The New Jersey Order for Orderly Removal is a Special Civil Part court order that lets a tenant who has already lost a landlord-tenant case stay in the rental unit for a short, defined period — usually up to seven calendar days — after the Warrant of Removal would otherwise allow a court officer lockout. It is filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Part in the county where the eviction case was heard, and it is governed by Rule 6:6-6 and the hardship-stay statute at N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6.
Roughly 40,000 to 50,000 residential eviction warrants are issued in New Jersey each year, and the New Jersey Courts landlord-tenant data dashboard shows that a meaningful share of tenants who request an orderly removal receive at least some extra time when the request is filed correctly and on time. Filing this form wrong — or filing it after the court officer has already padlocked the door — is the single most common reason tenants lose the only buffer the law gives them between a judgment and the street.
- 📝 How to complete every box on the current New Jersey Judiciary Order for Orderly Removal, line by line, in plain English
- ⏰ Exactly when to file so the order can be signed before the court officer executes the Warrant of Removal
- 🏛️ How to file in person, by mail, by fax, and through the JEDS eCourts portal
- 🧾 What attachments, certifications, and proof of hardship the judge expects to see
- 🚪 What happens after the judge signs (or denies) the order, including how to ask for the longer six-month hardship stay
What the Order for Orderly Removal Is and Who Files It
The Order for Orderly Removal is a short, judge-signed order in a residential landlord-tenant case that postpones the actual lockout — the moment a Special Civil Part court officer physically removes a tenant — for a limited time after a Judgment for Possession and a Warrant of Removal have already issued. It is not a do-over of the trial, it is not an appeal, and it does not cancel the judgment. It only buys the tenant a few extra days, usually up to seven, to pack, hire movers, find a new place, or arrange storage.
The form is most often filed by the tenant, almost always pro se, although a landlord may sometimes consent on the record and submit a stipulated order. The legal foundation sits in the Special Civil Part rules, specifically Rule 6:6-6(b), which lets the court “stay the issuance or execution of the warrant for such time as it deems appropriate.” A longer stay — up to six months — is available only when the tenant proves true hardship under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6 and is current on use-and-occupancy payments.
Ignoring the rule and just “staying past the date” is the most common misconception. The consequence is brutal: without a signed order, a court officer can lock the tenant out as soon as three business days after the warrant is served, under the Special Civil Part Landlord/Tenant Information for Self-Represented Litigants packet. The Order for Orderly Removal is the only document that legally pauses that clock.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
The judge will not read your mind, and the clerk will not chase down missing paperwork for you. Gather everything below before you open the form, because a tenant who walks into the Special Civil Part clerk’s office with a complete packet is far more likely to get the order signed the same day. The current self-help materials on the New Jersey Courts landlord-tenant page list the documents the bench expects.
- The docket number. Your case number begins with “LT-” followed by digits. Without it, the clerk cannot pull your file, and your order cannot be matched to your case.
- A copy of the Judgment for Possession. The judge needs to confirm a judgment actually exists before staying its enforcement.
- A copy of the Warrant of Removal. The warrant carries the lockout date; the judge’s order has to reference it.
- Your current address at the property. The exact street address on the lease must match the address on the warrant, or the order will not bind the right court officer.
- The landlord’s name and service address. You must serve the landlord (or their attorney) with the request, and a wrong address means the landlord can later claim no notice.
- Proof of any hardship. A doctor’s note, a school enrollment letter for a child, a hospital discharge plan, a Section 8 transfer letter, or a signed lease for a new unit beginning on a future date.
- Proof of payment of rent or use and occupancy. Money orders, bank statements, or DCA rental-assistance approval letters showing you are not behind beyond the judgment amount.
- A proposed move-out date. Pick a specific calendar date within seven days of the warrant’s execution date, not “as soon as possible.”
- The $15 motion filing fee or a completed Application to Proceed as an Indigent Person if you cannot afford the fee.
