New Jersey / Monmouth County
Monmouth 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 Freehold court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Monmouth County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Monmouth County Courthouse
71 Monument Street
Freehold, NJ 07728 - Call before visiting
- 732-358-8700 ext. 87590
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 Freehold office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 732-358-8700 ext. 87590
- Mediation and arbitration
- 732-358-8700 ext. 87680
Court forms and procedure: Self-Help Resource Center - Monmouth County Courthouse, 71 Monument Street, Room West Wing, 106, Floor Lower Level, Freehold, NJ 07728, 732-358-8700 ext. 87260, [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.
Freehold Borough is not Freehold Township.
The rental program listed for Freehold Borough belongs to the borough. Choose the township clerk for a township property. In Asbury Park, the directory separately lists Code Enforcement and the Rent Regulation Officer.
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 53 municipal clerks in Monmouth County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Township | 1 Aberdeen Square, Aberdeen, NJ 07747 | 732-583-4200 |
| Allenhurst Borough | 125 Corlies Avenue, Allenhurst, NJ 07711 | 732-531-2757 |
| Allentown Borough | 8 North Main Street, PO Box 487, Allentown, NJ 08501 | 609-259-3151 |
| Asbury Park City | 1 Municipal Plaza, Asbury Park, NJ 07712 | 732-775-2100 x 5720 or 5721 |
| Atlantic Highlands Borough | 100 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 | 732-291-1444 x 3103 |
| Avon-by-the-Sea Borough | 301 Main Street, Avon, NJ 07717 | 732-502-4510 x 236 |
| Belmar Borough | 601 Main Street, Belmar, NJ 07719 | 732-681-3700 |
| Bradley Beach Borough | 701 Main Street, Bradley Beach, NJ 07720 | 732-776-2999 |
| Brielle Borough | 601 Union Lane, PO Box 445, Brielle, NJ 08730 | 732-528-6600 x 5100 |
| Colts Neck Township | 124 Cedar Drive, Colts Neck, NJ 07722 | 732-462-5470 x 100 |
| Deal Borough | Norwood and Roseld Avenues, PO Box 56, Deal, NJ 07723 | 732-531-1454, opt. 3 |
| Eatontown Borough | 47 Broad Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724 | 732-389-7601 |
| Englishtown Borough | 15 Main Street, Englishtown, NJ 07726 | 732-446-9235, option 5 |
| Fair Haven Borough | 748 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704 | 732-747-0241 x 221 |
| Farmingdale Borough | 11 Asbury Avenue, PO Box 58, Farmingdale, NJ 07727 | 732-938-4077 |
| Freehold Borough | 30 Mechanic Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 | 732-462-1259 |
| Freehold Township | 1 Municipal Plaza, Freehold, NJ 07728 | 732-294-2000 |
| Hazlet Township | 1766 Union Avenue, PO Box 371, Hazlet, NJ 07730 | 732-264-1700 x 8686 |
| Highlands Borough | 151 Navesink Avenue, Highlands, NJ 07732 | 732-872-1224 x 201 |
| Holmdel Township | 4 Crawford's Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733 | 732-946-2820 x 1212 |
| Howell Township | 4567 Route 9 North, Howell, NJ 07731 | 732-938-4500 x 2150, 2151 or 2155 |
| Interlaken Borough | 100 Grassmere Avenue, Interlaken, NJ 07712 | 732-531-7405 |
| Keansburg Borough | 29 Church Street, Keansburg, NJ 07734 | 732-787-0215 x 112 |
| Keyport Borough | 70 W. Front Street, Keyport, NJ 07735 | 732-739-5121 |
| Lake Como Borough | 1740 Main Street, Lake Como, NJ 07719-0569 | 732-681-3232 x 203 |
| Little Silver Borough | 480 Prospect Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739 | 732-842-2400 |
| Loch Arbour Village | 550 Main Street, Loch Arbour, NJ 07711 | 732-531-4740 |
| Long Branch City | Municipal Building, 344 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740 | 732-571-5686 |
