New Jersey / Warren County
Warren 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 Belvidere court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Warren County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Warren County Courthouse
413 Second Street (mail: PO Box 900)
Belvidere, NJ 07823 - Call before visiting
- 908-750-8100 ext. 13910
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.
Vicinage 13 (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren) shares administration with Somerset and Hunterdon. Use the Warren County office when filing a case in this county.
More court contacts, rooms and procedural help
The Belvidere office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 908-332-7700 ext. 13910
- Mediation and arbitration
- 908-332-7700 ext. 13870
Court forms and procedure: Court User Resource Center - Somerset County Courthouse, 20 North Bridge Street, 5th Floor, Somerville, NJ 08876, 908-332-7700 ext. 13240, [email protected]. Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Contact the ombudsman for appointments in Hunterdon and Warren counties. 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 Phillipsburg rental can need a records call before a Belvidere filing.
Phillipsburg lists its Inspections office for rental registration. Hackettstown has a landlord-registration contact; Belvidere lists the Municipal Clerk. The county courthouse is in Belvidere, but the rental’s municipal record stays with its local office.
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 22 municipal clerks in Warren County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Allamuchy Township | 292 Alphano Road, Allamuchy, NJ 07820 | (908) 852-5132 |
| Alpha Borough | 1001 East Boulevard, Alpha, NJ 08865 | (908) 454-0088 |
| Belvidere Town | 691 Water Street, Belvidere, NJ 07823 | (908) 475-5331 |
| Blairstown Township | 106 Route 94, Blairstown, NJ 07825 | (908) 362-6663 |
| Franklin Township | 2093 Route 57, Broadway, NJ 08808-0547 | (908) 689-3994 |
| Frelinghuysen Township | 210 Main Street, Johnsonburg, NJ 07825 | (908) 852-4121 |
| Greenwich Township | 321 Greenwich Street, Stewartsville, NJ 08886 | (908) 859-0909 |
| Hackettstown Town | 215 Stiger Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 | (908) 852-3130 |
| Hardwick Township | 40 Spring Valley Road, Hardwick, NJ 07825 | (908) 362-6528 |
| Harmony Township | 3003 Belvidere Road, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 | (908) 213-1600 |
| Hope Township | 407 Hope-Great Meadows Road, P.O. Box 284, Hope, NJ 07844 | (908) 459-5011 |
| Independence Township | 286-B Route 46, P.O. Box 164, Great Meadows, NJ 07838 | (908) 637-4133 |
| Knowlton Township | 628 Route 94, Columbia, NJ 07832 | (908) 496-4816 |
| Liberty Township | 349 Mountain Lake Road, Great Meadows, NJ 07838-9727 | (908) 637-4579 |
| Lopatcong Township | Municipal Building, 232 South Third Street, Morris Park, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 | (908) 859-3355 |
| Mansfield Township | 100 Port Murray Road, Port Murray, NJ 07865 | (908) 689-6151 |
| Oxford Township | 11 Green Street, Oxford, NJ 07863 | (908) 453-3098 |
| Phillipsburg Town | 120 Fillmore St., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 | (908) 454-5500 |
| Pohatcong Township | 50 Municipal Drive, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 | (908) 454-6121 |
| Washington Borough | 100 Belvidere Avenue, Washington, NJ 07882-1426 | (908) 689-3600 |
| Washington Township | 211 State Route 31 North, Washington, NJ 07882 | (908) 689-7200 |
| White Township | 555 CR 519, Belvidere, NJ 07823 | (908) 475-2093 |
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
Warren 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 Warren 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 413 Second Street (mail: PO Box 900), Belvidere, NJ 07823. 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 Warren County records
All 3 researched rental-registration programs in Warren 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.
Phillipsburg: Registration for Licensing Rental Property (Phillipsburg Code Chapter 464) and annual Certificate of Habitability ↗
Office of Inspections (Inspections/Building Department), 120 Filmore Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
The annual registration statement ($100 per unit, due May 1) records the business name, owner full name, owner address, phone, cell and email, and the managing agent's name and address; the Certificate of Habitability is renewed yearly. Not stated; email [email protected] or phone (Mon-Fri 8-4), or OPRA to the Town Clerk (an OPRAmachine request on rental properties/certificates of habitability exists).
908-454-5500 ext. 341 or 346Hackettstown: Landlord Registration / Rental Property Registration and licence (municipal ordinance) ↗
Landlord Registration office, 215 W Stiger St., Hackettstown, NJ 07840 (Mary Matusewicz)
Every residential rental must be registered and licensed with the Town (Landlord Rental Property Registration Application and Landlord Dwelling Unit Application, with liability insurance proof) before it is rented; the owner fields on the applications were not shown on the fetched page. Not stated; email [email protected] or phone, or OPRA to the Town Clerk.
908-852-3130 ext. 143Belvidere: Residential Rental Property Registration (annual statement due January 1) ↗
Municipal Clerk, Belvidere Town Hall, 691 Water Street, Belvidere, NJ 07823
The annual statement records the name, address and telephone number of the record owner(s) and of the rental business owner if different, the fuel dealer, and authorized occupant counts; the Clerk provides copies to applicable local agencies. Not stated; Clerk's office hours Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm, or OPRA request to the Municipal Clerk.
(908) 475-5331
Rent-control directory: 2 listed municipalities in Warren 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lopatcong | 3+ 3% 2.8% if tenant provides their own heat or pays cost of fuel. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, similar premises, housing containing fewer than 3 units. Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Leveling Board |
| Phillipsburg | 1+ Annual increase in CPI- Northeast multiplied by 1.1 percent. Waiver permitted one per year based on a documented need to make capital repairs to one or more units, or the common area of the property, or for documented extraordinary annual increases in utility or property insurance costs At vacation of unit: No more than 10% or 15% with documented need for making capital improvements Motels, commercial rental properties, hotels, boarding houses, educational dormitories, public housing, housing accommodating Section 8 recipients, nursing homes, structures containing three rental units or less with one of those units being owner occupied, all buildings built in 2005 or after | Rent Control Board |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Allamuchy, Alpha, Belvidere, Blairstown, Franklin, Frelinghuysen, Greenwich, Hackettstown, Hardwick, Harmony, Hope, Independence, Knowlton, Liberty, Mansfield, Oxford, Pohatcong, Washington Borough, Washington Township, White.
Warren rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,409
- Renter households
- 11,319
- Share renting
- 25%
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 Warren County
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey (LSNWJ) - Warren County office ↗
91 Front Street, Belvidere, NJ 07823
(908) 475-2010Call 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 Warren County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 13 (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 13 (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 13 (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren) - NJ Judiciary brochure: Warren County Courthouse, 413 2nd St., P.O. Box 900, Belvidere 07823, 908-750-8100
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 13 (Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren) - njcourts Special Civil directory mirror: PO Box 900, Belvidere 07823
- NJ Courts, Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- Legal Services of Northwest Jersey (LSNWJ) - Warren County office
- Legal Services of Northwest Jersey (LSNWJ) - Warren County office - Warren County - LSNWJ, 91 Front Street, Belvidere 07823-1437, 908-475-2010
- 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.