- Two extra copies of everything — one for the judge’s chambers, one stamped “Filed” for you to keep, plus one to mail or hand to the landlord.
Missing any one of these can cost a day, and a day in a lockout timeline can mean your belongings on the curb.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official Order for Orderly Removal is part of the Judiciary’s Landlord/Tenant Information for Self-Represented Litigants packet, most recently revised in 2024, and is also available at the Special Civil Part clerk’s office in every county courthouse. Always check the revision date in the bottom-left corner of the first page; using a form older than two years is the fastest way to get bounced by a clerk.
You can download the fillable PDF directly from the New Jersey Courts forms library, pick up a paper copy at the Special Civil Part Clerk’s Office in your county, or generate it inside the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) portal when you upload your motion. Legal Services of New Jersey also publishes a tenant-friendly version of the same order through LSNJLAW.org.
Do not download the form from random third-party sites. Many of those sites still host pre-2020 versions that omit the post-COVID certification language, and a stale form risks denial. Always confirm the seal of the Superior Court of New Jersey appears in the top-left corner before you sign.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Order for Orderly Removal Line by Line
The form is short — usually one page front and back — but every field carries weight. Work through each H3 below in order, top to bottom, using the exact box labels printed on the current Judiciary version.
Caption Box: Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Part
The caption sits at the very top of the form and tells the court which case the order belongs to. In plain English, the court is asking, “Which courthouse, which docket, which county?”
Fill in Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Part, and the county where your case was heard. For example, Maria Lopez in a Newark eviction writes Essex County on the county line.
If your case was transferred between counties (rare but possible), use the county where the current docket lives, not where the case started. The most common mistake here is writing the municipal court name instead of the Superior Court — landlord-tenant cases are never heard in municipal court, and using the wrong court name will get the order rejected at the window. A frequent misconception is that the caption can be left blank for the judge to fill in; clerks will hand it back to you.
Docket Number Field
This field asks for the unique number assigned to your eviction case when the landlord filed the complaint. Enter it exactly as it appears on your Judgment for Possession, in the format LT-001234-26, with the dashes and the two-digit year suffix.
For example, Carlos Rivera writes LT-004587-26 because his Hudson County case was filed in 2026. If you have multiple LT cases against you (some tenants do, when a landlord refiles after a dismissal), use the docket from the case where the warrant was actually issued.
The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which sends the clerk searching for a non-existent case and delays signing. A common misconception is that the docket changes when the warrant issues — it does not, the same LT number follows the case from filing through lockout.
Plaintiff Name (Landlord)
The form asks for the full legal name of the landlord exactly as it appears on the complaint and judgment. Use the landlord’s complete business or personal name, with no abbreviations, in the same order and spelling as on the judgment.
For example, Janet Cole’s landlord is Riverbend Apartments, LLC, so she writes that full LLC name, not “Riverbend.” If the landlord is an individual, write first name, middle initial, last name in normal order.
If the property was sold mid-case, the original landlord’s name still controls — the order binds the party of record. The common mistake is writing the property manager’s company name instead of the owner; that mismatch can void the order. The misconception that “landlord” means whoever you pay rent to is wrong here — it means whoever sued you.
Defendant Name (Tenant)
This field asks for the tenant’s full legal name, plus any co-tenants named in the complaint. Write your name exactly as the landlord wrote it in the complaint, even if your name was misspelled, because the order has to match the judgment.
For example, Aisha Thompson-Reed, sued as Aisha Thompson Reed (no hyphen), writes the unhyphenated version on the order to keep it consistent. Add “et al.” only if there were more than two named defendants.
The biggest mistake here is “correcting” the spelling — a judge can deny the order because the names do not match the file. A misconception is that adding a child or roommate’s name protects them; only people named in the complaint are bound, and adding extra names can confuse the court officer at the door.
Property Address Block
The order asks for the rental property’s full street address, including unit number, city, and ZIP code. Use the address exactly as it appears on the Warrant of Removal, including any apartment letter or floor number.
