Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in New Jersey
Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in New Jersey, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.
Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases
Statewide: No statewide statutory right to counsel in eviction cases found. N.J.S.A. 2A:18, 2A:42 (section lists reviewed; no counsel provision)
- Jersey City: Yes, by city ordinance (Ord. 23-047) through the Division of Tenants' Right to Counsel; development-fee funding is limited to households at or below 80% of area median income. Source
- Newark: Yes (city program via OTLS) for tenants at or below 200% FPL (exception for those 60+ and infirm). Source
Free legal aid organizations
- Legal Services of New Jersey — LSNJLAW Hotline — Free civil legal help for financially eligible low-income NJ residents; 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529), Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.Serves: Hudson County (Jersey City), Essex County (Newark), Bergen County (Hackensack), Middlesex County (New Brunswick), Union County (Elizabeth), Passaic County (Paterson)
- Legal Services of New Jersey - LSNJLAW Hotline — 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529), Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; free for financially eligible low-income New Jersey residents; online intake also available.Serves: Gloucester County, Cumberland County
- Legal Services (Cumberland County) - phone listed by NJ Courts — NJ Courts directory lists Cumberland County legal services at 856-691-0494 and lawyer referral at 856-696-5550.Serves: Cumberland County
Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in New Jersey
If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.
Official court and state resources
- NJ Legislature - Statutes database (Title 2A ch. 18/39/42; Title 46 ch. 8)
- NJ Legislature - Chapter Laws
- NJ DCA - Truth in Renting guide
- NJ Courts - Landlord/Tenant self-help
- NJ Courts - Rules of Court (R. 6:1-2)
Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.
← New Jersey landlord-tenant law · Legal help in other states
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.