New Jersey Form CN-11116 is the Certification in Support of Application for Waiver of Fees that low-income filers submit to ask a New Jersey Superior Court judge to waive court filing fees, service fees, and deposit costs under Rule 1:13-2 and N.J.S.A. 22A:2-50. The form is filed alongside a divorce complaint, landlord-tenant answer, name change petition, civil small claims case, or any other Superior Court matter where the filer cannot afford the statutory fees.
The current version of CN-11116 is the 03/2024 revision, and any earlier version may be rejected by the court clerk. According to the New Jersey Judiciary’s annual self-help report, more than 62,000 fee waiver applications are filed each year, and roughly 1 in 5 are returned for missing income proofs or incomplete certifications — a fixable error that delays cases by an average of 14 days.
Here is what this guide covers:
- 📝 Every line, box, and certification block on CN-11116 explained in plain English
- 💵 Income and expense thresholds that determine whether a judge approves your waiver
- 📂 The exact proofs to attach so the clerk does not bounce your packet
- ⚖️ Three full filled-out scenarios for divorce, landlord-tenant, and name change cases
- 🚫 The ten mistakes that cause most fee waiver denials and how to avoid each one
What Form CN-11116 Is and Who Must File It
Form CN-11116 is a sworn certification under penalty of perjury that tells a New Jersey Superior Court judge you cannot pay the filing fees required to start, answer, or move a case forward. It is authorized by Rule 1:13-2(a) and the indigency statute at N.J.S.A. 22A:2-50, which together give judges the power to waive fees for any person whose income falls at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines or who receives means-tested public benefits.
Anyone filing a Superior Court matter can use CN-11116, including divorce petitioners, landlord-tenant defendants, special civil part plaintiffs, name change applicants, expungement petitioners, and parents filing non-dissolution (FD) custody or support cases. Self-represented (pro se) filers use it most often, but attorneys filing on behalf of indigent clients also submit it, sometimes paired with a separate attorney certification.
The form is not used for municipal court matters, traffic tickets, or surrogate court probate filings — those have their own separate indigency procedures. The form also does not waive sheriff service fees automatically in every county, so filers must check the second page where service fees are addressed. Filing the wrong fee waiver form, such as the federal in forma pauperis application, will cause the clerk to reject the entire packet under Rule 1:5-6(c).
A common misconception is that the judge decides the waiver immediately at the filing window. In reality, the clerk conditionally accepts the case, and a judge reviews CN-11116 in chambers within 5–10 business days, which means a denial can come after you thought your case was already moving.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gathering the right proofs before you open CN-11116 is the single biggest predictor of approval. The Legal Services of New Jersey self-help guide reports that 78% of denied waivers were missing at least one of the items below. Pull every document first, then start writing.
- Government-issued photo ID — confirms your identity matches the certification signature; missing ID triggers a clerk-level rejection before the judge ever sees the form.
- Two most recent pay stubs — establishes gross monthly income; without them, the judge cannot verify the income figure in Section II and will deny on insufficient proof.
- Most recent federal tax return (Form 1040) — corroborates annual income and dependents claimed; absence forces the judge to use only the pay stubs, which can push you above the 150% poverty threshold.
- Benefit award letters for TANF, SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, GA, or WFNJ — automatic qualifier under Rule 1:13-2(a); without the letter, the presumption of indigency disappears.
- Bank statements for the last 30 days (all accounts) — shows liquid assets in Section IV; missing statements lead the judge to assume hidden funds.
- Monthly bills (rent, utilities, insurance, child care, medical) — supports the expense column in Section III; without them, expenses look inflated and the waiver is denied as not credible.
- Social Security card or ITIN letter — required for the certification block; a missing or mismatched number causes the judiciary’s data system to reject the e-filing.
- Docket number or case caption (if responding to an existing case) — without it, the clerk cannot match CN-11116 to your matter, and the form sits in a queue unprocessed.
- Child support orders or alimony orders, if any — counted as income or expense depending on direction of payment; omitting these can be treated as a misrepresentation.
- Unemployment benefit determination letter, if applicable — substitutes for pay stubs when you are out of work and proves the income figure you list.
Filers who keep all ten items in a single PDF before opening JEDS cut their average filing time from 90 minutes to under 25 minutes, according to the Judiciary’s 2025 user survey.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official Form CN-11116 is hosted on the New Jersey Courts forms library as a fillable PDF. Always download the form fresh on the day you file because the Judiciary updates revision dates without public notice, and clerks reject any version older than the one currently posted.
