Short answer
You have 35 days to file an answer with the court. If you contest the foreclosure, a Superior Court judge hears the case in the county where the house is. If you accept the complaint or do not respond in 35 days, the case is uncontested and stays with the Office of Foreclosure.
The 35-day clock
The New Jersey Judiciary says that after the foreclosure complaint is filed, the defendant has 35 days to file an answer. The answer is where you state your reasons for contesting, such as the lender not following the Fair Foreclosure Act or not meeting its obligations. Because the deadline is set by the court, ignoring the papers does not stop the case. It lets the case move forward without your side being heard.
Contesting versus non-contesting
The Judiciary's mediation packet defines the terms. A contesting answer challenges the lender's right to foreclose, and it is sent to a judge. A non-contesting answer does not challenge that right with specificity, and the case is handled by the Office of Foreclosure in Trenton instead of going to a judge. The court's self-help page describes the same split: contested cases go to a Superior Court judge in the county where the property is located, and uncontested cases stay with the Office of Foreclosure.
Mediation has its own deadline
Do not confuse the answer deadline with the mediation deadline. The mediation packet says foreclosure mediation can be requested up to 60 days after service of the summons and complaint. After that, homeowners are only let in if they file a motion in the county where the foreclosure was filed and a court order allows them to participate. The packet adds that mediation does not stop a foreclosure action, so the answer should still be filed on time.
Think about a lawyer
The court's own instructions caution that some foreclosure cases are very complex and that you should consider getting a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the packet suggests contacting your county's legal services program, and county bar associations run lawyer referral services. Court staff can explain how the process works and answer questions about deadlines, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you whether to contest.
If you decide to sell instead
Some owners decide the better move is to sell and pay the loan from the proceeds. Kaizen Home Buyers makes cash offers on New Jersey houses as-is, with no repairs and no agent commission. We can give an offer within 24 hours and close in 14 to 30 days or on the date you choose. Call 267-329-0084. Selling does not replace filing an answer if you were served, so ask an attorney how to protect your rights while a sale is arranged.