New Jersey Form CN-12302 is the Special Civil Part Answer and Counterclaim, Cross-claim, Third Party Complaint — the form a defendant files to respond to a lawsuit over a debt of $20,000 or less and, when needed, to assert their own money claim against the plaintiff or another party. You file it with the Office of the Special Civil Part, a division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, in the county where you were sued.
If you were just served with a Special Civil Part Complaint and a Summons, the clock is already running. You have 35 days from the date the Summons was sent to file your Answer, and if you miss that window the court can mark you in default and enter a money judgment against you without ever hearing your side. New Jersey’s Special Civil Part handles a huge share of the state’s caseload, with debt collection suits making up one of the single largest categories of civil filings each year, so this form is one of the most-filed defensive pleadings in the entire court system. This guide walks you through the form line by line using the current Revised 07/01/2022, CN 12302 (Appendix XI-Z) version.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📝 How to fill out every box on Form CN-12302, from the caption to the signature.
- ⏰ The exact 35-day deadline and what triggers a default judgment if you blow it.
- 💵 The real filing fees ($50 or $75), the $100 jury fee, and how to ask for a waiver.
- ⚖️ How to add a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint the right way.
- 🚫 The most common field-level mistakes that get answers rejected or cases lost.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form CN-12302 is your formal written answer to a Special Civil Part lawsuit. The Special Civil Part is the section of the Superior Court that hears money disputes of $20,000 or less, which covers most debt collection cases, unpaid bills, broken contracts, and damage claims. When someone sues you there, they file a Complaint and you receive it along with a Summons. This form is how you tell the court you disagree, why you disagree, and whether you have your own claim to make.
You must file this form if you are being sued in the Special Civil Part and you want to raise a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint. A counterclaim says the plaintiff actually owes you money. A cross-claim says a co-defendant is the one responsible. A third-party complaint pulls a brand-new party into the case because that party should pay all or part of the claim. If you only want to deny the debt and have no claim of your own, the court directs you instead to the simpler packet CN 10542, but Form CN-12302 also works for a plain answer.
The form is governed by the New Jersey Court Rules that control Special Civil Part practice, and the duty to redact private information comes from Rule 1:38-7(b). Each person sued must file their own answer. One important limit applies to businesses: an answer for a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership must be filed by an attorney if the amount in dispute is more than $5,000, so a business owner cannot self-file above that line.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the form. Filling it out with the wrong docket number or a missing fee is the fastest way to delay your case or have papers bounced back. Pull these items together first.
- The Summons and Complaint you were served. These show the docket number, county, plaintiff’s name, and the amount claimed. Without them you cannot complete the caption, and a wrong docket number can misroute your answer.
- The date the Summons was sent. This date starts your 35-day clock. Miss it and you risk a default judgment.
- Your current mailing address, phone, and email. The court mails your trial notice here, so an old address means you never learn your court date.
- The plaintiff’s name and address (and their attorney’s, if any). You must mail them a copy of your answer, and service on the wrong party is no service at all.
- Proof you do not owe the debt. Receipts, canceled checks, payment confirmations, or a paid-in-full letter support your defenses at trial.
- Any contract, bill, or statement tied to the debt. These help you check whether the dollar amount claimed is right.
- The filing fee or a fee waiver request. Your answer must arrive with payment or packet CN 11208 attached, or it will not be accepted.
- Names and addresses of anyone you want to bring into the case. You need full contact details for a third-party defendant before you can name them.
- A bankruptcy discharge order, police report, or insurance policy, if relevant. These back up specific defenses like discharge in bankruptcy or identity theft.
If any item is missing, stop and find it. A missing fee gets the whole package returned, and a missing address means you may file a perfect answer yet still lose because you never got notice of your trial date.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official form lives on the New Jersey Judiciary website. You can download the fillable PDF of Form CN-12302 directly, or get the full instruction packet, which bundles the form as “Form A,” through the Self-Help Forms page and the Special Civil page. Always pull the form fresh from njcourts.gov so you get the current version rather than an outdated copy from a third-party site.
Check the bottom of each page for the revision stamp. The current version reads Revised 07/01/2022, CN 12302 (Appendix XI-Z), and the instruction kit that contains it carries its own stamp, “Kit Revised 05/2025, CN 11968.” If your printed copy shows a different form number or an older date, throw it out and download a new one, because clerks reject filings on superseded forms.