| Manalapan Township | 120 Route 522, Manalapan, NJ 07726 | 732-446-8314 |
| Manasquan Borough | 201 E. Main Street, Manasquan, NJ 08736 | 732-223-0544 ext. 235 |
| Marlboro Township | 1979 Township Drive, Marlboro, NJ 07746 | 732-536-0200 x 1234 or 1235 |
| Matawan Borough | 201 Broad Street, Matawan, NJ 07747 | 732-566-3898 x 602 |
| Middletown Township | 1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748 | 732-615-2016 |
| Millstone Township | 470 Stagecoach Road, Millstone Township, NJ 08510 | 732-446-4249 x 1702 |
| Monmouth Beach Borough | 18 Willow Ave., Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750 | 732-229-2204 x 1002 |
| Neptune City Borough | 106 West Sylvania Avenue, PO Box 2098, Neptune City, NJ 07753 | 732-776-7224 x 41 |
| Neptune Township | 25 Neptune Boulevard, PO Box 1125, Neptune, NJ 07753 | 732-988-5200 x 234 or 235 |
| Ocean Township | 399 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, NJ 07755 | 732-531-5000 x 3322 |
| Oceanport Borough | 910 Oceanport Way, PO Box 370, Oceanport, NJ 07757 | 732-222-8221 |
| Red Bank Borough | 90 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701 | 732-530-2777 x 0257 |
| Roosevelt Borough | 33 North Rochdale Avenue, PO Box 128, Roosevelt, NJ 08555-0128 | 609-448-0539 x 4 |
| Rumson Borough | 80 East River Road, Rumson, NJ 07760 | 732-842-3300 |
| Sea Bright Borough | 1099 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright, NJ 07760 | 732-842-0099 x 18 |
| Sea Girt Borough | 321 Baltimore Blvd. & Fourth Avenues, PO Box 296, Sea Girt, NJ 08750 | 732-449-9433 x 111 |
| Shrewsbury Borough | 419 Sycamore Avenue, PO Box 7420, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702 | 732-741-4200 x 108 |
| Shrewsbury Township | 1979 Crawford Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724 | 732-542-0572 |
| Spring Lake Borough | 423 Warren Avenue, Spring Lake, NJ 07762 | 732-449-0800 x 620 |
| Spring Lake Heights Borough | 555 Brighton Avenue, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762 | 732-449-3500 |
| Tinton Falls Borough | 556 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724-3298 | 732-542-3400 x 260 |
| Union Beach Borough | 650 Poole Avenue, Union Beach, NJ 07735 | 732-264-2277 |
| Upper Freehold Township | 314 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 | 609-758-7738 x 210 |
| Wall Township | 2700 Allaire Road, Wall, NJ 07719 | 732-449-8444 x 2200 |
| West Long Branch Borough | 965 Broadway, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 | 732-229-1756 x 100 |
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
Monmouth 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 Monmouth 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 71 Monument Street, Freehold, NJ 07728. 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 Monmouth County records
All 5 researched rental-registration programs in Monmouth 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.
Freehold Borough: Licensed Registered Property / Landlord Registration Program (Code Ch. 5.92, amended by Ord. 2025/13) ↗
Code Enforcement Office, 30 Mechanic Street, Freehold NJ 07728
Annual application (license year July 1-June 30, $100-$250) requiring the name, email, physical address and home/office/cell phone of all record owners and the agent/operator (including LLC members, partners, shareholders), a registered agent residing in Monmouth County who accepts service of process for the owner, and a floor plan; updates within 30 days of tenancy change. Borough publishes a public 'Registered Landlords List' PDF (license number, property address, owner name, owner mailing address/city/state/zip) at the URL above; registration itself is online via sdlportal.com (Freehold propertyRegistration).
