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Foreclosure mediation in New Jersey

New Jersey's Foreclosure Mediation Program is run by the Judiciary and written into law by the New Jersey Foreclosure Mediation Act of 2019. It is free for owner-occupied 1 to 4 family homes, but you must first work with a free housing counselor from the NJHMFA program. The Judiciary's self-help page still offers it in 2026, and the law has no end date. Mediation does not stop the foreclosure case by itself.

Ask for help in New Jersey Free HUD counselor: (800) 569-4287

Reviewed against New Jersey law and official sources on October 12, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

How foreclosure mediation works in New Jersey, step by step

  1. Who qualifies

    Residential foreclosure filed by a lender

    The home must be a 1 to 4 family dwelling that is the owner's primary residence, every borrower on the loan must agree to take part, and you cannot be in bankruptcy. Commercial loans and condo, HOA, tax or municipal lien foreclosures are not covered.

    N.J.S.A. 2A:50-75; R. 4:64-1B

  2. Step 1: get a free housing counselor

    Before you request mediation

    You must work with a trained foreclosure prevention counselor, who signs your certification. The court's instructions say to call the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency at 609-278-7508 to be matched with a HUD-certified counselor at no cost.

    N.J.S.A. 2A:50-77(b), 2A:50-78(a)

  3. Step 2: file the Mediation Request Statement

    Within 60 days after you are served with the summons and complaint

    Mail the Mediation Request Statement to the Superior Court Clerk's Office, Attn: Foreclosure Mediation, in Trenton. There is no fee. After 60 days you need a court order on a motion, which costs $50.

    N.J.S.A. 2A:50-77(a), (c)

  4. Step 3: send your financial packet to the lender's lawyer

    After you get the acceptance letter

    Complete the Foreclosure Mediation Checklist and Financial Worksheet and send them, with the papers they list, to the plaintiff's attorney, not the court. Missing documents can get you removed from the program.

  5. The sessions

    First session date is in your acceptance letter

    Mediations are held by telephone, and a lawyer is optional. Each side must attend through someone with authority to agree to a loan modification, workout, refinance or other solution.

    N.J.S.A. 2A:50-78(b)

  6. If a party does not show up

    After a missed session

    If a party or its lawyer fails to attend, the court can impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000, award fees and costs, or other sanctions, and can weigh whether it is part of a pattern.

    N.J.S.A. 2A:50-78(b)

  7. What can come out of it

    While the case continues

    The Judiciary tracks results such as loan modifications, forbearance, deeds in lieu and short sales. Because the lender can keep pursuing the case during mediation, keep meeting every court deadline even while you negotiate.

    N.J.S.A. 2A:50-79

The program in New Jersey

Foreclosure mediation

Program available

Yes. The New Jersey Judiciary runs a free Foreclosure Mediation Program, written into law by the New Jersey Foreclosure Mediation Act. It is for owner-occupied 1 to 4 family homes. You can request it up to 60 days after you are served; later requests need a court order on a motion. All borrowers on the loan must take part, you cannot be in bankruptcy, and a free housing counselor from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) program must sign your certification. There is no fee. Mediation does not stop the lawsuit by itself. The courts also offer free pre-foreclosure mediation for homeowners who are behind or at risk but have not been sued.

Official program page

Common questions in New Jersey

When will my New Jersey lender first tell me about foreclosure mediation?

The lender must give you written notice of the mediation option with the Notice of Intention to Foreclose, and again when it files the foreclosure complaint. The notice must be in English and Spanish and must say counseling is required and there is no fee.

Do I have to go to court in person for New Jersey foreclosure mediation?

No. The court's instructions say all mediations are done by telephone. You can ask for an interpreter or other accommodation by emailing scco.mailbox@njcourts.gov or calling 609-421-6100 as early as you can.

My New Jersey sheriff's sale is set and I used both adjournments. Can I still get mediation?

The Judiciary's self-help page says that in certain cases you can ask for an extra stay for mediation by filing a Notice of Motion to Stay Sheriff's Sale and Referral to Mediation. A judge decides, so file it as early as possible.

Step by step

More on foreclosure in New Jersey

Understand the process

What is happening and how much time there is.

Weigh your options

What can stop it, and what happens if it goes ahead.

Get help now

Who to call, and what to do when a sale is scheduled.

Also in New Jersey

Foreclosure mediation (this page)Property tax foreclosure Claim surplus funds Deficiency judgments Letters you may get

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Sources for this page

  1. New Jersey Statutes, full text from the Office of Legislative Services (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-5, 2A:17-56, 2A:50-1 to 2A:50-8, 2A:50-56.2, 2A:50-63, 2A:50-74 to 2A:50-80)
  2. P.L.2019, c.64, New Jersey Foreclosure Mediation Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:50-74 to 2A:50-80)
  3. P.L.2019, c.69, amending N.J.S.A. 2A:50-56 (Notice of Intention, 30 to 180 days)
  4. P.L.2019, c.70, further amending N.J.S.A. 2A:50-56
  5. P.L.2019, c.71, amending N.J.S.A. 2A:50-64 and 2A:17-36 (sheriff's sale within 150 days; adjournments)
  6. P.L.2006, c.13, amending N.J.S.A. 2A:50-58 (14-day notice before final judgment)
  7. P.L.2023, c.255, Community Wealth Preservation Program (approved January 12, 2024)
  8. P.L.2011, c.146, Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act (N.J.S.A. 46:10B-53 et seq.)
  9. New Jersey Courts: Foreclosure self-help
  10. New Jersey Courts, Superior Court Clerk's Office: Foreclosure
  11. New Jersey Courts: How to Apply for Foreclosure Mediation (CN 11270, revised September 1, 2021)
  12. New Jersey Courts: Stay of Sheriff's Sale Notice of Motion Instructions (CN 11277, revised September 19, 2022)
  13. New Jersey Courts: How to File for a Writ of Possession in a Foreclosure Case (CN 11978)
  14. New Jersey Courts press release: courts help residents at risk of foreclosure (October 2023, pre-foreclosure mediation)
  15. Bayview Loan Servicing v. Rauch, App. Div. A-4384-18 (quoting N.J.S.A. 2A:50-57(a): cure up to entry of final judgment)
  16. Newrez LLC v. Inzana, App. Div. A-3866-24 (decided February 19, 2026; quoting R. 4:65-5)
  17. West Pleasant-CPGT, Inc. v. U.S. Home Corp., N.J. Supreme Court A-1-19 (July 8, 2020; N.J.S.A. 2A:50-2, 2A:50-3)
  18. Wells Fargo Bank v. Khorami, Ch. Div. F-11387-22 (August 20, 2024; surplus under N.J.S.A. 2A:50-37 and R. 4:64-3)
  19. NJHMFA: Foreclosure Prevention
  20. NJHMFA: NJ Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance (no longer accepting applications)
  21. U.S. Treasury: Homeowner Assistance Fund (period of performance ended September 30, 2026)
  22. NJ Department of Banking and Insurance: Home Mortgage Foreclosures
  23. NJ Department of Banking and Insurance: Foreclosure Consultants