New Jersey / Mercer County
Mercer County security deposit:
find your court and prepare your claim.
Landlord kept your deposit or charged for damage? Start a free analysis of your charges and possible remedies. Filing yourself? Find the Trenton court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Mercer County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Mercer County Civil Courthouse
175 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ 08650 - Call before visiting
- 609-571-4200 ext. 76019
Mon - Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Small Claims / up to $5,000
- $35 filing + $10 mail service for one defendant.
CN 10151: official kit ↗ - Special Civil / $5,000.01 to $20,000
- $75 filing + $10 mail service for one defendant.
CN 10541: official kit ↗
Can I file in this county? For a security-deposit return claim, NJ Courts permits filing where the landlord lives or where the rental property is located. Your new home address alone does not establish venue. Court guide ↗
Compare the claim including applicable penalties, excluding court costs. Additional defendants or service attempts can add fees. Fee details and waivers. Court contacts checked September 4, 2026; confirm before travelling.
More court contacts, rooms and procedural help
The Trenton office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 609-571-4200 ext. 76019
- Mediation and arbitration
- 609-571-4200 ext. 74475
Court forms and procedure: Self-Help Resource Center - Mercer County Civil Courthouse, 175 South Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Trenton, NJ 08650-0068, 609-571-4200 ext. 74205, [email protected]. Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Find the right office for your rental address
Use the municipality where the property sits. The clerk, rental registry and rent board can hold different records. They do not replace a court filing for your deposit.
A Trenton owner lookup is not a courthouse visit.
Trenton lists its Absentee Owner Program with Housing Inspections. Hamilton Township and Ewing Township have separate housing offices. Locate the rental record in its municipality, then use the Mercer Civil Courthouse for a deposit claim when venue is proper here.
Which registration should I request?
For covered one- and two-unit dwellings, the landlord identity form is filed with the municipal clerk; the two-unit owner-occupied exception matters. Larger buildings use DCA registration. Local rental licensing may add another record. A registration is a lead: verify the correct defendant and a permitted service address before filing.
DCA registration form and coverage instructions ↗All 12 municipal clerks in Mercer County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| East Windsor Township | 16 Lanning Blvd., East Windsor, NJ 08520 | 609-443-4000 x437 |
| Ewing Township | 2 Jake Garzio Dr., Ewing, NJ 08628 | 609-538-7609 |
| Hamilton Township | 2090 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08650 | 609-890-3622 or 3624 |
| Hightstown Borough | 156 Bank Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520 | 609-490-5100 x772 |
| Hopewell Borough | 88 E. Broad St., Hopewell, NJ 08525 | 609-466-2636 |
| Hopewell Township | 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ 08560-1410 | 609-737-0605 x6760 |
| Lawrence Township | 2207 Lawrenceville Rd., P.O. Box 6006, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 | 609-844-7000 |
| Pennington Borough | 30 N. Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534 | 609-737-0276 |
| Princeton | 400 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ 08540 | 609-924-5704 |
| Robbinsville Township | 2300 Route 33, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 | 609-259-3600 x1107 or x1108 |
| City of Trenton | 319 E. State Street, City Hall Room 208, Trenton, NJ 08608 | 609-989-3187 |
| West Windsor Township | 271 Clarksville Rd., P.O. Box 38, West Windsor, NJ 08550 | 609-799-2400 x213 |
Directory checked September 4, 2026. Confirm office hours and record access before visiting.
Preparing to file yourself?
Use this optional worksheet to calculate your disputed amount, find the matching NJ court forms, and save a timeline and checklist. You can start the free analysis above without filling it out.
How much of your deposit are you disputing?
Subtract refunds and deductions you accept to see your disputed balance.
Enter 0 if nothing was returned. Accepted deductions are optional.
What counts as a deduction I accept?
Only include charges you agree the landlord may keep. Leave this blank if you are unsure; you can review individual charges in the analysis.
