NEW JERSEY SMALL CLAIMS COURTS
Most common claims in the New Jersey small claims courts involve:
- Auto Accidents - Someone dents your vehicle and refuses to pay for the repairs.
- Small Loans - Someone refuses to pay you back the money he/she borrowed.
- Defected New Products - Your new chair breaks but the store will not fix it or return your money.
- Poor Services Rendered - A dry cleaning company ruins your favorite dress and will not pay for or replace it.
- Landlord/Tenant Issues - The property owner or landlord refuses to return your security deposit, even after certifying the place was left in in good condition.
Things to bring to court:
Original copies of all papers you need to help prove the case (contracts, letters, rental agreements, canceled checks, deeds, repair bills, IOUs, diagrams, written damage estimates, photographs or even drawings.)
2 photocopies of every original document. (one for the defendant, one for the court)
The piece of clothing or the appliance damaged by the defendant, if that's the case.
Any witness that could help the case. Some judges allow notarized statements by witness that cannot appear in court.
Small Claims Courts Requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years of age. (If not, a guardian appointed by the court will sue for the minor.)
- Be of sound mind or mentally competent. (If not, a guardian appointed by the court will sue for the incapacitated.)
- United States citizen and non-citizens can use the small claims court.
- There are no juries in small claims courts.
- No objections are allowed.
- Either the plaintiff (the person who is suing) or the defendant (the person being sued) are allowed to speak with an attorney before coming to court, but lawyers are not allowed in the court with you. You must be a Pro Se litigant (represent yourself.)
Hearing dates are usually set on some evenings or on Saturday (once a month.)
Hearing is scheduled within 40 days in most cases (up to 70 days if one litigant does not live in the same county).
NEW JERSEY SMALL CLAIMS COURTS
Bergen County Justice Center Room 427, 10 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 Phone: (201) 527`2730.
Small Claims Court Courthouse Toms River, NJ 08753 Phone:(732) 929`2017
Camden County Hall of Justice 101 S. 5th Street, Suite 150 Camden, NJ 08103-4001 Phone: (856) 379`2202.
Somerset Cnty Small Claims Crt 20 N Bridge St Somerville, NJ 08876-2111 Phone:(908) 231`7191
Ocean County Superior Court 118 Washinton St., Room 121 P.O. Box 2191 Toms River, NJ 08754-2191 Phone: (732) 929`2016
Hudson County Small Claims Court Special Civil Case Management Office 711 Administration Building 595 Newark Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306 Phone: (201) 795`6680
Passaic County Small Claims Court 77 Hamilton Street, First Floor Paterson, NJ 07505 Phone: (973) 247`8268
Special Civil/Small Claims Cou 71 Main St Flemington, NJ 08822-1412 Phone:(908) 788`1214
Mercer County Small Claims Court 175 S. Broad Street 1st Floor P.O. Box 8068 Trenton, NJ 08650 Phone: (609) 571`4490
Union County Small Claims Court Old Annex, 3rd Floor 2 Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ 07207 Phone: (908) 659`4900
Monmouth County Small Claims Court P.O. Box 1260 Freehold, NJ 07728-1260 Phone: (732) 677`4223
U S Government- Courts- District Judge Ackeman Newark, NJ 07102 Phone:(973) 645`3493
Civil Customer Service Hall of Records, Room 201 465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Newark, NJ 07102 Phone: (973) 693`5529
Morris County Courthouse – Special Civil Part Washington and Court Sts. P.O. Box 910 Morristown, NJ 07963-0910 Phone: (973) 656`4125
Small Claims Court in Middlesex County Special Civil Part 3rd Floor – Tower P.O. Box 1146 New Brunswick, NK 08903-1146 Phone: (732) 519`3679
U S Government District Court
401 Market St Camden, NJ 08102-1568
Phone:(856) 757`5043
Addresses and information on New Jersey small claims courts and filings.
A person can file a claim in small claims court if he/she has a dispute involving a certain amount of money with another person, company or government agency.
The amount that could be recovered is limited, and it varies from state to state (usually from $1,500 to 10,000 Dollars.)
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