Updated 2020 New Jersey Foreclosure Timeline

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This page was updated on December 2019

If you are facing foreclosure in New Jersey, it is critical that you understand the steps in the process. Keeping track of deadlines and answering your mail in a timely manner can be the difference between staying in your home or not. Below is a timeline of the major steps in a New Jersey foreclosure.

[2020 Update] NJ Foreclosure Timeline Overview

Although every foreclosure case is different, below are the general steps in the timeline of foreclosure in New Jersey:

1. The homeowner defaults on their mortgage payments. The lender or servicing company can begin the foreclosure process once there are past due payments.
2. The homeowner receives a Notice of Intent to Foreclose from their lender or servicer, giving them a final chance to reinstate their mortgage and get back on track with payments before the lender files the Foreclosure Complaint.
   1. The lender must provide at least 30 days for the homeowner to make this payment before the complaint can be filed.
3. The public Foreclosure Complaint is filed, and Lis Pendens is filed with the county clerk.
   1. Once this document is filed, the homeowner will start to receive advertisements from various parties offering assistance in the foreclosure process. It is important to enlist the help of an experienced NJ foreclosure attorney.
4. The homeowner is personally served with the complaint. If service fails for whatever reason, the lender will serve the complaint by mail or by publishing in a local newspaper.
5. The homeowner may file an answer to the complaint in Chancery Court – contesting or non-contesting. To properly defend themselves, they must file a contesting answer to the foreclosure complaint within 35 days of being served the complaint. A contesting Answer is one that disputes the Lender’s right to foreclose. If the homeowner files a contesting answer, the Court will a scheduling Order to allow for Discovery and possibly a Trial. However, if the Homeowner can prove the Plaintiff does not have the right to foreclose, the Complaint can be dismissed and the litigation would be over.
6. If the Lender can show that they have the right to foreclose through a Motion to Strike the Answer, Motion for Summary Judgment, or at a trial, the homeowner then receives a Notice of a Right to Cure, which gives one more chance to reinstate the loan and avoid foreclosure. At this point, the homeowner can extend the timeline by providing a good faith statement which says that they have a reasonable probability of obtaining the funds needed to reinstate the loan.
7. If the funds are not paid to reinstate, the Homeowner will receive a Notice of Motion for Entry of Final Judgment, which means the lender is asking the court to set the exact amount owed so they can schedule a Sheriff Sale. At this point, the homeowner can object to the amount due by showing proof that the Lender’s figures are wrong.
8. The lender obtains Final Judgment and Writ of Execution. The lender is no longer required to let the homeowner reinstate the mortgage, but the homeowner still has options.
   1. The homeowner can still apply for a loan modification after final judgment, as long as a complete application is submitted at least 37 days prior to the Sheriff Sale.
9. The Sheriff Sale is scheduled. The amount of time between the lender applying for a sheriff sale and the date of the sale can vary depending on how busy the County’s schedule is. (See time estimates by county here)
10. The homeowner is entitled to two Adjournments of up to 30 days each (60 days total) to delay the sale.
11. The Sheriff Sale takes place. This is the final stage in the foreclosure process. Once the sheriff sale is complete, the new owner will need to obtain a Writ of Possession or Order for Ejectment, in order to make the homeowner leave the property. They cannot simply lock them out of the house.
    1. Learn more about Eviction after Foreclosure here.

Have Questions About the New Jersey Foreclosure Timeline?

No matter what stage of the foreclosure process you are in, there may still be a chance to save your home. The sooner you reach out to an experienced NJ foreclosure defense attorney, the more options you will have. Ira J. Metrick has been helping homeowners in New Jersey fight foreclosure for more than 20 years. Contact us today for a free consultation.