TRENTON – All New Jersey courthouses are closed until further notice due to the state budget impasse. Click here for the Chief Justice’s order.
Click here for additional information on how the closure may affect your court case.
1. Are there any court matters that will take place during the closing? Most cases will be postponed. Some examples of cases that will not be heard during the closure include most small claims, special civil, civil and general equity cases in civil court; dissolution (divorce), custody and child support disputes in family court; and most criminal matters. The following types of cases will still be handled by the courts while the state is closed:
-First appearances for criminal defendants who are committed will take place. First appearances for defendants on summons will be postponed.
-Applications for special medical guardians will be heard.
-Hearings for people who have been incarcerated for delinquent child support will take place.
-Juvenile detention matters will be heard.
-Civil commitment hearings for adults and minors will take place.
-Cases involving residential foreclosure stays of eviction and stays of sheriff’s sales will be heard.
-Applications filed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency for the removal of children from their homes will be heard.
-Stays of eviction in landlord/tenant cases will be heard.
-Intensive Supervision and Juvenile Intensive Supervision cases will be handled as usual.
-Electronic monitoring for criminal defendants ordered to wear ankle bracelets will continue as usual.
2. I am scheduled for jury service this week. What should I do? Jurors do not need to report for jury service on the days that the state courts are closed. Follow the instructions you received to check the jury reporting message after 5 p.m. each day for more information about when to report.
3. The deadline for filing my court papers is today. Will they still be accepted if the courthouse is closed? During the closure, the filing dates and due dates for all court matters are “tolled,” which means that if the deadline is on a day that the courts are closed, the new deadline will be on the day that the courts reopen.
4. Do I still need to pay my child support? Will I still receive child support on time? Payment windows at courthouses will not be open, but obligors can submit their payments through the Child Support Processing Center. Child support payments will still be processed as usual and the child support call center at 1-877-NJKIDS1 will be open and operating as usual.
5. Are municipal courts affected? Only state courts are affected by the closure. Municipal courts will maintain their normal hours.
6. Can I still pay my traffic ticket online? Yes, NJMCDirect.com is available during its regular operating hours.
7. What should I do about contacting my probation officer? Anyone on ISP or JISP should continue to report as ordered. All other probation supervision is temporarily suspended.
8. How can I file for a domestic violence restraining order? Victims can apply for a temporary restraining order through local law enforcement and the matter will be heard by a municipal court judge. Temporary restraining orders will remain in full force and effect until a hearing for a final restraining order is held.
9. I have been ordered by the court to report to a pretrial services officer until my criminal trial takes place. Do I still need to report? Pretrial monitoring for criminal defendants is temporarily suspended, but may be reinstated depending on the length of the state closure. Defendants should check www.njcourts.gov daily to learn about any changes to their reporting requirements.
