1:5-6. Filing
(a) Time for Filing. In any trial court, unless otherwise stated, all papers required to be served by R. 1:5-1 shall be filed with the court either before service or promptly thereafter, unless the rule requiring service or filing provides otherwise. Whenever in these rules provision is made for the publication, mailing or posting of notice, proof thereof shall be filed with the court within 20 days after the publication or mailing or posting.
(b) What Constitutes Filing With the Court. Except as otherwise provided by R. 1:6-4 (motion papers), R. 1:6-5 (briefs), R. 4:42-1(e) (orders and judgments), and R. 5:5-4 (motions in Family actions), a paper is filed with the trial court if the original is filed as follows:
(1) In civil actions in the Superior Court, Law Division, and in actions in the Superior Court, Chancery Division, General Equity, except mortgage and tax foreclosure actions, with the deputy clerk of the Superior Court in the county of venue;
(2) In criminal actions in the Superior Court, Law Division, with the Criminal Division Manager in the county of venue, as designee of the deputy clerk of the Superior Court;
(3) In mortgage and tax foreclosure actions, with the Clerk of the Superior Court, unless and until the action is deemed contested and the papers have been sent by the Clerk to the county of venue, in which event subsequent papers shall be filed with the deputy clerk of the Superior Court in the county of venue;
(4) In actions in the Chancery Division, Family Part, with the deputy clerk of the Superior Court in the county of venue if the action is for dissolution of marriage, with the Surrogate of the county of venue if the action is for adoption, and in all other actions, with the Family Division Manager in the county of venue, as designee of the deputy clerk of the Superior Court;
(5) In probate matters in the Surrogate's Court, with the Surrogate, and in actions in the Chancery Division, Probate Part, with the Surrogate of the county of venue as deputy clerk of the Superior Court;
(6) In actions of the Special Civil Part, as provided by Part VI of these rules;
(7) In actions in the Tax Court, as provided by Part VIII of these rules.
The foregoing notwithstanding, in any case the judge or, at the judge's chambers, a member of the staff may accept papers for filing if they show the filing date and the judge's name and office. The filed papers shall be forwarded forthwith to the appropriate office.
(c) Nonconforming Papers. The clerk shall file all papers presented for filing and may notify the person filing if such papers do not conform to these rules, except that
(1) the paper shall be returned stamped "Received but not Filed (date)" if it is presented for filing unaccompanied by any of the following:
(A) the required filing fee; or
(B) a completed Case Information Statement as required by R. 4:5-1 in the form set forth in Appendix XII to these rules; or
(C) in Family Part actions, the affidavit of insurance coverage required by R. 5:4-2(f), the Parents Education Program registration fee required by N.J.S.A. 2A:34-12.2, or the Confidential Litigant Information Sheet as required by R. 5:4-2(g) in the form prescribed in Appendix XXIV; or
(D) the signature of an attorney permitted to practice law in this State pursuant to R. 1:21-1 or the signature of a party appearing pro se, provided, however, that a pro se appearance is provided for by these rules; or
(E) a certification of title search as required by R. 4:64-1(a).
If a paper is returned under this rule, it shall be accompanied by a notice advising that if the paper is retransmitted together with the required signature, document or fee, as appropriate, within ten days after the date of the clerk's notice, filing will be deemed to have been made on the stamped receipt date.
(2) if an answer is presented by a defendant against whom default has been entered other than in a mortgage or tax foreclosure action, the clerk shall return the same stamped "Received but not Filed (date)" with notice that the defendant may move to vacate the default.
(3) a demand for trial de novo may be rejected and returned if not filed within the time prescribed in R. 4:21A-6 or if it is submitted for filing by a party in default or whose answer has been suppressed.
(4) a paper shall be returned stamped “Received but not Filed (date)” if it does not conform to the requirements of R. 1:4-9 with notice that if the document is retransmitted on conforming paper within 10 days after the date of the clerk’s notice, filing will be deemed to have been made on the stamped receipt date.
(d) Misfiled Papers. If papers are sent to the wrong filing office, they shall be stamped "Received but not Filed (date)" and transmitted by that office to the proper filing office and a notice shall be sent by the transmitting office to the filer of the paper advising of the transmittal. The stamped received date shall be deemed to be the date of filing.
(e) Attorneys Answerable for Clerk's Fees. The attorney of record in every action shall be answerable for the clerk's lawful fees and charges.
