New Jersey
Divorce, lawyers, and free legal help in New Jersey — verified against official sources.
How divorce filing works in New Jersey
New Jersey's courts run a self-help page covering contested and uncontested divorce: the court events you'll go through, the forms you need, and the filing steps. Start there before anything else.
NJ Courts — Contested and Uncontested Divorces
The official starting point: divorce types, court events, required forms, and filing steps.
njcourts.gov — divorce self-help →Find a divorce lawyer
NJ State Bar — County Bar Referral Services
New Jersey runs lawyer referrals through its county bar associations — find your county's referral service here (e.g., Essex County: 973-622-6204).
njsba.com — county bar referrals →New to hiring a lawyer? Read Start Here first — it covers what to ask and what to bring.
Free or low-cost legal help
Legal Services of NJ — Statewide Hotline
Free legal advice, information, and referrals for low-income New Jersey residents. Call 1-888-576-5529 (Mon–Fri, 8–5:30), or use 24/7 online intake.
lsnj.org — get legal help →Report Child Abuse or Neglect
Call 1-877-652-2873 (1-877-NJ ABUSE) — 24/7, and anonymous calls are allowed. TTY: 1-800-835-5510.
nj.gov — hotlines & helplines →NJHMFA — Foreclosure Prevention
Free pre-foreclosure counseling and mediation assistance through HUD-certified counselors, tied to the NJ Judiciary's Foreclosure Mediation Program.
nj.gov — foreclosure prevention →Call 211
Free, confidential referrals to local help. Dial 211 from any phone.
211.org →Unpaid wages in New Jersey
Your boss owes you pay and won't hand it over? Here's where to file and how long you have in New Jersey.
Where to go
NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Division of Wage and Hour Compliance
Time limit to file
6 years
What the floor is
$15.92 (2026)
Changing your name in New Jersey
Whether it's marriage, divorce, or just time for a fresh start — here's the process in New Jersey.
How it works
petition the Superior Court in your county
Typical court fee
$250
Newspaper notice required?
no (abolished Nov. 2020)
Small claims court in New Jersey
Suing someone without a lawyer, for smaller amounts, in a simpler court. Here's how it works in New Jersey.
Maximum claim
$5,000
Filing fee
$45 for one defendant (includes service)
Can you bring one?
yes, but not required
Clearing your criminal record in New Jersey
Expungement or sealing can hide eligible arrests and convictions from background checks. Here's where New Jersey stands.
Can records be cleared?
yes — expungement; automatic Clean Slate
What qualifies
most indictable offenses (limited number), disorderly persons offenses, municipal ordinances
Waiting period
5 years (most offenses); 10 years for automatic Clean Slate
Learn more about clearing your criminal record in New Jersey →
Child support in New Jersey
How child support gets calculated — and when it ends — in New Jersey.
How it's figured
income shares (both parents' net incomes combined) NJ Child Support Guidelines, Appendix IX-A of the Court Rules
When it ends
age 19 (can extend to 23 for students)
Lemon law in New Jersey
Bought a new car that's constantly in the shop? New Jersey's lemon law may get you a refund or a replacement.
Which vehicles qualify
new and leased vehicles; used cars under separate used-vehicle warranty law
When it's legally a lemon
3+ repair attempts for same defect or 20+ calendar days out of service within 2 years/24,000 miles
What you get
refund or comparable replacement vehicle
Tenant rights in New Jersey
Renting comes with rights most people never hear about until something goes wrong. Here are the key ones in New Jersey.
Notice before eviction
no pre-filing notice required for nonpayment; generally 30 days' notice to end month-to-month, with good cause required in covered units
Deposit limits & return
1.5 months' rent maximum; returned within 30 days with an itemized list of deductions
When the landlord won't fix things
repair-and-deduct recognized by case law after notice
DUI / DWI in New Jersey
Driving under the influence carries some of the stiffest penalties in everyday law. Here's how New Jersey handles it.
Blood alcohol (BAC) limit
0.08; enhanced penalties at 0.10 and 0.15
Typical penalties
up to 30 days in jail, $250-$400 fine, 3-month suspension (plus ignition interlock) for BAC 0.08-0.10
How far back DUIs count
10-year lookback
Gun laws in New Jersey
Gun laws vary a lot from state to state — what's perfectly legal in one state can be a crime in another. Here's the big picture for this state. Laws change often, so double-check anything before you act.
Carrying a concealed handgun
Permit required; shall-issue since Bruen (2022), age 21
Carrying openly
prohibited
Background checks & waiting periods
Private sales: Universal background checks required (all transfers through a licensed dealer, with narrow exceptions) Waiting period: 7 days (minimum between permit application and handgun delivery).
Extreme risk protection
Yes. Courts can temporarily order firearms removed from someone found to be a danger.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity; does not recognize any out-of-state permits.
Filming the police: your rights in New Jersey
Federal appeals courts across the country have recognized a First Amendment right to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in public. The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled on it directly. The right does not protect interfering with officers, trespassing, or breaking other laws while you record.
One-party consent
If you are part of a conversation, you may record it — including with police. (N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-4(d))
No buffer-zone law
New Jersey has no law setting a minimum distance for filming police. You still must not interfere with officers doing their jobs.
One-party consent state: any participant may record a conversation without the others knowing. Fields v. City of Philadelphia, 862 F.3d 353 (3d Cir. 2017), which covers New Jersey, recognizes a First Amendment right to record police performing their duties in public. No buffer-zone law exists.
Drug & alcohol addiction help in New Jersey
Addiction is a health issue, and help is out there — including court programs that can send people to treatment instead of jail. No insurance needed to call.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referrals to treatment — call 1-800-662-4357 (English & Spanish).
Human trafficking victims in New Jersey
If you or someone you know is being forced to work or forced into sex against their will, you are a victim of a crime and help is available — immigration status does not matter.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 — free, confidential, for victims and anyone who suspects trafficking.
Bullying in New Jersey
Every state has an anti-bullying law, and every school must have a plan. If your child is being bullied, document what happens and report it in writing to the school — and know what your state’s law requires.
Homelessness help in New Jersey
If you are homeless or at risk of losing your housing, help is close by. Shelters, food, health care, and long-term housing programs exist in every community.
211 homeless services
Dial 211 and press 6 for homeless services in your area.
VA homeless veterans
Homeless veterans: call the VA National Call Center at 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET), 24/7.
Deed fraud & squatters in New Jersey
Thieves can forge a deed to steal your home’s title — many counties offer free recording alerts that notify you if anything is filed against your property. And if someone is living in your property without permission, your state has specific rules for removing them: you generally cannot just change the locks.
FBI: protect your property from deed fraud
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center alert on parcel-owner impersonation →