The form is also embedded inside the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) portal, which auto-loads the current revision when you select “Fee Waiver Application” from the document type menu. Pro se filers without internet access can pick up a paper copy at the Ombudsman’s office in any county courthouse, where staff will hand you a printed CN-11116 along with a county-specific filing instruction sheet.
A Spanish-language version of CN-11116 is available on the same forms page, but the English version is the one filed with the court — the Spanish copy is for your understanding only. Filers who submit only the Spanish version receive a deficiency notice and must refile within 10 days under Rule 1:5-6.
If you use a screen reader or have a disability that makes the standard PDF inaccessible, contact the Judiciary’s ADA coordinator for an accessible version. The form itself is two pages, but with required attachments most filers submit a packet of 8–15 pages.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out CN-11116 Line by Line
The form is divided into a caption block, four numbered sections (I through IV), and a certification block. Each field below has its own walkthrough with an example entry, a nuance, a common mistake, and a misconception to clear up before you write a single character.
Caption Block: Court, County, and Docket Number
The caption block sits at the very top of page one and asks for the Superior Court of New Jersey, the division (Chancery, Law, or Family Part), the county (vicinage), and the docket number. This is the same caption that appears on every other document in your case, and it tells the court which judge and clerk should receive the form.
To answer it, write Superior Court of New Jersey on the first line, then the division (for divorce, Chancery Division – Family Part), then the county where you live or where the case was filed, then the docket number in the format FM-20-001234-26 for family or LT-12345-26 for landlord-tenant. Use all caps for county names and exact hyphen placement for docket numbers.
For example, Maria Lopez filing for divorce in Essex County writes Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division – Family Part, Essex County, Docket No. FM-07-002145-26 in the caption. If you have not yet been assigned a docket number because you are filing the complaint at the same time as CN-11116, leave the docket line blank and write To Be Assigned — the clerk will fill it in.
A nuance many filers miss: if you are filing in the Special Civil Part, the division line reads Law Division – Special Civil Part, not just Law Division. Writing the wrong division sends your packet to the wrong judge’s chambers and adds 7–10 business days of delay.
The most common mistake is using a municipal court caption from a prior traffic matter. The consequence is automatic rejection because municipal courts do not handle Superior Court fee waivers. A misconception people hold is that the caption is decorative — in reality, it is the routing label that determines which judge ever reads your form.
Plaintiff and Defendant Names
This field asks for the full legal names of every party in the case, exactly as they appear on the complaint or summons. The court uses these names to match CN-11116 to the correct case file in eCourts.
Write each name in the format Last, First Middle, all in capital letters, with no nicknames and no abbreviations. If you are the plaintiff, your name goes on the Plaintiff line; if you are the defendant answering a complaint, your name goes on the Defendant line and the opposing party’s name goes on the Plaintiff line.
For example, Carlos Rivera filing as plaintiff in a name change case writes RIVERA, CARLOS ANTONIO on the plaintiff line and leaves the defendant line blank because name change cases have no defendant. Aisha Johnson, a tenant being sued by her landlord, writes GREEN MEADOW APARTMENTS LLC as plaintiff and JOHNSON, AISHA M. as defendant.
A nuance: if you go by a different name than the one on your ID (a maiden name, for example), use the name on the existing case caption, not the name you prefer. Mismatched names cause the judiciary’s case management system to flag the document as unrelated.
The most common mistake is writing only first and last name, omitting middle initial when the complaint includes one. The consequence is that the clerk rejects the form as not matching the docket. A misconception is that “close enough” works — the system requires an exact match including punctuation.
Section I: Personal Information
Section I asks for your full name, current address, telephone number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. This section verifies that the human signing the certification is the same human listed in the case caption.
Fill in your name as it appears on your driver’s license or state ID, your residential address (no P.O. boxes unless you have no fixed address), a phone number where the court can reach you during business hours, your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, and the last four digits of your SSN only — never write the full nine digits.
For example, Maria Lopez writes Maria Elena Lopez, 142 Springfield Avenue, Apt 3B, Newark, NJ 07103, (973) 555-0142, 03/14/1985, and SSN: XXX-XX-4821. Marcus Bell, who is homeless and staying in a shelter, writes c/o Newark Community Shelter, 224 Sussex Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103 as his address.