Accepting deductions reduces the refund you dispute. It does not waive separate statutory remedies or confirm that the landlord provided a complete statement.
Your disputed amount will appear here after you enter your deposit and refund.
Forms, timeline & checklist
Find the court forms for your entered amount, add costs and a timeline, and download or print your worksheet. These steps are optional before the free analysis.
Additional damages and court costs (optional)
Additional damages are an extra amount, not a total multiplier that already includes the refund. Use the New Jersey remedy rules to avoid counting the deposit twice. Court fees are listed separately; check which amounts your court includes in its limit.
Enter the deposit and amount returned, using non-negative dollar amounts with at most two decimal places.
See a sample calculation
Example only: $1,200 paid, $300 returned, and $100 in deductions accepted leaves $800 disputed. With no additional damages requested, the claim is $800. Example $35 filing and $10 service costs are recorded separately. These are illustrative amounts, not a fee quote. Check the current New Jersey court fee schedule.
Build your timeline (optional)
Record what happened, when, and the exhibit that supports it. Leave events that have not happened blank.
Before you submit: preparation checklist
Download or save your worksheet before leaving this page. Continuing copies these notes into your case. Use the official court forms to file.
New Jersey: security deposit court preparation
Working figures and preparation notes. File using the official court forms.
| Security deposit court preparation worksheet | New Jersey | |
| Working figures only. Use official court forms to file. | ||
| Deposit paid | ||
| Returned | ||
| Deductions accepted | ||
| Additional damages requested | ||
| Legal basis and conditions | ||
| Filing costs | ||
| Service costs | ||
| Applicable court limit | $5,000 | |
| Selected court limit | 5000 | |
| Event | Date | Evidence / notes |
| Deposit paid | ||
| Move-in condition recorded | ||
| Moved out / keys returned | ||
| Refund or deductions received | ||
| Demand or required notice delivered | ||
| Claim served | ||
| Hearing | ||
| Preparation checklist | Status | |
| Confirm the correct court, venue, and claim limit. | To do | |
| Check the filing deadline and any required demand, notice, or cure period. | To do | |
| Confirm each defendant’s legal name and an address where service is permitted. | To do | |
| Explain every disputed deduction and any additional damages separately. | To do | |
| Gather the lease, payment records, deductions, photos, correspondence, and proof of notice. | To do | |
| Use the current court forms; check filing costs and fee-waiver options. | To do | |
| Arrange proper service and file proof by the required deadline. | To do | |
| Check hearing, evidence-exchange, remote attendance, and mediation instructions. | To do |
Check the ordinary NJ return deadline
Estimate timing from your move-out date, then check the tenancy-end date and exceptions in the NJ rules. This check does not add damages or change your form selection.
One state law, local offices
Mercer County uses New Jersey’s Rent Security Deposit Act. Municipal rent-control rules address separate questions.
- 30 days
- The ordinary return and itemization period after tenancy termination.
- 2x moneys due
- Recovery when the court finds for the tenant under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1.
- 1.5 months
- The deposit cap for tenancies covered by the Act.
Start with what remains due after refunds and lawful deductions. An expired deadline alone does not establish that the entire deposit must be doubled. Owner-occupied properties with no more than two rental units have a coverage exception, with a tenant notice route to invoke the Act; seasonal rentals and displacement can change the applicable rules.
Inside a sample case
Your charges. A clear argument. A prepared demand.
- Free analysis
- Check your disputed charges and the deposit rules that apply to your case.
- Case documents
$29, one time - Your demand letter, charge-by-charge analysis, damages summary, and evidence checklist in one case PDF.
- Your filing steps
- You review the documents, attach your actual evidence, and file using your court's official forms. Court fees and optional mailing are separate.
See the actual PDF pages
Open PDF to zoom ↗Sample New Jersey case. Letter and exhibit pages extracted from a generated case PDF. Filing instructions are in this guide.