For example, Marcus Brown writes 427 South 18th Street, Apt. 3B, Newark, NJ 07103. If the warrant shows “Rear House” or “Basement Unit,” copy that wording exactly.
If your mailing address is a P.O. Box, do not use it here — this field is the physical unit the court officer will lock out, and the wrong address can either (a) protect the wrong door or (b) leave your door exposed. The common misconception is that the city on the lease controls; the warrant controls.
Warrant of Removal Issue Date
This field asks the date the court issued the Warrant of Removal, not the date you received it. Look at the bottom of your warrant for the clerk’s date stamp and copy it in MM/DD/YYYY format.
For example, Maria Lopez’s warrant was stamped 05/18/2026, so she enters 05/18/2026. Do not estimate; the judge cross-checks this against the docket.
A common mistake is writing the date the court officer posted the warrant on your door, which is usually two or three days later. That mismatch can cause the judge to deny the order because the dates don’t line up with the file. The misconception that “warrant date” means “lockout date” trips up many tenants — they are different events.
Requested Move-Out Date
Here the form asks the specific calendar date by which you promise to be out. Pick a real date, written as MM/DD/YYYY, that is no more than seven calendar days after the warrant’s earliest lockout date.
For example, Carlos Rivera’s lockout window opens 05/26/2026, and he asks for an orderly removal through 06/02/2026, exactly seven days. Asking for “two weeks” or “30 days” through this form (rather than a hardship-stay motion) is the fastest way to get denied.
The nuance: if you need more than seven days, you must file a separate hardship stay application under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6, not stretch this form. A misconception is that asking for more time is “free” — judges routinely cut overlong requests down or deny them outright.
Good Cause / Reason for Request
The form has a short narrative box (sometimes labeled “Reason” or “Statement of Good Cause”) asking why you need extra time. Write two to four short sentences in plain English explaining your specific circumstance: a child’s school year ending, a moving truck booked for a future date, a medical procedure, a senior facility move-in date.
For example, Janet Cole writes: I need until 06/02/2026 to complete the move because my new apartment lease begins 06/01/2026 and my moving company is confirmed for that date. I have a six-year-old daughter finishing kindergarten on 05/29/2026. Attach proof.
The most common mistake is writing “I have nowhere to go,” which is sympathetic but legally weak. A misconception is that more words help; judges prefer specific, verifiable facts over emotional appeals.
Certification of Tenant
Most current versions of the order include a tenant certification line stating that the facts are true to the best of your knowledge, signed under penalty of perjury per Rule 1:4-4(b). Read the certification language, then sign your full legal name and print it below.
For example, Aisha Thompson-Reed signs Aisha Thompson-Reed, prints the same name, and dates 05/22/2026. Do not use initials or a digital signature unless filing through JEDS.
The mistake here is signing without reading — false statements in this certification are a fourth-degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-3. The misconception that a certification is “just a formality” can cost a tenant credibility in any later hardship-stay hearing.
Proposed Order Section (Judge’s Signature Block)
The bottom half of the form is the order itself, which the judge signs. You fill in the blanks for the relief requested — usually a stay of the Warrant of Removal through your proposed move-out date — and leave the judge’s signature line, date line, and judge’s name line blank.
For example, Marcus Brown writes Stay of execution of the Warrant of Removal through 06/01/2026 in the relief paragraph, then leaves Hon. ______, J.S.C. blank. The court clerk fills in the judge’s name when assigned.
A common mistake is signing the judge’s line yourself or writing a judge’s name from memory. The misconception that you must “request a specific judge” is wrong — the assignment judge or duty judge takes orderly removal requests on a rolling basis.
Service Block / Certificate of Service
The last section asks how and when you delivered a copy to the landlord (or their attorney). Check the appropriate box — hand delivery, regular mail, certified mail, email (if landlord consented), or fax — and write the date of service.
