(a) By Whom Ordered; Grounds. In actions in the Superior Court a change in venue may be ordered by the Assignment Judge or the designee of the Assignment Judge of the county in which venue is laid or by a judge of such county sitting in the Chancery Division, General Equity, or the presiding judge of the Family Part, or the designee of the Assignment Judge for the Special Civil Part, (1) if the venue is not laid in accordance with R. 4:3-2; or (2) if there is a substantial doubt that a fair and impartial trial can be had in the county where venue is laid; or (3) for the convenience of parties and witnesses in the interest of justice; or (4) in Family Part post-judgment motions, if both parties reside outside the county of original venue and application is made to the court by either party to change venue to a county where one of the parties now resides.
(b) Time; Form of Order; Filing. A motion for a change of venue shall be made not later than 10 days after the expiration of the time prescribed by R. 4:6-1 for the service of the last permissible responsive pleading, or, if the action is brought pursuant to R. 4:67 (summary actions), on or before the return date. If not so made, objections to venue shall be deemed waived except that if the moving party relies on R. 4:3-3(a)(2) the motion may be made at any time before trial. The order changing venue shall not be incorporated in any other order and shall be filed in triplicate.
(c) Ex Parte Orders. At any time prior to the filing and service of the first answer by any defendant to the complaint, plaintiff may apply ex parte for an order changing venue to another county in which venue may be properly laid. The application shall be granted unless it appears that there is good cause for its denial. An order of denial shall state the reasons with specificity.
