Which New Jersey court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Superior Court: Special Civil Part, Small Claims Section Eff. 2022-07-01. | Up to $5,000 | N.J. Ct. R. 6:1 |
| Limited civil | Superior Court: Special Civil Part Eff. 2022-07-01. | Up to $20,000 | N.J. Ct. R. 6:1 |
| General civil | Superior Court: Law Division Over $20,000. | No limit | N.J. Const. art. VI |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 35 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (N.J. Ct. R. 4:6-1(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
20 New Jersey forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to New Jersey practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Proof of Service by MailProof of service by first-class mail: NJ
- Civil Information StatementNJ CIS: required for case assignment
- SummonsNJ summons: 35-day answer (R. 4:6-1)
- Certification in Support of Fee WaiverN.J. Ct. R. 1:13-2(a): waiver of fees for indigent party
- Request for Entry of DefaultR. 4:43-1: clerk enters default on docket
- Request for Final Default JudgmentR. 4:43-2: separate from entry of default
- Certification of Amount DueSum certain computation with interest
- Certification of Non-Military ServiceSCRA / R. 4:43-2: NJ uses 'certification' not 'affidavit'
- Stipulation of DismissalR. 4:37-1: voluntary dismissal
- Writ of ExecutionR. 4:59: goods, chattels, bank accounts
- Notice of Application for Wage ExecutionR. 4:59-1(e): capped at 10% (25% if >250% poverty)
- Information SubpoenaR. 6:7-2: asset discovery, 21 days to answer
- Statement for DocketingCreates lien on debtor's real property statewide
- Complaint: Special Civil Part (Contract/Debt)(pattern) Special Civil Part claims to $20,000 (R. 6:1-2); Rule 6:3-2(a) assigned-claim contents; clerk issues the summons
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a New Jersey matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Civil Information Statement · Summons · Proof of Service by Mail
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Information Statement · Summons
Collections: Default Judgment
Request for Entry of Default · Request for Final Default Judgment · Certification of Amount Due · Certification of Non-Military Service
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Writ of Execution · Notice of Application for Wage Execution · Information Subpoena · Statement for Docketing
Stipulation of Dismissal
Stipulation of Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every New Jersey county are in the 1Court Directory: New Jersey.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.