For example, Maria Lopez hand-delivers a copy to the landlord’s attorney’s office on 05/22/2026 and checks the hand-delivery box. Keep the receipt.
The mistake is skipping this block entirely; without proof of service, the judge may refuse to sign because the landlord has not been notified. The misconception that the court serves the landlord for you is wrong in Special Civil Part motions — service is your job.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three scenarios below cover the most common orderly-removal fact patterns in New Jersey. Each follows one tenant through the full form so you can see what real entries look like.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, Single Parent with a School-Aged Child (Essex County)
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| County | Essex |
| Docket Number | LT-002145-26 |
| Plaintiff | Greenbrook Holdings, LLC |
| Defendant | Maria Lopez |
| Property Address | 88 Park Avenue, Apt. 2L, East Orange, NJ 07017 |
| Warrant Issue Date | 05/18/2026 |
| Requested Move-Out Date | 05/29/2026 |
| Good Cause Statement | My daughter’s kindergarten year ends 05/28/2026; new apartment available 05/29/2026. |
| Certification | Signed Maria Lopez, dated 05/21/2026 |
| Service | Hand delivery to landlord’s attorney, 05/21/2026 |
Scenario 2: Carlos Rivera, Senior Tenant with a Disability (Hudson County)
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| County | Hudson |
| Docket Number | LT-004587-26 |
| Plaintiff | Riverside Towers Associates |
| Defendant | Carlos Rivera |
| Property Address | 215 Kennedy Boulevard, Apt. 14C, Jersey City, NJ 07306 |
| Warrant Issue Date | 05/15/2026 |
| Requested Move-Out Date | 05/24/2026 |
| Good Cause Statement | I am 71 with mobility issues. Senior housing unit opens 05/24/2026 (HUD letter attached). |
| Certification | Signed Carlos Rivera, dated 05/19/2026 |
| Service | Certified mail to landlord, 05/19/2026, tracking 7022… |
Carlos should also strongly consider filing the full hardship-stay application if his senior housing date slips.
Scenario 3: Janet Cole, Consent-Judgment Breach (Camden County)
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| County | Camden |
| Docket Number | LT-003302-26 |
| Plaintiff | Cherry Hill Garden Apartments, LLC |
| Defendant | Janet Cole |
| Property Address | 412 Marlton Pike, Apt. 7, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 |
| Warrant Issue Date | 05/20/2026 |
| Requested Move-Out Date | 05/27/2026 |
| Good Cause Statement | Consent judgment dated 04/10/2026 breached by one missed payment; moving truck booked 05/27/2026. |
| Certification | Signed Janet Cole, dated 05/22/2026 |
| Service | Email to landlord (consent on file), 05/22/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file the Order for Orderly Removal through four channels, and your timing depends on how close the lockout is. Always file at least one business day before the earliest lockout date, because a duty judge needs time to review.
- In person: Walk into the Special Civil Part Clerk’s Office in your county courthouse during business hours, usually 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The motion filing fee is $15, payable by cash, money order, certified check, or credit card. The clerk routes the order to a duty judge, often the same day. Keep your stamped “Filed” copy as proof.
- By mail: Send the original plus two copies to the Special Civil Part Clerk in your county, with a $15 check or money order payable to Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Use USPS Priority Mail with tracking and budget at least 3 business days; this channel is too slow if your lockout is within a week.
- By fax: Some counties accept faxed motions for emergent landlord-tenant matters; call the Special Civil Part clerk’s office for the current fax number. Follow up by mailing the original within 24 hours.
- Online through JEDS: Upload the completed PDF, supporting documents, and fee waiver (if any) through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) portal. Expect processing within 1–2 business days. You will receive an email confirmation that serves as proof of filing.
If you cannot pay the $15 fee, file the Application to Proceed as an Indigent Person at the same time. Always keep date-stamped or email-confirmed proof; without it, a court officer who arrives to lock you out has no way to know an order exists.