(732) 462-5812 (Borough main 732-462-4200)Long Branch: Rental Certificate of Occupancy (required before each new tenant) ↗
Building Department, 344 Broadway, Long Branch NJ 07740 (Landlord Registration Form is under the City Clerk)
CO application per rental turnover (proof of paid taxes/sewer, no open permits); the Clerk holds the state Landlord Registration Form (record owner and agent names/addresses).
732-571-5690 (Building Dept, [email protected]); City Hall 732-222-7000Asbury Park: Certificate of Rental Compliance (formerly Certificate of Occupancy) on each change of occupancy ↗
Code Enforcement, 1 Municipal Plaza, 2nd floor, Asbury Park NJ 07712
Owner's application (via SDL Portal) for a Certificate of Rental Compliance before tenants occupy; owner contact fields not itemized on the page.
732-502-5742 ([email protected])Asbury Park: Rent Leveling annual registration (DCA/Landlord Registration Form + Tenant Lease Property Information Form, buildings with 3+ units) ↗
Rent Regulation Officer, 1 Municipal Plaza, Asbury Park NJ 07712
Annual filing by February 1 of the landlord's DCA Multiple Dwelling Registration or Landlord Registration Form (owner/agent identity) and a tenant lease information form for each 3+ unit rental property. Call the Rent Regulation Officer at 732-502-4577; tenants may file a Tenant Statement Form; no records-lookup procedure is described.
732-502-4577Neptune Township: Rental Certificate of Inspection (required when a dwelling is leased or rented; annual/long-term and short-term rental applications) ↗
Code Enforcement Department, 25 Neptune Blvd, Neptune NJ 07753 (Donald Clare, Director of Code & Construction)
Landlord's rental application and certificate of inspection for each rental (submitted through the webgeo.co online portal, including lead paint certification); owner fields not shown.
732-988-5200
Rent-control directory: 10 listed municipalities in Monmouth 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Asbury Park | 3+ 3.5%. 20% maximum increase with a successful landlord fair return appeal. Exception(s) - 1 & 2 family housing , motels and hotels, rooming and boarding homes, student housing, owner-occupied housing for 6 or more months of the year, price-restricted affordable housing, senior and nursing homes, group homes, seasonal rentals, homeless shelters, and 3 or more units constructed after June 25, 1987. buildings vacant before and since June 1, 2021. Vacancy Decontrol. | Rent Leveling Board |
| Atlantic Highlands | 5+ CPI or 1.5%, +/- tax pass-through. CPI used is (CPI published in 4th month prior to termination - CPI published in 16th month prior to termination) / CPI published in 16th month prior to termination, Multiple-Year Lease: First year's lease renewal increase may be sequentially added to subsequent years Exception(s) - commercial buildings w/ 2 or fewer units, housing structures of 4 or fewer units, condominiums, motels, hotels, and similar-type dwellings except any portion that is owned or controlled by a person/entity owning or controlling 5+ units that are rented. Vacancy and First-Time Rental Decontrol | Rent Leveling Board |
| Eatontown | 1+ No greater than the percentage increase in the CPI of the NY - East - NJ region published in the 4th month prior to lease expiration over the CPI published in the 16th month prior. Hardship or capital improvement increases may be approved by the Rent Board, but capital improvement increases shall not exceed 15% of tenant's rent. Exception(s) - Motels, Hotels, commercial buildings, owner-occupied housing structures with 2 units or fewer, and first-time rentals (until re-rented). Vacancy Decontrol (permanent). | Rent Leveling Board |
| Freehold Township | 4+ Calculated as a percentage of the difference between CPI 4 months before new lease and 4 months before current lease. Percentage can be no greater than 90%, if landlord pays heat, and no greater than 80%, if tenant pays heat. No more than 1 increase per year. Housing space being rented for the first time which shall not be restricted in the initial rent charged. Any subsequent rental increase, however, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Vacant units which shall not be restricted in the rental charged. Any subsequent rental increase, however, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Multiple dwellings containing fewer than four dwelling units. Motels, hotels and similar type buildings. Housing space which has been converted to condominium units, after the units' bona fide sale subsequent to conversion. | Rent Leveling Board |
| Howell | Mobile Homes only 5% and any increased cost to the landlord of utilities, space fees, and license fees. Vacancy Decontrol. 5% maximum increase. | Mobile Home Rent Control Board |
