N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-60

Removal of proceedings into Law Division

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseySummary Process

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-60
2A:18-60. At any time before an action for the removal of a tenant comes on for trial, either the landlord or person in possession may apply to the Superior Court, which may, if it deems it of sufficient importance, order the cause transferred from the Special Civil Part to the Law Division.

L.1951 (1st SS), c.344; amended 1991,c.91,s.66.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-60, either party in a tenant-removal action may ask the Superior Court to move the case from the Special Civil Part to the Law Division before the matter goes to trial. The Superior Court has discretion to grant or deny that transfer based on whether it considers the case sufficiently important to warrant the higher court's attention. This procedural option exists at any point prior to trial, giving both sides a potential avenue to seek a different forum for the dispute.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 6, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and managers involved in a removal proceeding should be aware that N.J.S.A. 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-60 allows either party to petition the Superior Court for a transfer to the Law Division before trial begins. Operators who believe their case raises complex or significant legal issues generally document those grounds carefully when making such an application. Understanding this procedural mechanism is part of navigating New Jersey's landlord-tenant court system, and consulting a licensed New Jersey attorney can help clarify whether a transfer request is appropriate in a given matter.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

N.J.S.A. 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-60 gives tenants facing a removal action the same right as landlords to apply to the Superior Court for a transfer of the case from the Special Civil Part to the Law Division before trial. The court retains discretion over whether to grant the transfer, typically weighing the complexity or importance of the issues involved. Tenants who believe their case warrants this procedural step may wish to speak with a tenant-rights organization or a licensed New Jersey attorney to understand what this option could mean for their situation.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 1
Persons entitled to summary process
§ 3
Judgment and execution; costs; appeal
§ 5
Appeal; bond; actions thereon; waiver; appeal of waiver or periodic payments; notice of decision