Turn disputed charges into a clear argument, a damages summary, and an exhibit checklist.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
See this sample's charges and calculation
Generated sample · New Jersey case
2026-09-0801 / The disputed charge
Repainting ordinary wall scuffs$900
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible
Supporting evidence: move-in photos and move-out photos.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 ↗02 / The calculation
- Deposit paid
- $2,000
- Already returned
- $900
- Accepted deductions
- $200
- Demanded back
- $900
No additional damages in this example. Your facts and New Jersey law determine your analysis.
03 / From the generated demand letter
I demand payment of $900.00, the amount improperly withheld from my deposit.
A landlord may still pursue an unpaid accepted charge in a separate claim or counterclaim, so net recovery can be lower. Money already paid or retained toward that charge must be credited. The $200 rent balance retained in this sample is already excluded from the demand.
File through the Mercer County Special Civil office
First confirm venue and your requested amount. The same NJ Courts kits apply across counties.
- 1. Put your demand in writing. List the disputed charges, subtract refunds and deductions you accept, and explain any additional damages separately. Send the landlord your demand and keep proof of delivery. See a prepared example.
- 2. Complete the official complaint. Use your calculation to choose the kit below. Confirm the defendant’s legal name and service address, and follow the kit’s signing and copy instructions. Above $20,000, review the Civil Part procedure.
- 3. File and check delivery. Follow the kit through JEDS, or confirm mail and in-person intake at 175 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08650. The court arranges initial mail service. Check its status and contact the office if service fails.
- 4. Prepare for the hearing. Gather the lease, payment records, deductions, photos, messages and proof of your demand. Match each disputed amount to its evidence, and follow your hearing notice for submission deadlines and attendance.
Filing fees, waivers and the court’s full instructions
Small Claims: $35, plus $5 for each additional defendant and $10 mail service per defendant. Special Civil: $50 for a claim up to $5,000 or $75 above $5,000; $5 per additional defendant and $10 mail service per defendant. Ask about a fee waiver if you cannot afford filing. Check the current kits for payment and service details.
More Mercer County records
All 3 researched rental-registration programs in Mercer County
An inventory of the programs researched for this guide, not a complete list of all registration duties. For an unlisted town, start with its clerk.
Trenton: Absentee Owner Program (annual license for non-occupant owners of rented structures) ↗
Division of Housing Inspections, Department of Housing & Economic Development, Trenton City Hall, 319 E State Street, Trenton NJ 08608
Annual license (renewed each January) for every landlord who does not live on the premises; $90 per structure plus $25 per unit; registration is on a form provided by the Department of Inspections. Page states: if you are a tenant and want to know if your property is properly licensed, call 609-989-3563.
609-989-3563Hamilton Township: Landlord License and Rental Unit Registration (Chapter 222 / Residential Rental Unit Licensing) ↗
Housing Inspection & Landlord Compliance Office, 2090 Greenwood Avenue, Room 302, Hamilton NJ 08609 (mail: P.O. Box 00150, Hamilton NJ 08650)
Landlord Registration and License Application plus Rental Unit Registration for every rental unit; landlords living outside Mercer County must name a local Managing Agent residing in Mercer County who is authorized to accept tenant notices, issue receipts and accept service of process; annual certificate of liability insurance also on file. Not stated; FAQ says the Township handles only inspection and landlord-registration matters, not landlord/tenant disputes (contact the office at 609-890-3665 or via HAMStat).
609-890-3665Ewing Township: Annual Landlord Certificate of Registration (Ordinance 10-07) with Property Transfer Certificate on each tenancy change ↗
Housing Division / Code Enforcement Office (Construction Office), 1666 Pennington Road (rear entrance), Ewing NJ 08618
Annual registration of all rental residential dwellings by January 31 ($50); each unit is inspected on every change in tenancy and a property transfer certificate must issue before the tenant moves in; the landlord must give each tenant a copy of the Certificate of Registration and file amendments within 20 days of any change.