| Marlboro | Mobile Homes only Percentage increase of CPI for the NY - Northwest NJ Region over 12 month period ending 120 days prior to date of increase, not to exceed 5%. Increases for real estate taxes, licenses, fees, utilities, capital improvements, or hardship may be approved. Exception(s) - Any park or community operated on property owned by Township, newly constructed spaces (until re-rented), space rented to employee of landlord for which the rental is customarily restricted to such employees, and spaces vacant for 12+ months. This article shall not be binding on mobile home communities owned and operated as nonprofit corporations exempt from the Corporation Business Tax Act where the mobile home community is owner-occupied. Vacancy Decontrol (one per every 5 years) with 15% maximum increase. | Rent Control Board |
| Neptune Township | 5+ No greater than the percentage increase in the CPI for the New York - East - New Jersey region published in the fourth month prior to the month in which the lease or periodic tenancy terminates over the CPI published in the sixteenth month prior to the month of termination. Hardship or capital improvement increases may be approved. Exception(s): motels, hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, guesthouses; commercial rentals; owner-occupied dwellings with four (4) units or less rental units; single-family structures and housing structures in general with four (4) rental units or less. Newly-constructed structures and those rented for the first time are exempt for the tenant's first year rental. Further exemption may exist by the preemption by Federal and State Statutes regulating residential rents such as, but not limited to, dwellings owned by HUD, financed under Federal programs and subject to regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and housing regulated and provided under the New Jersey Housing Finance Agency Law of 1967. Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Leveling Board |
| Red Bank | 3+ CPI-U Northern NJ/NY/Long Island Area 4 months prior to the expiring lease's commencement and 4 months prior to its expiration. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, similar premises, commercial buildings containing 2 housing units or less, housing with 2 units or less, and newly constructed first-time rentals (until re-rented). Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Leveling Board |
| Shrewsbury Township | 1+ Annual increase in regional CPI-U for New York-East-New Jersey Exceptions: Motels, hotels and similar type buildings; commercial buildings with regards to commercial rentals; housing structures owner occupied with two (2) units or less rental units; housing units newly constructed and rented for the first time- with regards to tenant's first year rental. Enacted 2018. Vacancy decontrol. | Rent Leveling Board |
| Wall | Mobile Homes only Increased cost of utilities and mobile home space and/or license fees plus the lesser of 8% and the increased annual average of CPI-U NY/NJ/CT/PA region for calendar year preceding increase. Exception(s) - Newly constructed first-time rentals (until re-rented), space rented to employee of landlord for which the rental is customarily restricted to such employees. Vacancy decontrol after period of vacancy exceeding 12 months (until re-rented). | Mobile Home Rent Stabilization & Control Board |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Allentown, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Colts Neck, Deal, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Highlands, Holmdel, Interlaken, Keansburg, Keyport, Lake Como, Little Silver, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Manalapan, Manasquan, Matawan, Middletown, Millstone, Monmouth Beach, Neptune City Borough, Ocean, Oceanport, Roosevelt, Rumson, Sea Bright, Sea Girt, Shrewsbury Borough, Spring Lake, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, Upper Freehold, West Long Branch.
Listed as repealed: Hazlet (Repealed September 4, 2012); Spring Lake Heights (Repealed). Ask the municipality about any transition or remaining provisions.
Monmouth rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,827
- Renter households
- 61,539
- Share renting
- 24%
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 Monmouth County
South Jersey Legal Services (Monmouth County office; formerly Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services) ↗
303 West Main Street, Fourth Floor, Freehold, NJ 07728
732-414-6750Call 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 Monmouth County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 9 (Monmouth)
- NJ Courts, Monmouth vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- South Jersey Legal Services (Monmouth County office; formerly Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services)
- 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.