New Jersey · What this letter means
New Jersey foreclosure letters and notices
The papers New Jersey homeowners receive, in the order they usually arrive. Each page uses the name on the New Jersey document, explains the deadline it starts under New Jersey law, and lists what to do this week.
- Step 1
Notice of Intention to Foreclose
Under New Jersey's Fair Foreclosure Act, your lender must mail this notice at least 30 days, and no more than 180 days, before it files a foreclosure lawsuit. It must state the exact amount needed to cure the default and the date to pay it. It is a warning, not a lawsuit, and your right to catch up lasts much longer than the date in the letter.
What it means - Step 2
Summons and Foreclosure Complaint
The summons and complaint start the foreclosure lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey. You have 35 days from receiving them to file an answer. If you file a contesting answer, a judge in your county hears the case; if you do not answer, the Office of Foreclosure in Trenton handles it as uncontested.
What it means - Step 3
Notice of Foreclosure Mediation Availability
New Jersey law requires your lender to tell you, in English and Spanish, that you can use the Judiciary's free Foreclosure Mediation Program. You must apply within 60 days of receiving the summons and complaint, with a free housing counselor's signature. Mediation is free, but it does not stop the lawsuit by itself.
What it means - Step 4
14-day notice before final judgment
In an uncontested New Jersey foreclosure, the lender must mail you this notice at least 14 calendar days before it asks for final judgment. It is your last warning that your right to cure ends when judgment is entered. If you mail back a good-faith cure statement within 10 days, the lender must wait at least 46 days.
What it means - Step 5
Notice of Sheriff's Sale and upset price
After final judgment, the county sheriff must sell the home within 150 days of receiving the writ of execution. You must get a mailed notice of the sale, and the upset price must be posted at least 4 weeks ahead. You can ask the sheriff for 2 adjournments of up to 30 days each without going to court.
What it means - Step 6
Writ of Possession
A writ of possession is a court order that lets the buyer at the sheriff's sale take possession of the home. The sheriff's office serves it and carries it out. It applies to the former owners, not to tenants protected by New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act.
What it means
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