What Happens After You File
Once the order is filed, a duty judge reviews the request, often the same day in counties like Essex, Hudson, and Bergen where landlord-tenant volume is highest. The judge can grant the order as written, modify the move-out date, deny it outright, or schedule a short telephone conference with both sides.
If granted, the signed order is uploaded to eCourts and transmitted to the Special Civil Part Court Officer assigned to your warrant. The court officer is then barred from executing the lockout until after the move-out date in the order. You should still pick up a stamped paper copy and post one inside your front door, because some court officers will not access eCourts in the field.
If denied, the original warrant timeline resumes immediately. Your remaining options are a hardship-stay application, an Order to Show Cause on emergent grounds, or, in narrow cases, a motion to vacate the judgment under Rule 4:50-1.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing after the lockout. Once the court officer has padlocked the door, the order is moot and the only remedy is a separate lockout-reversal motion.
- Wrong docket number. A single transposed digit sends the clerk to the wrong file and your order will not be matched to your warrant.
- Mismatched property address. If the address on the order differs from the warrant by even an apartment number, the court officer is not bound.
- Asking for more than seven days through this form. Anything beyond a short orderly removal needs a hardship-stay motion, not this one-page order.
- Vague good-cause statement. “I need more time” without a verifiable reason almost always gets denied.
- No attached proof of hardship. Even a perfect narrative falls flat without a doctor’s note, school letter, or new-lease document.
- Skipping the certification signature. An unsigned certification is treated as no certification, and the judge will not sign.
- No proof of service on the landlord. Without a completed service block, the judge cannot confirm due process and may deny.
- Writing the judge’s name in the signature line. Only the judge signs the judge’s line; doing it yourself is treated as fraud.
- Using an outdated form. Versions older than the 2024 revision omit required certification language and risk rejection at the window.
- Forgetting the $15 fee or fee waiver. A motion without a fee or waiver is not filed at all.
- Counting business days instead of calendar days. The seven-day cap on orderly removal is calendar days, and miscounting can push your date past the limit.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do file at least one full business day before the earliest lockout date, because duty judges need review time.
- Do bring three copies of every document, so the clerk, the judge, and you each keep one.
- Do serve the landlord or their attorney the same day you file, to preserve the certificate of service.
- Do attach concrete proof of your move-out date, like a new lease or a moving company receipt.
- Do keep the stamped copy and post one inside your front door so the court officer sees it.
- Do stay current on use and occupancy, because unpaid rent during a stay can void it.
- Don’t lie in the good-cause statement; certifications are signed under penalty of perjury under N.J.S.A. 2C:28-3.
- Don’t assume the landlord will agree to an extension without a court order.
- Don’t ask for more than seven days on this form; use the hardship-stay process instead.
- Don’t ignore email confirmations from JEDS, because they are your only proof of filing.
- Don’t use a P.O. Box in the property-address field, since court officers lock physical doors.
- Don’t wait until the morning of the lockout — judges are not always available for same-hour signing.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Tenants frequently file the Order for Orderly Removal pro se because the form is short and time is tight, but the choice between self-filing and using a Legal Services of New Jersey housing attorney is not one-size-fits-all.
- Pro (self): Same-day filing is possible without waiting for an attorney intake.
- Pro (self): No legal fees on a $15 motion.
- Pro (self): You control the narrative and tone of the good-cause statement.
- Pro (self): Forms are designed for self-represented litigants under the Judiciary’s self-help program.
- Pro (self): Filing through JEDS eliminates the courthouse trip.
- Con (self): One paperwork error can cost you the only buffer the law allows.
- Con (self): You may miss the option to combine an orderly removal with a hardship stay or motion to vacate.
- Con (self): Court officers sometimes ignore poorly documented orders, and you have no advocate to call.
- Con (self): Service mistakes can void the order at the worst possible moment.
- Con (self): Hardship-stay law under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6 is complex and easy to miss without counsel.
