New Jersey probate, civil and family deadlines

Probate

• Inheritance tax return and payment

  8 months after the date of death

  An Inheritance Tax return must be filed and the tax paid on the transfer of real or personal property within eight months after the date of death.

  N.J.S.A. 54:35-1, 54:35-3, 54:38-1(a)(4); N.J. Div. of Taxation Form O-10-C · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Creditors to present claims (9 months after death)

  9 months after the date of death

  Creditors of the decedent shall present their claims to the personal representative of the decedent's estate in writing and under oath ... within nine months from the date of the decedent's death.

  N.J.S.A. 3B:22-4 · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Mail notice of probate to beneficiaries and next of kin

  60 days after the order admitting the will

  Within 60 days after the date of the probate of a will, the personal representative shall cause to be mailed to all beneficiaries under the will and to all persons designated by R. 4:80-1(a)(3), at their last known addresses, a notice in writing that the will has been probated

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:80-6 · Checked 4 October 2026 · Read the rule

Civil

• Proof of service, answer or default needed to avoid court dismissal notice

  4 months after the complaint was filed

  whenever an action has been pending for four months or, if a general equity action, for two months, ... (1) proof of service or acknowledgment of service filed with the court; or

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:13-7(a), (b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Answer due

  35 days after the summons and complaint were served

  within 35 days after service of the summons and complaint on that defendant

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:6-1(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Answer due after pre-answer motion denied or postponed

  10 days after the court decided the motion

  the responsive pleading shall be served within 10 days after notice of the court's action

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:6-1(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Response to amended pleading due

  20 days after the amended pleading was served

  A party shall plead in response to an amended pleading within the time remaining for response to the original pleading ... or within 20 days after service of the amended pleading, whichever period is longer

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:9-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Interrogatory answers due

  60 days after the discovery requests were served

  the party served with interrogatories shall serve answers thereto upon the party propounding them within 60 days ... after being served with the interrogatories.

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:17-4(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Response to document requests due

  35 days after the discovery requests were served

  The party on whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 35 days after the service of the request ... except that a defendant may serve a response within 50 days after service of the summons and complaint on that defendant

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:18-1(b)(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Response to requests for admission due (else deemed admitted)

  30 days after the discovery requests were served

  The matter is admitted unless, within 30 days after service of the request, ... a defendant shall not be required to serve answers or objections before the expiration of 45 days ... after being served with the summons and complaint.

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:22-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Notice of motion filed and served

  16 days before the hearing

  not later than 16 days before the specified return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Opposition and cross-motion due

  8 days before the hearing

  not later than 8 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Reply papers due

  4 court days before the hearing

  not later than 4 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Summary judgment motion filed and served

  28 days before the hearing

  not later than 28 days before the time specified for the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:46-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Summary judgment opposition due

  10 days before the hearing

  not later than 10 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:46-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Summary judgment reply due

  4 court days before the hearing

  not later than four days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:46-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Last day to serve amended interrogatory answers

  20 days before discovery closes

  amended answers shall be served not later than 20 days prior to the end of the discovery period

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:17-7 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Last return date for summary judgment motion

  30 days before trial

  no later than 30 days before the scheduled trial date

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:46-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Confer and exchange pretrial information

  7 days before trial

  seven days prior to the initial trial date, exchange the pretrial information as prescribed by Appendix XXIII to these rules

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:25-7(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Motion for a new trial due

  20 days after the verdict or decision

  A motion for a new trial shall be served not later than 20 days after the court's conclusions are announced

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:49-1(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Renewed motion for judgment after a jury verdict due

  20 days after the verdict or decision

  within 20 days after the verdict or the jury's discharge

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:40-2(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Notice of appeal to Appellate Division

  45 days after judgment was entered

  appeals from final judgments of courts, final judgments or orders of judges sitting as statutory agents, ... shall be filed within 45 days of their entry.

  N.J. Ct. R. 2:4-1(a); R. 2:4-3(e) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Outer limit: relief from judgment for mistake, new evidence or fraud

  12 months after judgment was entered

  The motion shall be made within a reasonable time, and for reasons (a), (b) and (c) of R. 4:50-1 not more than one year ... after the judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken.

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:50-2 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Motion for reconsideration / to alter or amend judgment

  20 days after notice of entry was served

  shall be served not later than 20 days after service of the judgment or order upon all parties by the party obtaining it

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:49-2 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Civil notes

No day is worked out for these. Read the rule.

• Summons must issue within 15 days of the Track Assignment Notice

  If a summons is not issued within 15 days from the date of the Track Assignment Notice, ... the action may be dismissed in accordance with R. 4:37-2(a).

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:4-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Uniform (Form A/C) interrogatories deemed served with the complaint

  The defendant shall serve answers to the appropriate uniform interrogatories within 60 days after service ... by that defendant of the answer to the complaint.

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:17-1(b)(2) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Discovery period depends on track and first answer

  counting from the date the first answer is filed or from 90 days after the first defendant is served, whichever occurs first

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:24-1(a), (c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Motion opposition is counted back from the return date

  not later than 8 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Summons served by mail: no default unless the defendant answers

  If defendant does not answer or appear within 60 days following mailed service,

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:4-4(c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Family

• Answer (or appearance) due in divorce/family action

  35 days after the petition was served

  within 35 days after service of the summons and complaint on that defendant

  N.J. Ct. R. 4:6-1(a), applied by R. 5:1-1 and R. 5:4-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Notice of motion filed and served

  16 days before the hearing

  not later than 16 days before the specified return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Opposition and cross-motion due

  8 days before the hearing

  not later than 8 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Reply papers due

  4 court days before the hearing

  not later than 4 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Notice of appeal from final family judgment

  45 days after the judgment was entered

  appeals from final judgments of courts, final judgments or orders of judges sitting as statutory agents, ... shall be filed within 45 days of their entry.

  N.J. Ct. R. 2:4-1(a); R. 2:2-3(a)(1) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

Family notes

No day is worked out for these. Read the rule.

• Motion opposition is counted back from the return date

  not later than 8 days before the return date

  N.J. Ct. R. 1:6-3(a) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Case Information Statement due 20 days after Answer or Appearance is filed

  with the clerk in the county of venue within 20 days after the filing of an Answer or Appearance ... or at any other time designated by the court.

  N.J. Ct. R. 5:5-2(b), (c) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Summary family actions: responsive pleading 15 days before hearing

  the defendant may file a responsive pleading no later than 15 days prior to the hearing date

  N.J. Ct. R. 5:4-3(b) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• No post-filing waiting period found; grounds carry their own time periods

  Irreconcilable differences which have caused the breakdown of the marriage for a period of six months

  N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(d), (i) · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule

• Civil post-judgment rules apply to family actions through R. 5:1-1

  Civil family actions shall also be governed by the rules in Part IV insofar as applicable ... and except as otherwise provided by the rules in Part V.

  N.J. Ct. R. 5:1-1 · Checked 24 October 2026 · Read the rule