(609) 883-2900; Lisa Litz (housing/rental/property transfer) ext. 7677, [email protected]
Rent-control directory: 5 listed municipalities in Mercer County
From the DCA rent-control survey. Coverage and exceptions differ by municipality; confirm the current ordinance with the listed office. These contacts address rent regulation, not a court award of your deposit.
| Municipality | Survey coverage / limit | Office |
|---|---|---|
| East Windsor | 4+/Apartment complexes Determined by the "allowable base increase" formula, outlined in §13-4B. Exception(s) - Any dwelling unit that does not fall within the ordinance's definition of "apartment complex." Initial leases of vacant apartments. | Township of East Windsor |
| Ewing | 20+ Average of the CPI increases for the 2 preceding one-year periods ending during the months of January and July, multiplied by 85%. CPI used is average of Philadelphia-NJ area and NY-Northeast NJ area. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, and similar type dwellings. "The provisions of this article shall not apply to initial rents charged at the inception of a new tenancy or leasehold, and thereafter it shall apply only to renewal rents." Vacancy decontrol | Rent Control Board |
| Hamilton | 4+ If landlord pays heat: Average of percentage increase of CPI and percentage increase of Residential Renters CPI released during July preceding notice of increase If tenant pays heat: 60% of figure previously mentioned CPI used: Urban wage earners and clerical workers, US city average. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, similar premises. Vacancy Decontrol - Rent control prior to September 1, 2002 | Rent Leveling Commission |
| Lawrence | 10+ Percentage change in CPI-W between preceding year and year prior to that. Exception(s) - Newly constructed rental developments in which 20%+ comply with Mount Laurel II low- and moderate-income provisions. Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Stabilization Board |
| Trenton | 1+ 4% no more than every 12 months, 2% for a senior citizen tenant or disabled tenant Exception(s) - Owner-occupied 1- and 2-family dwellings, public or other federally subsidized housing, motels, hotels, similar premises, any portion of a building rented commercially, newly constructed or converted housing rented for the first time (until re-rented). Vacancy Decontrol. 25% maximum increase at decontrol unless the landlord can demonstrate that the rent increase is justified under the provisions of the rent control ordinance, or can demonstrate that the previous tenancy was not based on an arms-length business relationship. | Rent Stabilization Board |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Hightstown, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Pennington, Princeton, West Windsor.
Listed as repealed: Robbinsville (Mobile home rent control ordinance repealed in 2020.). Ask the municipality about any transition or remaining provisions.
Mercer rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,623
- Renter households
- 54,545
- Share renting
- 38%
County estimates from ACS 2024 5-year. These describe the housing market, not typical deposit awards or court outcomes. Use your actual deposit, refund and disputed deductions in the worksheet.
Data sources →Free help in Mercer County
Central Jersey Legal Services - Mercer County office ↗
198 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608
609-695-6249Call about eligibility, availability and appointments for deposit disputes.
Statewide intake: Legal Services of New Jersey, 1-888-576-5529. For court forms and procedure, use the vicinage ombudsman contact; court staff cannot give legal advice.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice: deposit-return resource ↗Plan for the next step
What if the landlord claims I owe money?
A counterclaim, including charges you accept, can reduce your net recovery. Check response deadlines and costs.
Could filing affect me as a renter?
A deposit lawsuit differs from eviction, but records may be public. Still renting or facing threats? Ask local legal aid.
What happens after I win?
A judgment does not automatically collect the money. Follow the NJ collection steps if unpaid.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Where the local details come from
Court and municipal directories, the DCA rent-control survey and the linked rental programs. Local records checked September 4, 2026. Confirm office details and property-specific coverage with the source.
Sources for Mercer County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage (Vicinage 7)
- NJ Courts, Mercer vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- Central Jersey Legal Services - Mercer County office
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year, tables B25064 and B25003 (via Census Reporter)
- Rent Security Deposit Act, N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26 (official text)
Prepared by Alex Smirnof. Not reviewed by a licensed attorney. Educational information, not legal advice.