You can complete the PDF on a computer using the Save, Print, and Clear buttons built into it, or print it blank and write by hand. If you write by hand, print clearly in black ink. The court requires every page on 8.5” x 11” white paper only — no legal-size sheets, no colored paper — and forms on the wrong size or color get bounced back to you.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form CN-12302 Line by Line
The form runs three pages. Page 1 holds the caption and the start of the defense checkboxes, page 2 holds the rest of the defenses plus your claims and the jury demand, and page 3 holds the certification and signature. Work through each section in order using the exact field names printed on the form.
Filing Attorney Information or Pro Se Litigant
This top-left block asks who is filing the answer. In plain terms, it wants your name and contact details so the court and the other side know how to reach you.
Enter your full legal name, mailing address, email address, and a daytime telephone number on the lines provided. If you are representing yourself, you are a pro se litigant, so leave the NJ Attorney ID Number field blank. For example, Maria Delgado writes her name, 412 Oak Lane, Edison, NJ 08817, her email, and 732-555-0148, and leaves the attorney ID empty.
A common edge case is the email line. If you do not use email, you may leave it blank, but giving one helps you get faster notices. The most common mistake here is listing an old or temporary address; the direct consequence is that the court mails your trial notice to the wrong place and you miss your court date, which can end in a default judgment. A frequent misconception is that this box is only for lawyers — it is not, and self-represented people must fill it in or the court has no way to contact them.
Plaintiff’s Information
This block identifies the person or company suing you. The plaintiff is the party that filed the Complaint, and the court needs their current contact details to keep them in the loop.
Copy the plaintiff’s name, address, email, and telephone number exactly as they appear on the Complaint. There is a checkbox labeled “Check if new address/phone number” — check it only if you know the plaintiff’s contact information has changed since they filed. For example, if Midland Funding LLC sued Maria, she writes Midland Funding LLC and the address listed on her Complaint.
A nuance arises when a collection agency uses a long legal name. Write it in full rather than a nickname so the records match. The common mistake is guessing or shortening the plaintiff’s name; the consequence is that your answer may not be matched to the right case file. People often wrongly believe they should enter their own collector contact here — this block is for the party suing you, not for you.
Defendant’s Information
This block is for you, the person being sued. The defendant is whoever the plaintiff named in the Complaint, and that is the name you must use.
Enter the name, current address, email, and daytime phone number of each defendant listed on the Complaint. If more than one person was sued and you are answering together where allowed, list each defendant. For example, Maria Delgado writes her name and her current home address so the court can reach her.
The edge case here involves name variations. If the Complaint sued you under a slightly wrong name, still answer using your correct legal name and note the discrepancy in your statement of facts. The common mistake is leaving the address outdated; the consequence is a missed trial notice and a possible default. A widespread misconception is that listing your address waives any privacy — but you can and must redact sensitive identifiers elsewhere while still giving a contact address here.
County and Docket Number
On the right side of the caption, the form asks for the County and the Docket Number: DC. These two items route your answer to the correct courthouse and tie it to your exact case.
Both appear on the Complaint and Summons you received. Copy the county where the case was filed and the full docket number, which in the Special Civil Part starts with the letters DC followed by numbers and a year. For example, Maria writes Middlesex for the county and DC-004821-26 for the docket number, copying them straight from her Complaint.
A nuance: the docket number may show extra digits or a county code prefix, so copy every character. The most common mistake is transposing or dropping a digit in the docket number; the consequence is that the clerk cannot locate your case and your answer may sit unfiled while your deadline passes. Many filers think the county is wherever they live — it is actually the county where the plaintiff filed, which you must take from the Complaint.
Type of Filing: Counterclaim, Cross-claim, Third Party Complaint
Next to the defendant block sit three checkboxes: Counterclaim, Cross-claim, and Third Party Complaint. These tell the court whether you are only answering or also making your own claim.
Check all that apply. Leave all three blank if you are filing a plain answer with no claims of your own. Check Counterclaim if the plaintiff owes you money, Cross-claim if a co-defendant is at fault, and Third Party Complaint if you need to bring in a new party. For example, Darnell Price, sued by a contractor, checks Counterclaim because he believes the contractor owes him for botched work.
The edge case is combining claims — you may check more than one box if, say, you both counterclaim against the plaintiff and bring in a third party. The common mistake is writing a counterclaim in the facts section but forgetting to check this box; the consequence is the court may treat it as a simple answer and never schedule your claim. A misconception is that checking these boxes is free — adding a counterclaim or third-party defendant changes your fee, so it is not.