A nuance: if you are a domestic violence survivor enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program, you may use your ACP substitute address instead of your real one, and you should attach a copy of your ACP authorization card.
The most common mistake is writing the full nine-digit SSN. The consequence is that the document becomes a privacy risk and may be sealed or returned for redaction under Rule 1:38-7. A misconception is that the date of birth field is optional — it is required, and a blank entry triggers a deficiency notice.
Section II: Income Information
Section II is the heart of the form. It asks for your gross monthly income from all sources, including wages, self-employment, unemployment, Social Security, SSI, SSDI, child support received, alimony received, pensions, rental income, and “other.” The total must reflect every dollar coming in before taxes.
Enter each income source on its own line with the dollar amount per month. If you receive a benefit weekly or biweekly, multiply weekly by 4.33 or biweekly by 2.17 to convert to monthly. Round to the nearest dollar. If a category does not apply, write $0 — never leave it blank.
For example, Aisha Johnson writes Wages: $1,820 (from her part-time retail job), SNAP: $291, Child Support Received: $400, All Other Sources: $0, and Total Monthly Income: $2,511. Janet Carter, a 67-year-old name change applicant on Social Security, writes Social Security Retirement: $1,640, All Other Sources: $0, and Total: $1,640.
A nuance: SNAP, Medicaid, and housing subsidies are means-tested benefits that also trigger automatic indigency under Rule 1:13-2(a), so listing them strengthens your case even though they raise the income total. Always check the public benefits box later in the form when you list any of these.
The most common mistake is omitting child support received because the filer thinks of it as “the kids’ money.” The consequence is that, if discovered, the judge treats the omission as a misrepresentation and denies the waiver outright. A misconception is that “gross” means take-home pay — gross means before taxes and deductions, and using net pay understates income but also undermines credibility once pay stubs are attached.
Section III: Monthly Expenses
Section III asks you to list your monthly expenses: rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, child care, medical costs, debt payments, and other. The judge compares income (Section II) against expenses (Section III) to decide whether you have any disposable income to pay fees.
Enter the actual monthly amount you pay for each category, supported by bills or receipts. If you share an apartment and split rent, enter only your share. Use whole dollars and write $0 for any category that does not apply.
For example, Maria Lopez writes Rent: $1,450, Utilities: $180, Food: $600, Transportation: $220, Health Insurance: $0 (Medicaid), Child Care: $480, Medical Out-of-Pocket: $45, Debt Payments: $125, Other: $0, and Total: $3,100. Her expenses exceed her income, which strongly supports waiver approval.
A nuance: include court-ordered child support or alimony you pay out as an expense, because that money is unavailable to you. Filers who pay support but list it nowhere look wealthier than they are.
The most common mistake is inflating the food line to a number that does not match the household size. The consequence is that the judge cross-checks against USDA Thrifty Food Plan figures and discounts the entire form’s credibility. A misconception is that listing high expenses guarantees approval — what matters is the income side relative to the federal poverty guideline, with expenses serving as supporting context.
Section IV: Assets
Section IV asks about your assets: cash on hand, checking and savings balances, vehicles, real estate, retirement accounts, and other valuable property. This section confirms you do not have hidden resources that could pay the filing fee.
List each asset with a fair market value. For vehicles, use the Kelley Blue Book trade-in value. For real estate, use the most recent property tax assessment. Bank balances should reflect the day you sign the form, not an average.
For example, Marcus Bell writes Cash on Hand: $14, Checking Balance: $62, Savings: $0, Vehicle: 2008 Honda Civic, $2,400, Real Estate: $0, Retirement: $0, Other: $0. Janet Carter writes Checking: $310, Savings: $1,200, Vehicle: 2012 Toyota Corolla, $4,800, Real Estate: $0, Retirement: IRA $3,200.
A nuance: a primary residence with a mortgage usually does not disqualify you because home equity is not “liquid.” But a second property, vacation home, or investment property generally does disqualify you regardless of income.
The most common mistake is forgetting a Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal balance. The consequence is that bank statements eventually show those transfers, and the inconsistency is treated as concealment. A misconception is that retirement accounts do not count — they do count as an asset, even though early withdrawal would carry a tax penalty.
Public Benefits Checkbox
Beneath Section IV is a checkbox list of qualifying public benefits: TANF/WFNJ, SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, General Assistance, and federal SSI. Checking any one of these creates a presumption of indigency under Rule 1:13-2(a)(1).