Orderly Removal vs. Hardship Stay
| Feature | Orderly Removal vs. Hardship Stay |
|---|---|
| Authority | Orderly removal: Rule 6:6-6. Hardship stay: N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6. |
| Maximum length | Orderly removal: up to 7 calendar days. Hardship stay: up to 6 months. |
| Standard | Orderly removal: short-term good cause. Hardship stay: true hardship plus current rent. |
| Filing fee | Orderly removal: $15 motion fee. Hardship stay: $50 application fee (waivable). |
| Decision speed | Orderly removal: often same day. Hardship stay: usually 1–2 weeks with a hearing. |
| Use and occupancy | Orderly removal: encouraged. Hardship stay: required. |
Key Entities You Should Know
The Order for Orderly Removal does not exist in a vacuum. The Superior Court of New Jersey, Special Civil Part is the trial court; the Special Civil Part Court Officers execute warrants; the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs administers rental assistance that can cure arrears; and Legal Services of New Jersey and county legal aid offices provide free representation to income-eligible tenants. The Anti-Eviction Act at N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 governs the underlying grounds for eviction, and the Truth-in-Renting statute at N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 shapes tenant rights throughout the case.
Recent New Jersey Supreme Court guidance, including the post-pandemic landlord-tenant practice directives summarized on the Judiciary’s landlord-tenant updates page, reinforces that judges should liberally consider orderly-removal requests where the tenant shows specific, time-bound reasons for a short extension.
FAQs
Can I file an Order for Orderly Removal after the court officer locks me out?
No. Once the lockout has happened, the order is moot. You must file an emergent motion to be restored to possession, which is a separate, harder process under Rule 4:50-1.
Does filing this order stop my rent from accruing?
No. Rent and use-and-occupancy charges continue to accrue every day you remain in the unit, and unpaid amounts can be added to a money judgment later.
Do I write my apartment number in the property address box even if the warrant left it off?
Yes. Match the Warrant of Removal exactly, including any unit number, letter, or floor designation, so the court officer is bound to the right door.
Is the $15 fee waivable?
Yes. File the Application to Proceed as an Indigent Person at the same time, and a judge can waive the motion fee based on income and assets.
Can I ask for more than seven days on this form?
No. Anything beyond seven calendar days requires a separate hardship-stay application under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6, with proof of current rent payments.
Do I sign the judge’s signature line if no judge is available?
No. Leave the judge’s signature, name, and date lines completely blank; only the assigned judge signs them.
Does my landlord have to agree before the judge will sign?
No. A judge can grant an orderly removal over the landlord’s objection if good cause is shown, although consent makes it easier.
Can I file electronically through JEDS for orderly removal?
Yes. The JEDS portal accepts landlord-tenant motions, including orderly-removal requests, and emails you a stamped filing confirmation.
Do I list my P.O. Box in the property address field if that’s where I get mail?
No. The property address field controls the lockout location, so it must be the physical unit, not a mailing address.
Does an Order for Orderly Removal cancel my Judgment for Possession?
No. The judgment remains in place; the order only delays enforcement for a short, defined period.
Can I get an Order for Orderly Removal in a commercial eviction?
No. Special Civil Part orderly-removal practice applies to residential tenancies; commercial cases follow a different track in the Law Division.
Do I need to write “et al.” after my name if I’m the only defendant left in the case?
No. Use “et al.” only when more than two defendants are named in the original complaint and still active in the case.
Can I email a copy of the signed order to the court officer myself?
Yes. As long as the order is genuine and time-stamped, emailing it to the assigned court officer in addition to filing it is strongly recommended.
Does the seven-day limit count weekends and holidays?
Yes. The orderly-removal cap is measured in calendar days, so weekends and state holidays count against your move-out window.
If I file and the judge denies the order, can I refile?
Yes. You can refile with stronger evidence or pivot to a hardship-stay application, but the warrant clock keeps running while you do.
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