Defenses: “Defendant denies owing the debt to the Plaintiff”
This is the heart of your answer. The form lists a series of checkboxes under the instruction to “Check the appropriate statement(s) below which set forth why you claim you do not owe money to the plaintiff or owe less than the Plaintiff is claiming.”
Check every statement that fits your situation. The choices, printed in this order, are:
- ☐ The bill has been paid.
- ☐ The dollar amount claimed by the plaintiff(s) is incorrect.
- ☐ The claim or the amount of the claim is unfair. (Must explain below)
- ☐ The goods or services were not received.
- ☐ The goods or services received were defective.
- ☐ I/We did not order the goods or services.
- ☐ I am a victim of identity theft or mistaken identity.
- ☐ The time has passed for plaintiff to sue on this debt.
- ☐ This debt has been discharged in bankruptcy.
- ☐ A lawsuit was previously filed, and the claim has been resolved. (Must explain below)
- ☐ Defendant is in the military on active duty.
- ☐ Plaintiff did not file this lawsuit in the proper place. (Must explain below)
- ☐ Other – Set forth any other reasons why you believe money is not owed to the plaintiff(s).
For example, Robert Chen, sued on an old credit card debt from eight years ago, checks The time has passed for plaintiff to sue on this debt because New Jersey’s six-year statute of limitations on most written contracts has run.
The edge case is the boxes marked “(Must explain below)” — for unfair claims, a previously resolved lawsuit, improper venue, or “Other,” you must write your explanation in the statement-of-facts area on page 2. The common mistake is checking a box but never explaining it; the consequence is the judge may disregard that defense at trial. A frequent misconception is that you must pick only one box — you should check all defenses that honestly apply, because leaving a valid one out can waive it.
Your Claims and Statement of Facts (Page 2)
The top of page 2 repeats the option to assert a claim with three checkboxes: “I have a claim against the plaintiff(s). (Counterclaim),” “I have a claim against another defendant(s). (Cross-claim),” and “I have a claim against the following 3rd party (new party) (Third-Party Complaint).” Below them is a blank space for your statement of facts.
Check the claim box that matches and then write, in plain language, the facts that show why the other side is at fault. The form says, “You must provide a statement of facts below as to why the plaintiff(s) and/or named defendant(s) and/or third party defendant(s) are at fault,” and notes you may attach extra sheets. For example, Darnell Price writes: “On 3/2/2026 I paid ABC Contracting $4,000 to repair my roof. The work leaked within a week and I paid $1,800 to a second company to fix it.”
The edge case is running out of room — attach additional 8.5” x 11” white sheets and label them clearly. The common mistake is writing vague conclusions like “they cheated me” with no dates or dollar figures; the consequence is the judge has nothing concrete to rule on. A misconception is that you must prove your case in this box — you only need to state the facts here, then bring your evidence to trial.
Defendant’s Demand
If you are making a counterclaim or third-party claim, this line sets the dollar amount you want. It reads, “I have a claim and demand judgment for $______, plus interest, costs, attorney fees, if any, and such other relief as the court deems proper.”
Write the specific amount you believe you are owed. For example, Darnell enters $1,800 — the amount he paid the second roofer to fix the bad work. Keep your demand within the Special Civil Part limit of $20,000, since claims above that belong in the regular Law Division.
The edge case is when you do not yet know the exact figure — give your best good-faith estimate based on your records. The common mistake is leaving this blank while still checking a counterclaim box; the consequence is the court may not know what relief to award even if you win. A misconception is that a bigger number is always better — an inflated demand you cannot prove hurts your credibility at trial.
Third-Party Defendant(s)
This block appears only if you are bringing a new party into the case. It asks for that party’s Name, Address, Email Address, and Telephone Number.
Fill in the full contact details of the person or company you want to add. For example, if a hospital sues a patient but the patient’s insurer should have paid, the patient names the insurer here with its full legal name and address. Leave this section blank if you have no third-party complaint.
The edge case is naming a business — use its exact registered name so the court can serve it. The common mistake is incomplete address information; the consequence is the court cannot serve the new party and your third-party complaint stalls. A misconception is that you mail the third party yourself — when your answer contains a third-party complaint, you also complete the DC Summons (Appendix XI-A(1)) and the court sends the package to the new party.
Trial by Jury Request
Two checkboxes let you ask for a jury: “Trial by jury requested; an extra $100 cash, check or money order is submitted,” and “Trial by jury requested; and I have submitted an application for a waiver of the $100.00 fee.”
Check the first if you want a jury and are paying the extra $100. Check the second if you want a jury but cannot afford the fee and are filing a waiver request. Leave both blank to have a judge decide your case. For example, a small-business owner facing a large disputed claim might check the first box and enclose a separate $100 money order.