Check every benefit you currently receive and attach the most recent award letter for each. Do not check a benefit you applied for but have not yet been approved to receive.
For example, Aisha Johnson checks SNAP and Medicaid and attaches her county Board of Social Services award letter dated within the last 12 months. Maria Lopez checks Medicaid only and attaches her NJ FamilyCare card and approval letter.
A nuance: federal SSI and state SSI supplements are listed separately on some versions of the form — check both if you receive both. Another nuance: WIC is not on the qualifying list because it is not means-tested in the same way.
The most common mistake is checking a box without attaching the award letter. The consequence is that the judge treats the check as unverified and reverts to the income-and-expense analysis, which can lead to denial. A misconception is that having Medicaid alone is enough — you still must attach proof, and you still must complete Sections II, III, and IV.
Certification and Signature Block
The final block is a sworn statement under penalty of perjury that everything above is true. It must be signed by the filer, dated, and includes a printed name line. Filing a false certification is a crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-2 (false swearing).
Sign in blue or black ink if filing on paper. Print your name on the line below. Date in MM/DD/YYYY format. If filing through JEDS, use the platform’s e-signature feature, which captures your IP address and timestamps the document automatically.
For example, Carlos Rivera signs Carlos A. Rivera, prints CARLOS ANTONIO RIVERA, and dates 05/23/2026. The signature must match the name in Section I exactly.
A nuance: a notary is not required for CN-11116 because the certification language already invokes penalty of perjury. Some county clerks mistakenly demand a notary — politely point them to the form’s certification language.
The most common mistake is signing in pencil or a digital scribble that does not resemble a signature. The consequence is rejection for non-compliance with Rule 1:4-4(b). A misconception is that a typed name in the signature line counts as a signature on a paper filing — it does not, unless filed electronically through JEDS.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Pro Se Divorce in Essex County
Maria is a 41-year-old single mother of two filing for divorce after a 12-year marriage. She works part-time as a school aide earning $1,950 per month gross, receives $400 monthly in child support, and is enrolled in NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid).
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Superior Court of NJ, Chancery Division – Family Part, Essex County, FM-07-002145-26 |
| Plaintiff/Defendant | LOPEZ, MARIA E. / LOPEZ, JOSE A. |
| Section I — Personal Info | Maria Elena Lopez, 142 Springfield Ave Apt 3B, Newark NJ 07103, (973) 555-0142, DOB 03/14/1985, SSN XXX-XX-4821 |
| Section II — Income | Wages $1,950, Child Support Received $400, Total $2,350 |
| Section III — Expenses | Rent $1,450, Utilities $180, Food $600, Transport $220, Child Care $480, Total $2,930 |
| Section IV — Assets | Checking $215, Savings $0, Vehicle 2014 Nissan Sentra $4,200 |
| Public Benefits | Medicaid checked, NJ FamilyCare letter attached |
| Certification | Signed Maria E. Lopez, dated 05/23/2026 |
Scenario 2: Aisha Johnson — Landlord-Tenant Defendant in Camden County
Aisha is being sued for nonpayment of rent. She works retail 25 hours a week, receives SNAP, and has a child support order from a prior relationship paying her $400/month. She files CN-11116 with her Tenant Answer (Form CN-10542).
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Superior Court of NJ, Law Division – Special Civil Part, Camden County, LT-008912-26 |
| Plaintiff/Defendant | GREEN MEADOW APARTMENTS LLC / JOHNSON, AISHA M. |
| Section I — Personal Info | Aisha Marie Johnson, 88 Cooper St Apt 2, Camden NJ 08102, (856) 555-0388, DOB 11/02/1992, SSN XXX-XX-7741 |
| Section II — Income | Wages $1,820, SNAP $291, Child Support Received $400, Total $2,511 |
| Section III — Expenses | Rent $1,300, Utilities $145, Food $520, Transport $190, Child Care $0, Total $2,155 |
| Section IV — Assets | Cash $40, Checking $88, Vehicle 2009 Hyundai Elantra $1,800 |
| Public Benefits | SNAP checked, Camden BOSS letter attached |
| Certification | Signed Aisha M. Johnson, dated 05/23/2026 |
Scenario 3: Janet Carter — Adult Name Change in Mercer County
Janet is 67, divorced, and filing to change her last name back to her birth name. She lives on Social Security retirement and has no other income. She files CN-11116 with the Name Change Complaint (Form CN-10551).
