Camden County Small Claims Court

Camden County Small Claims Court

Ombudsman for Camden Small Claims Court

Each County has an Ombudsman assigned to assist small claims litigants (amongst other responsibilities). Part of their job responsibilities is to assist you with questions with your small claims court case. The ombudsman for Camden County is Vannessa Ravenelle. They can be reached at 856-379-2238. The fax number is 856-379-2278. The email address for the Camden County Ombudsman is CamOmbudsman.mailbox@judiciary.state.nj.us.

What areas are served by the Camden County Court?

Camden Court serves the following locations in Camden County: Camden, Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Winslow Township, Pennsauken Township, Voorhees Township, Lindenwold, Haddon Township, Collingswood, Haddonfield, Bellmawr, Gloucester City, Waterford Township, Pine Hill, Audubon, Runnemede, Berlin, Haddon Heights, Stratford, Barrington, Berlin Township, Somerdale, Clementon, Mount Ephraim, Magnolia, Oaklyn, Merchantville, Woodlynne, Lawnside, Gibbsboro, Brooklawn, Laurel Springs, Chesilhurst, Audubon Park, Hi-Nella, Pine Valley, and Tavistock.

Camden 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. Copies of these documents need to be provided to all the parties to the case, to the clerk of the Special Civil Part and the judge where the case was heard. Additionally, the person seeking an appeal has to pay a filing fee of $200. An additional deposit of $300 is required to be posted within 30 days (of the Notice of Appeal). The deposit is utilized to pay for settlement or court costs arising from the appeal. You receive the deposit back if you win your appeal. Additionally, you need to obtain a copy of the transcript from the original trial. A transcript is a written copy of the proceedings that occured at the trial. Transcripts can be very expensive. You are usually ordered to pay the estimate of the cost of making the transcrip or charged $300 for each day or partial day of trial. Because of the expense of an appeal, it is very important to ensure you are ready and prepared for the original trial – to save you the time and headaches of appealing an incorrect ruling. 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.

Claims NOT handled in Camden County Small Claims Court

• Malpractice (alleged malpractice by a doctor, lawyer, dentist, etc.)
• You cannot file an action for support (child) or alimony.
• You cannot file an action claiming you are owed money under a probate instrument (will or trust).

Special Note: If someone is under 18, the parent or guardian must file the small claims court action on the minor’s behalf.
Small Claims Court is one of three sections of Camden Superior Court’s Special Civil Part (the other two sections are Landlord / Tenant and regular Special Civil Part).

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. Small Claims cases are designed to follow rules and procedures that are much simpler and easier to understand than a regular civil case. This makes it that a non-attorney is able to file a case and present it quickly and without needing to learn lots of legal terminology and procedures. Generally, people file their own cases and represent themselves in court. A party can only ask the court for monetary relief not exceeding $3,000. 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.

Types of Claims Filed in Small Claims Court in Camden County

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

Should I file my small claims case in Camden County?

A claim can be filed in a County if at least one defendant lives there (or their business is located there). The location of a business is whichever county it is actually doing business or where the business’s registered office is located. For example, if you entered into a contract with someone and they live in Camden County, you can file the case in this County. If there are several defendants in a case, it is persmissible to file the action in any County where a defendant resides. If no defendants in the case live in a New Jersey County, the claim needs to be filed in the County where the action arose.

Camden County Special Civil Part

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. If a case exceeds $15,000, the appropriate location to file the case is the Law Division of Camden Superior Court.

Location of Camden County Small Claims Court

The Camden County Small Claims Courthouse is located at:

Hall of Justice

Camden County Hall of Justice

101 S. 5th Street, Suite 150

Camden, NJ 08103-4001

The Court’s telephone number is (856) 379-2202.