Burlington County Small Claims Court

Burlington County Small Claims Court

Caution: A minor cannot file an action in small claims court on their own behalf. He or she must have their parent or guardian file it on their behalf.

Special Civil Part Cases

The Special Civil Part handles cases where the amount in controversy (amount being sought by plaintiff) is more than $3,000, but less than or equal to $15,000). The rules are more formal than in small claims. Cases exceeding $15,000 are filed in the Law Division.

Burlington County Small Claims Court Location

The Small Claims Court is located here:

Burlington County Central Processing Office
Attention: Special Civil Intake, Courts Facility
49 Rancocas Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060

The Court’s telephone number is (609) 518-2623.

Should I file my small claims case in Burlington County?

A case may be filed in a County if at least one defendant resides there (or the business is located there). A business is located there is the business is actually conducting business in that county (“doing business”) or it is where the business’s registered office is located. For example if you want to sue your mechanic and their shop is located in Burlington County, you may file your case here. If you have multiple defendants in your case, you may file in whichever County one of the defendants is located. If none of the defendants reside in any New Jersey County, you are then allowed to file the action where the cause of case occured.

Which locations are served by the Burlington County Small Claims Court?

The Burlington Court serves the following areas: Evesham Township, Mount Laurel Township, Willingboro Township, Pemberton Township, Medford Township, Burlington Township, Moorestown Township, Maple Shade Township, Delran Township, Cinnaminson Township, Lumberton Township, Florence Township, Bordentown Township, Southampton Township, Burlington, Mount Holly Township, Edgewater Park Township, Westampton Township, Mansfield Township, Riverside Township, Chesterfield Township, North Hanover Township, Palmyra, New Hanover Township, Tabernacle Township, Shamong Township, Hainesport Township, Eastampton Township, Delanco Township, Medford Lakes, Bordentown, Springfield Township, Riverton, Beverly, Woodland Township, Bass River Township, Pemberton, Wrightstown, Washington, and Fieldsboro.

What Actions are Normally Filed in Burlington Small Claims Court?

  • Breach of contract (written or oral)
  • Seeking Return of a Down Payment
  • Action for Property Damage to a Motor Vehicle
  • Property Damage Or Loss
  • Consumer complaints of faulty workmanship or defective merchandise
  • Payment for Labor Performed
  • Action for Payment on NSF Check
  • Actionf or Back Rent
  • Return of security deposit (remember special rule can sue up to and including $5,000)

Burlington County Ombudsman

Each County in New Jersey has an Ombudsman. One of the tasks charged to the Ombudsman is to assist you with questions regarding your small claims court case. The ombudsman for Burlington County is Heshim J. Thomas, Esq.. They can be reached at 609-518-2530. The fax number is 609-518-2539. Their email address is BurOmbudsman.mailbox@judiciary.state.nj.us.

Types of Claims that CANNOT be filed in Small Claims Court:

  • Any malpractice action (these are usuall filed against doctors, lawyers, dentists, etc.)
  • Support or alimony (from a marriage or domestic dispute)
  • Any action regarding a payment under a will (or other probate matters)

Burlington Small Claims Court Appeals

If a party does not agree with the court’s decision on a case, the party can appeal the case to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court within 45 days of judgment. You need to file a Notice of Appeal, a copy of the Request for Transcript, and a Case Information Statement within the 45 days with the Clerk of the Appellate Division located at the Hughes Justice Complex, Trenton. You also need to file these documents with all parties to the case, the clerk where your case was first heard, and to the judge who made the ruling. You must also pay a $200 filing fee with the Notice of Appeal and deposit an additional $300 with the Clerk of the Appellate Division within 30 days of the Notice of Appeal. The deposit is used for settlement costs or court costs and is returned to the appealing party if they prevail on the appeal. A transcript of the original trial proceedings needs to be obtained. The transcript is the official record of the proceedings and should have everything that was said at the trial. This can be expensive. Generally you will be required to post an estimate of the cost of the transcript or $300 for each full or partial day of trial. Due to the high expense of the appeal process (and additional time you have to wait), we encourgae all small claims litigants to have their evidence and witnesses ready and be prepared to succintly state their position to the court at the initial trial. Additional information and answer to most questions can be found by contacting the Office of the Clerk of the Appellate Division for New Jersey at (609) 292-4822.
Small Claims actions are heard in the Special Civil Part of Burlington Superior Court. The Special Civil Part also ears Landlord/Tenant cases and regular civil cases (that are filed in Special Civil Part because the amount sought is below a certain amount).

Burlington County Small Claims Court
Burlington County Small Claims Court
Small Claims is a court where someone (the plaintiff) may bring an action against another person (the defendant) for money the plaintiff believes the defendant owes for one reason or another. Procedures for small claims court in New Jersey are much simpler than in other courts. These simplified rules allow a party to present their case in an expedient and cost-effective manner. Because the rules are more relaxed, usually most parties represent themselves in small claims court (as either plaintiff or defendant). In Burlington, one can only file an action seeking up to, and including, $3,000. This is true for all Small Claims Courts in New Jersey (no matter what County they are filed in). If a party has a claim more than $3,000, but less than $15,000.01, than the case should be filed in the regular Special Civil Part. Word of Caution: If your claim is for more than $3,000, you can file it in small claims court, but you give up your right to collect any money in excess of $3,000. You cannot recoup this excess in a separate or subsequent action.