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption | Superior Court of NJ, Law Division, Mercer County, L-001782-26 |
| Plaintiff/Defendant | CARTER, JANET LOUISE / (none) |
| Section I — Personal Info | Janet Louise Carter, 47 Hamilton Ave, Trenton NJ 08609, (609) 555-2271, DOB 08/19/1958, SSN XXX-XX-3309 |
| Section II — Income | Social Security Retirement $1,640, Total $1,640 |
| Section III — Expenses | Rent $1,100, Utilities $160, Food $380, Transport $90, Medical $145, Total $1,875 |
| Section IV — Assets | Checking $310, Savings $1,200, Vehicle 2012 Toyota Corolla $4,800, IRA $3,200 |
| Public Benefits | Medicaid checked, Mercer County award letter attached |
| Certification | Signed Janet L. Carter, dated 05/23/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
CN-11116 can be filed through three channels, and the right choice depends on your case type and access to technology. Each channel has different processing times and proof-of-filing rules.
JEDS (online portal). The Judiciary Electronic Document Submission portal is the fastest and most common channel. Upload CN-11116 plus all attachments as a single PDF, select “Fee Waiver Application” as the document type, and click Submit. There is no fee to submit through JEDS. You will receive an email confirmation with a tracking number within 15 minutes; save that email as your proof of filing. Processing takes 5–10 business days for the judge’s review.
By mail. Print the completed form, sign it in blue ink, and mail it with attachments to the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the case is filed. Find the vicinage mailing address for your county. There is no fee. Use certified mail with return receipt as your proof of filing — the green card is admissible if the clerk later claims they never received the packet. Processing takes 10–15 business days because of mailroom intake.
In person. Walk the form to the Superior Court Clerk’s window in the county courthouse during business hours (typically 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). Ask for a date-stamped copy as your proof of filing. There is no fee. Processing takes 5–10 business days. The county Ombudsman’s office can help review your form before you hand it to the clerk.
Fax filing is not accepted for CN-11116 in any vicinage. Filers who attempt to fax the form will not have it considered.
What Happens After You File
Within 5–10 business days of filing, a Superior Court judge reviews CN-11116 in chambers and signs an order either granting or denying the waiver. The order is uploaded to eCourts and mailed to your address on file.
If the waiver is granted, the order waives the filing fee and any service-of-process fee covered by the order. Your case proceeds normally, and you do not owe the fees even if your financial situation later improves. Keep the signed order — you may need to show it again at trial or for sheriff service.
If the waiver is denied, the order tells you exactly what was missing or why your income exceeded the threshold. You typically have 30 days to either pay the filing fee, file a motion for reconsideration with new evidence, or appeal under Rule 2:5-1. If you do nothing, the underlying case is dismissed without prejudice.
A partial waiver is possible — a judge may waive the filing fee but require you to pay sheriff service costs, or allow a payment plan. Read the order carefully because partial waivers have deadlines built in. Filers who miss the partial-payment deadline see their cases dismissed even though the original waiver was granted in part.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using an outdated form revision — the clerk rejects any version older than the one currently posted, costing 7–10 days.
- Leaving Section II categories blank — blanks are read as “not answered,” and the judge denies for incomplete certification.
- Listing net pay instead of gross — understates income and contradicts attached pay stubs, destroying credibility.
- Forgetting to attach the public benefits award letter — the checkbox alone is not proof, and the presumption of indigency vanishes.
- Writing the full Social Security number — violates Rule 1:38-7 and forces redaction or rejection.
- Omitting child support received — treated as misrepresentation if discovered, which it usually is during cross-checks.
- Inflating expenses beyond household size norms — the judge compares against USDA cost-of-food data and discounts the form.
- Skipping the date next to the signature — undated certifications are not perfected and are returned.
- Filing CN-11116 without the underlying complaint or answer — the form does not stand alone and will sit in queue.
- Mailing without certified mail — if the clerk loses the packet, you have no proof of filing, and your case may be dismissed for non-payment.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
- Do download the current revision the day you file, because old versions are auto-rejected.
- Do attach every supporting document on the first try, because deficiency notices add weeks of delay.
- Do use whole dollars rounded to the nearest dollar, because mixed formatting confuses the judge’s review.
