Question 1 of 8. We fill in the forms above with your answers.
The Essex County forms you need
Essex County requires 3 forms to open a small claims case:
- Small Claims Complaint - Non-Motor Vehicle (CN 10532)
- Small Claims Complaint - Motor Vehicle (CN 10533)
- Small Claims Summons and Return of Service (CN 10534)
We keep the current Essex County versions. The forms are not the hard part — filling them out is. The claim has to describe what happened in the language the court expects, and that is where most first-time filers get sent home to try again.
- Claim limit
- $5,000
- Filing fee
- $35
- Court
- Special Civil Part
- File online
- Yes
Where to file these forms
Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex Vicinage, Special Civil Part
Essex County Hall of Records, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite/Room 241, Newark, NJ 07102
973-776-9300
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
- Electronically via JEDS
- By mail to the Essex Special Civil Part office
- In person at the Essex County Hall of Records, Newark
Common questions
What forms do I need for small claims in Essex County?
Essex County requires: Small Claims Complaint - Non-Motor Vehicle (CN 10532); Small Claims Complaint - Motor Vehicle (CN 10533); Small Claims Summons and Return of Service (CN 10534). File them at Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex Vicinage, Special Civil Part.
Where do I file small claims forms in Essex County?
Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex Vicinage, Special Civil Part, Essex County Hall of Records, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite/Room 241, Newark. You may also be able to file online.
How much does it cost to file in Essex County?
The filing fee is $35, plus $7 per defendant for service. Fees change — confirm the current amount with the clerk at 973-776-9300 before you file.
The Essex County filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your Essex County filing forms, completed with your claim in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex Vicinage, Special Civil Part's address, hours, and fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-23 · Sourced from njcourts.gov: /self-help/small-claims-court, /self-help/special-civil-court, /public/directories/court-services/special-civil-part-offices-dir, /courts/vicinages/essex, /courts/vicinages/essex/offices, statewide forms CN 10290/10532/10533/10534/10837, and statewide fee schedule CN 11112 and N.J.S.A. 22A:2-37.1 (Special Civil Part filing, service and process fees, incl. Small Claims Section). See how we verify.