. 3, 2025 - Defendant’s letter Re: Amici Curiae Jan. 3, 2025 - Motion to Suppress Evidence Jan. 3, 2025 - State’s Letter in Response to Motion to Compel Production of Wiretap Applications Jan. 3, 2025 - Brief in Support of Motion to Compel Production of Wiretap Applications Jan. 3, 2025 - State’s Letter Re: Amici Curiae Dec. 26, 2024 - Notice of Motion to Intervene as Amici Curiae Notice of Motion to Intervene as Amici Curiae Dec. 26, 2024 - Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (William Tambussi) Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (William Tambussi) Dec. 26, 2024 - Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (Sidney Brown) Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (Sidney Brown) Dec. 26, 2024 - Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (John O’Donnell) Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (John O’Donnell) Dec. 26, 2024 - Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (Dana Redd) Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (Dana Redd) Dec. 26, 2024 - Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (Philip Norcross) Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (Philip Norcross) Dec. 26, 2024 - Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (George Norcross) Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Indictment (George Norcross) Nov. 25, 2024 - State Brief in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss Indictment Nov. 25, 2024 - State Letter in Response to Motion to Compel Discovery Nov. 21, 2024 - Motion to Compel Discovery Nov. 7, 2024 - Consent Protective Order Oct. 15, 2024 - Letter to the Court Oct. 11, 2024 - Letter to the Court Oct. 11, 2024 - Notice of Appearance Oct. 1, 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss (Sidney Brown) Oct. 1, 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss (John O’Donnell) Oct. 1, 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss (Philip Norcross) Oct. 1, 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss (Dana Redd) Sept. 26, 2024 – Sept. 26, 2024 – Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss (William Tambussi) Sept. 24, 2024 - Motion to Dismiss Sept. 9, 2024 - Media Advisory June 14, 2024 - Indictment, State v. Marty Small Sr. and La’Quetta Small, Jan. 22, 2026 - Dismissal Order (Constance Days-Chapman) Jan. 20, 2026 - Dismissal Order (La’Quetta Small) Sept. 24, 2025 - Amended Trial Order Amended Trial Order Aug. 11, 2025 - Trial Order - Marty Small Trial Order (Marty Small) Aug. 11, 2025 - Trial Order - LaQuetta Small Trial Order (La’Quetta Small) July 30, 2025 - Motion to Suppress Recordings Letter Decision Motion to Suppress Recordings Letter Decision July 30, 2025 - Motion to Disqualify Letter Decision Motion to Disqualify Letter Decision July 9, 2025 - Motion to Dismiss Letter Decision (Constance Days-Chapman) June 25, 2025 - Wiretap Conflict Correspondence June 25, 2025 - Wiretap Post Argument Order June 25, 2025 - Wiretap Letter June 25, 2025 - Wiretap Order June 13, 2025 - Server Order - State v Marty Small Sr. and La'Quetta Small Sever Order June 11, 2025 - Protective Order Electronic Evidence - Updated June 10, 2025 Protective Order Electronic Evidence May 16, 2025 - Motion to Dismiss Letter Decision (La’Quetta Small) Motion to Dismiss Letter Decision (La’Quetta Small) May 1, 2025 - Motion for Discovery (La'Quetta Small) May 1, 2025 - Motion to Sever (La'Quetta Small) May 1, 2025 - Motion for joinder decision (Marty Small) May 1, 2025 - Motion to dismiss letter decision (Marty and La'Quetta Small) April 15, 2025 - Small Cellphone Suppression Decision Small Cellphone Suppression Decision April 15, 2025 - Small Cellphone Suppression Order Small Cellphone Suppression Order April 15, 2025 - Small Home Suppression Decision Small Home Suppression Decision April 15, 2025 - Small Home Suppression Order Small Home Suppression Order April 15, 2025 - Small Vehicles Suppression Decision Small Vehicles Suppression Decision April 15, 2025 - Small Vehicles Suppression Order Small Vehicles Suppression Order Jan. 29, 2025 - La'Quetta Small Motion to Dismiss La'Quetta Small Motion to Dismiss Jan. 29, 2025 - Marty Small Motion to Dismiss Marty Small Motion to Dismiss Jan. 23, 2025 - Brief in Support of Motion for Recusal and Suppression (Marty Small) Brief in Support of Motion for Recusal and Suppression (Marty Small) Jan. 23, 2025 - Defense Letter to Judge (Constance Days-Chapman) Defense Letter to Judge (Constance Days-Chapman) Jan. 23, 2025 - Defense Reply Brief in Motion to Suppress (Constance Days-Chapman) Defense Reply Brief in Motion to Suppress (Constance Days-Chapman) Jan. 23, 2025 - Motion to Suppress Scheduling Order (Marty Small) Motion to Suppress Scheduling Order (Marty Small) Jan. 23, 2025 - State Letter in Response to Suppress (Constance Days-Chapman) State Letter in Response to Suppress (Constance Days-Chapman) Jan. 23, 2025 - Motion to Suppress Scheduling Order (Constance Days-Chapman) Motion to Suppress Scheduling Order (Constance Days-Chapman) Jan. 23, 2025 - Defense Motion to Suppress and Brief (Constance Days-Chapman) Defense Motion to Suppress and Brief (Constance Days-Chapman) Jan. 2, 2025 - Marty Small indictment (24-12-3927) Jan. 2, 2025 - Marty Small and La’Quetta Small indictment (24-09-2951) Jan. 2, 2025 - Constance Days Chapman indictment, Fair Share Housing (COAH), Supreme Court, COAH Case & Related Filings COAH Order COAH Order In re Declaratory Judgment Actions - App. Div. Opinion In re Declaratory Judgment Actions - App. Div. Opinion Supreme Court COAH Case & Related Filings March 10, 2015 - COAH Case Supreme Court opinion COAH Case Supreme Court opinion Mount Laurel Judges Mount Laurel Judges