The edge case is affordability — if the $100 is a hardship, the waiver option keeps the jury right open to you. The common mistake is checking the jury box without enclosing the $100 or the waiver; the consequence is the court treats the request as incomplete. A misconception is that a jury is always better — most Special Civil cases are decided faster and cheaper by a judge, so weigh the choice.
Certification (Page 3)
The certification confirms your answer is truthful and complete. You must check one box in each of two groups. The first group: “that the above matter is not the subject of any other court action or arbitration proceeding now pending or contemplated,” or “that the following actions or arbitration proceedings are pending or contemplated.” The second group: “that no other parties should be joined in this action,” or “that the following persons or entities should be joined in this action.”
Check the box that is true for you and fill in the lines if you select the second option in either group. For example, Maria checks not the subject of any other court action and no other parties should be joined, because her case stands alone.
The edge case is the hospital-and-insurer situation the kit highlights: if another party like an insurance company should pay, you must check that the party should be joined and name them. The common mistake is skipping one of the two required boxes; the consequence is your certification is defective and your answer may be rejected. A misconception is that these boxes are optional formalities — they are sworn statements, and a false one can carry penalties.
Redaction Certification, Date, and Signature
The last part certifies you removed private identifiers and then takes your date and signature. The printed text certifies “that confidential personal identifiers have been redacted from documents now submitted to the court… in accordance with [Rule 1:38-7(b)]” and that you served the answer on all existing parties.
Before signing, black out any Social Security number, driver’s license number, vehicle plate, insurance policy number, active financial account number, active credit card number, or military status on anything you file — but never redact your own retained originals. Then write the date above Dated, sign on the Defendant’s Signature line (after the printed s/), and print your name below it. For example, Maria Delgado writes 05/31/2026, signs, and prints Maria Delgado.
The edge case is an account number central to the case — you may use the last four digits to identify it. The common mistake is leaving a full account or Social Security number visible; the consequence is a public filing that exposes your private data and may violate the rule. A misconception is that the form is valid unsigned — an unsigned answer is treated as no answer at all.
Demand for Production of Documents
The final checkbox reads, “Demand for Production of Documents Pursuant to R. 4:18-2. By checking this box, demand is made for production of all documents or papers referred to in the pleading for which this answer is provided, within 5 days of this demand.”
Check this box if you want copies of the documents the plaintiff relied on, such as the original contract or account statements. This is powerful in debt cases, where collectors sometimes cannot produce the paperwork proving they own your debt. For example, Robert checks this box to force the collector to show the chain of ownership for his old credit card account.
The edge case is timing — the plaintiff must respond within 5 days, so checking it early pressures a weak case. The common mistake is ignoring this box entirely; the consequence is you walk into trial without seeing the other side’s proof. A misconception is that checking it delays your case — it does not, and it can expose a plaintiff who lacks documentation.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common fact patterns, each following one person through the key sections of Form CN-12302.
Scenario 1 — Robert Chen, sued on a time-barred old credit card debt
| Form Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Filing Attorney / Pro Se | Robert Chen, 88 Maple St, Trenton, NJ 08611, phone, email; Attorney ID left blank |
| Plaintiff’s Information | LVNV Funding LLC with the address from the Complaint |
| Defendant’s Information | Robert Chen with his current address |
| County / Docket Number | Mercer / DC-003311-26 |
| Type of Filing | All three claim boxes left blank (plain answer) |
| Defenses checked | The time has passed for plaintiff to sue on this debt; The dollar amount claimed is incorrect |
| Statement of Facts | “The last payment was in 2017, more than six years ago.” |
| Jury / Demand for Documents | No jury; Demand for Production of Documents box checked |
| Certification & Signature | Both certification boxes checked; signed and dated 05/31/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Darnell Price, filing a counterclaim against a contractor
| Form Section | What Darnell Enters |
|---|---|
| Filing Attorney / Pro Se | Darnell Price with full contact details; Attorney ID blank |
| Plaintiff’s Information | ABC Contracting LLC from the Complaint |
| Defendant’s Information | Darnell Price with current address |
| County / Docket Number | Camden / DC-007740-26 |
| Type of Filing | Counterclaim box checked |
| Defenses checked | The goods or services received were defective; The dollar amount claimed is incorrect |
| Statement of Facts | “Roof repair failed in one week; paid $1,800 to a second company to fix it.” |
| Defendant’s Demand | $1,800 |
| Certification & Signature | First box in each group checked; signed and dated |
Scenario 3 — Greenfield Cafe (small business), disputing the amount and adding a third party
| Form Section | What the Business Enters |
|---|---|
| Filing Attorney / Pro Se | Attorney files because the claim exceeds $5,000 for an LLC |
| Plaintiff’s Information | Restaurant Supply Co. from the Complaint |
| Defendant’s Information | Greenfield Cafe LLC with business address |
| County / Docket Number | Essex / DC-009122-26 |
| Type of Filing | Counterclaim and Third Party Complaint both checked |
| Defenses checked | The goods or services received were defective; The dollar amount claimed is incorrect |
| Third-Party Defendant | Cold Chain Logistics Inc., full address (shipper that damaged goods) |
| Defendant’s Demand | $6,200 |
| Jury / Certification | $100 jury fee enclosed; both certification groups completed; signed |
These examples show how the same form flexes from a simple denial to a multi-party dispute. Other filers appear throughout this guide, including Maria Delgado, who files a basic answer, to round out the range of real situations.