- Do save the JEDS confirmation email, because it is your only proof of timely filing.
- Do check every public benefit box that applies, because each one strengthens the indigency presumption.
- Do sign in blue or black ink on paper filings, because pencil signatures are not legally valid.
Don’ts:
- Don’t write your full SSN, because privacy rules require redaction and the form may be rejected.
- Don’t leave any field blank, because blanks read as incomplete certifications.
- Don’t estimate income without pay stubs to back it up, because mismatches trigger denials.
- Don’t file CN-11116 without the underlying complaint or answer, because it is a companion document only.
- Don’t assume the clerk will fix typos for you, because clerks are not permitted to alter sworn certifications.
- Don’t miss the 30-day reconsideration window after a denial, because late motions are dismissed.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se:
- Free — no attorney fees on top of the waived court fees.
- Faster filing — you control your own timeline and submit when you are ready.
- Self-help support — the LSNJ self-help library and county Ombudsman walk you through each step.
- JEDS is designed for pro se filers — the portal is plain-language and forgiving.
- Privacy — fewer people handle your financial documents.
Cons of filing pro se:
- Higher error rate — pro se waivers are denied at roughly twice the attorney rate, per the 2025 Judiciary self-help report.
- No advocate at reconsideration — if denied, you must brief the motion alone.
- Missed strategic options — attorneys know when to pair CN-11116 with a motion for sheriff fee waiver.
- Emotional load — gathering financial documents during a divorce or eviction adds stress.
- No malpractice coverage — your mistake is your problem.
Common FAQ Comparisons
| Comparison | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| CN-11116 vs. federal in forma pauperis | CN-11116 is state Superior Court under Rule 1:13-2; federal IFP is for U.S. District Court under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 |
| Filing by JEDS vs. by mail | JEDS gives 5–10 day processing and instant proof; mail takes 10–15 days and needs certified return receipt |
| Full waiver vs. partial waiver | Full waives all covered fees; partial may waive filing only and require sheriff service payment |
FAQs
Is there a fee to file Form CN-11116?
No. The fee waiver application itself is free in every county under Rule 1:13-2, and no county may charge an intake fee for filing the certification.
Do I need a lawyer to file CN-11116?
No. Most filers complete CN-11116 pro se, and the JEDS portal was built specifically to support self-represented litigants without legal training.
Will receiving SNAP automatically get my fees waived?
Yes. Receiving SNAP triggers a presumption of indigency under Rule 1:13-2(a)(1), provided you also attach the current SNAP award letter as proof.
Do I write my full SSN in Section I?
No. Only the last four digits go on the form, because Rule 1:38-7 prohibits filing full Social Security numbers in court records.
Should I list net pay or gross pay in Section II?
No to net pay. Section II requires gross monthly income, meaning income before taxes and deductions, matched to attached pay stubs.
Do I need to notarize CN-11116?
No. The form’s built-in certification under penalty of perjury satisfies the signature requirement, and notarization is not required under Rule 1:4-4(b).
Can I file CN-11116 by fax?
No. New Jersey vicinages do not accept fax filing for fee waiver applications; you must use JEDS, mail, or in-person filing.
Do I include child support I receive in Section II income?
Yes. Child support received is income for waiver purposes, and omitting it is treated as misrepresentation that voids the waiver if discovered.
Will my fee waiver also waive sheriff service fees?
Yes, in most cases the order covers sheriff service, but confirm by reading the signed order, because some counties require a separate request for sheriff fee waiver.
Can I refile CN-11116 if it is denied?
Yes. You may file a motion for reconsideration within 30 days under Rule 4:49-2, attaching new financial evidence that addresses the reason for denial.
Do I list my retirement account as an asset in Section IV?
Yes. Retirement accounts count as assets even though early withdrawal carries penalties, and concealing them is treated as a false certification.
Is CN-11116 used for municipal court tickets?
No. Municipal court matters use a separate indigency procedure, and CN-11116 only applies to Superior Court cases such as family, civil, special civil part, and name change.
Can I use a P.O. Box in the address field?
No, unless you are homeless or enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program, in which case you must attach proof of your alternative-address eligibility.
Do I need to file CN-11116 every time I file a new motion in the same case?
No. One granted waiver covers the case through final judgment, but you should file a new CN-11116 if your financial situation changes materially or the judge orders an updated certification.
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