12 thoughts on “Burlington County Small Claims Court”

  1. I lent someone a sum of $450. This was a loan and to be paid back in a timely manner. It was more of an oral contract, but there are also text messages between us. He asked for the money to pay off monies owed to the court for parking tickets. We later had a falling out and he is not responding to texts or calls. Is this matter worth me taking to Small Clains Court?

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  2. I want to take someone to court for not doing what I asked (oral agreement unfortunately never got it in writing), I have all the proof to win, but I want more information on how to take this person to court. I see the court file fee is 22$, is there anything else? any other charges that I need to know about? any info would be greatly appreciated.

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  3. As a homeowner, with a tenant, can I file a complaint against the management company, in which I hired to manage my property for one year. The company has been consistently tardy in forwarding me my monies as the homeowner, even to the point of withholding $300 dollars, without providing me with an acceptable answer.

    Thank you

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  4. I Migdalia Perez is writing regarding a garnishment i put back in 2012 no one has responded regarding claim or garnished from Edwin Lugo claim# ocn-SC002546-11

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  5. If the plaintiff and defendants are the only witnesses to a property damage claim, how are such matters considered? If the defendant denies responsibility, what criteria is used by judge? (the defendant blew up my vehicle engine while lending incompetent assistance)

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  6. I gave a deposit to rent an apt in Browns Mills. I believe I am being scammed because I gave a 300.00 postal money order to the landlord’s property manager. No lease was signed as it was tentatively supposed to be a scheduled time to look at the apt after the repairs and the inspection. The landlord has changed the move in date 5 times and still refuses to deliver the apt to date since Feb 15. The man keeps saying he will refund my 300.00 but then refuses to answer my calls. When he does respond he tells me to call him back and keeps hanging up on me. Today he finally answered the phone and said he was thinking that he should not give me my deposit back because he wants me to have this apartment but he won’t deliver it to date still asking for more time. I refused the 6th move in date and said I am no longer interested as he has had me waiting since 2/15/17 to move in. The landlord just told me he will give me half of my deposit back although he refused to deliver the apt. I called the tax office to obtain the name & address of the legal owner of the property so I can sue him for the full amount of my deposit. Can I please get some advice or help pertaining to getting my deposit back? Thank you. Chris

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  7. I need to take my dentist to small claims court before it gets too late.I went to get my silver fillings replaced to white ones and then I was happy but the following week i was in pain so I thought it was from the needle or could be from the drilling, but it wasn’t.so a couple more days went by and by the third week I have taken Tylenol to see if it would help.So I called the smile center to see if I could be seen. So i called back the front desk said That Mr. Sabato was on medical leave, which I thought it sound weird.Plus he said to me that he was there for six months. Then i asked the front desk Look I am in so much pain that I need to get in,I’ll take Dr.Sabato, so the front desk put me on hold.then she came back on and said to me,can you come in on a monday and I said yes just to get out of pain.So i showed up on that monday and I didn’t know I saw the owner till I looked on the dentist web page.So he took more ex-rays on the same tooth.Then he said to me. Take ibrophin 600 mg and you will be fine in 48 hours if not call me on monday which the date was feb.5th.So after that exray they sent me to a specialist so I went to Sara Fonseca DDS. So when she did xrays again so then dr.sara started with tooth after she did the xrays to find out which one it was,then she gave me Novocain and started drilling my white filling out and I asked her what did that dentist do.” they put your filling on top of your nerve and that’s is why you are in so much pain.So I went back twice.Because she had to do a root canal on top of it.So I called The Smile Center back and told Nichole I will be filling a small claims against them.So when I called them back,nichole said I will call you back on monday which she didn’t because she was not in the office,so that was a lie.I called her back on a Wednesday and she wasn’t there again,so I called back on a friday and again she wasn’t there.so that past monday i called her and i left a message so to let me know that my cell number has changed. So on that friday I talked to the front desk and she called her cell for Nichole to call me ,but she never did.Nichole said to me let us talk to the other dentist and I will get back to you. now here it is Feb.22nd and I heard nothing from the smile center.All I wanted was to replace my silver with white ones to make my smile better not knowing the hell I went threw for 3 to 4 weeks of pain.please help me

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  8. I have a question regarding a neighbor who cut my fence while I was not home in 2015. My deranged neighbor cut my fence (stockade) without asking me while I was at work. I did not realize I had been on his property for at least six years.

    My question is, is there a status of limitations in Riverside, NJ, that I can make him pay for cutting my fence without my permission or without notifying me first.

    Thank you for any information.

    Narcie Haran

    Reply
  9. I had put a down payment for services
    I cancelled the event and requested my down payment be refunded
    I was told by the planting that the refunded was in the mail
    It had been over a month and monies had not been refunded . I have left numerous phone calls text messages and even supplied documentation showing monies removed from my account
    This person lives in or business is located in Marlton,New Jersey Do I have the right the right small claims office
    If I file a claim or can I get reimburse for expenses occurred for attending hearing. I live out of town
    Thank you

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  10. I’m trying to find the page so I can file a claim none of the above numbers work! Very frustrating. May I have a direct link so I can file a claim?

    Reply

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