How to File the Completed Form
You can file Form CN-12302 through three channels: electronically, by mail, or in person. Whichever you choose, file with the Office of the Special Civil Part in the county where the case was filed against you, which you find on your Summons. You must also serve a copy on every other party.
- Electronic filing (JEDS): File through the Judiciary Electronic Document System, where you can pay the fee by credit card. This gives you an instant electronic confirmation to keep as proof of filing.
- By mail: Mail the original answer to the Special Civil Part office address on your Summons. Use certified mail, return receipt requested, so the green card serves as your proof of mailing. Enclose a check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey, or your fee waiver request.
- In person: Deliver your package to the county Special Civil Part customer counter. You may pay by cash in person, but keep the receipt the staff give you as your proof of filing.
The filing fees are set by the case size. A counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint alleging $5,000 or less costs $50.00, while one alleging more than $5,000 costs $75.00, each plus $5.00 for every additional third-party defendant. A third-party complaint adds a $10.00 service fee per new defendant, and a jury demand adds $100.00. If you cannot afford these, file fee waiver packet CN 11208 at the same time as your answer.
You must also send a copy of your answer to each other party. If a party has an attorney, mail it to the attorney by regular mail. If a party has no attorney, mail it to that party by both certified and regular mail. Make enough copies so you keep one and every other party gets one.
What Happens After You File
Once your answer is on file, the court schedules your case. You will receive a notice in the mail with the date you must appear in court, and the plaintiff gets the same notice for the same date. This is why a correct, current mailing address on the form matters so much.
You must appear on your court date. If you do not show up, the court can find you in default and enter a money judgment against you, and you may lose the case. If the plaintiff fails to appear, the case may be dismissed for failure to prosecute. If a true emergency prevents you from attending, contact the plaintiff for consent to reschedule, then contact the court with their response.
Two pretrial steps often follow. First, you may receive interrogatories — written questions from the plaintiff that you must answer and return within 30 days, or the court may suppress your answer; reinstating it costs $25 within 30 days or $75 after. Second, the court usually asks both sides to try to settle with a mediator on the trial day before trial begins, though you are never required to accept a settlement.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Small errors on this form carry real consequences. Watch for each of these.
- Missing the 35-day deadline. The court can enter a default judgment against you without hearing your side.
- Writing the wrong docket number. The clerk cannot match your answer to your case, so it may go unfiled.
- Leaving the NJ Attorney ID blank confusion aside, using an old address. Your trial notice goes to the wrong place and you miss court.
- Forgetting to enclose the filing fee or a waiver. The court returns your entire package unfiled.
- Checking a “(Must explain below)” box without explaining. The judge may disregard that defense at trial.
- Failing to redact a Social Security or account number. Your private data becomes a public record in violation of the court rule.
- Not signing the form. An unsigned answer is treated as no answer at all.
- Checking only one of the two required certification boxes. Your certification is defective and the answer may be rejected.
- A business owner self-filing above $5,000. A corporation or LLC must use an attorney over that amount, so the filing is improper.
- Forgetting to serve the other parties. Your answer is incomplete without proof you mailed copies to everyone.
- Demanding a jury without the $100 or a waiver. The court treats the jury request as incomplete.
- Filing on legal-size or colored paper. The court only accepts 8.5” x 11” white paper and will bounce the rest.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do file within 35 days — this single deadline decides whether you keep your right to defend.
- Do check every defense that honestly applies because leaving out a valid one can waive it.
- Do keep your original documents and bring them to trial, since the court decides on evidence.
- Do use certified mail, return receipt requested so you can prove you filed and served on time.
- Do redact private identifiers to protect yourself and comply with Rule 1:38-7(b).
- Do keep copies of everything you file, mail, and receive for your own records.
Don’t:
- Don’t ignore the Summons because silence leads straight to a default judgment.
- Don’t guess the plaintiff’s or your own information — copy it exactly from the Complaint.
- Don’t redact your retained originals, since you may need to show them to the court.
- Don’t write vague facts like “they cheated me” without dates and dollar amounts.
- Don’t send cash by mail — use a check, money order, or in-person payment with a receipt.
- Don’t skip serving the other parties, or your answer is incomplete.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many Special Civil filers represent themselves, but a lawyer can add value in tougher cases. Weigh both sides.
Pros of filing pro se:
- Lower cost because you avoid attorney fees on a relatively small claim.
- Full control over your defenses and how you tell your story.
- Speed since you can file the day you finish the form.
- Plain-language packet from the court walks you through each step.
- Court staff can guide you on procedure, even though they cannot give legal advice.
Cons of filing pro se (and pros of getting help):
- No legal advice from the court, so you may miss a strong defense an attorney would catch.
- Required for businesses over $5,000, where a corporation or LLC must use an attorney.
- Procedural traps like interrogatory deadlines can suppress your answer if mishandled.
- Statute-of-limitations and bankruptcy defenses are technical and easy to plead incorrectly.
- Higher stakes claims with counterclaims or third parties get complex fast, where counsel reduces risk.
Form CN-12302 vs. Form CN-10542 (Plain Answer)
Filers often confuse these two Special Civil Part answer forms. This table clarifies when each applies.
| Feature | Form CN-12302 |
|---|---|
| Full name | Answer with Counterclaim, Cross-claim and/or Third-Party Complaint |
| When to use | When you deny the debt and want to assert your own claim or add parties |
| Companion kit | CN 11968 |
| Plain answer alternative | Use CN 10542 if you only deny the debt with no claims |
FAQs
Do I have to file Form CN-12302 if I only want to deny the debt and have no claim of my own?
No. You can use the simpler packet CN 10542 for a plain answer, though Form CN-12302 also works if you leave the counterclaim, cross-claim, and third-party boxes blank.
Do I really have only 35 days to respond?
Yes. You must send your answer within 35 days from the date the Summons was sent, and missing it can result in a default judgment against you.
Do I write my own contact information in the Plaintiff’s Information block?
No. That block is for the party suing you; your details go in the Filing Attorney/Pro Se block and the Defendant’s Information block.
Do I leave the NJ Attorney ID Number field blank if I represent myself?
Yes. That field is only for licensed attorneys, so self-represented filers leave it empty and complete the rest of the block.
Do I have to check only one defense box?
No. Check every statement that honestly applies to your situation, because leaving out a valid defense can waive it at trial.
Do I need to explain a defense I checked?
Yes. For boxes marked “(Must explain below)” and the “Other” box, you must write your explanation in the statement-of-facts area or the judge may disregard it.
Do I enter a dollar figure in the Defendant’s Demand line for a simple answer?
No. You only fill in the demand amount if you are making a counterclaim or third-party claim; leave it blank for a plain denial.
Do I have to pay $100 for a jury trial?
Yes. A jury demand requires an extra $100, unless you check the box stating you submitted an application to waive the fee.
Do I have to redact my Social Security and account numbers?
Yes. You must black out private identifiers on filed documents under Rule 1:38-7(b), but never redact the originals you keep.
Do I file my answer in the county where I live?
No. You file in the county where the case was filed against you, which is listed on your Summons and Complaint.
Do I have to mail a copy to the other side myself?
Yes. You serve each party — by regular mail to attorneys and by certified plus regular mail to parties without attorneys — and certify that you did.
Do I have to appear in court after I file?
Yes. You must appear on the date in your mailed notice, or the court may enter a default judgment against you for failing to show up.
Do I send the third-party defendant their copy myself?
No. When your answer includes a third-party complaint, you complete the DC Summons (Appendix XI-A(1)) and the court sends the package to the new party.
Do I have to pay a fee if I cannot afford it?
No. You can file fee waiver packet CN 11208 at the same time as your answer, and if granted you file without paying the fee.
Do interrogatories from the plaintiff have a deadline?
Yes. You must answer and return interrogatories within 30 days, or the court may suppress your answer until you pay a restoration fee to reinstate it.
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