Table of contents:
Preface
Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) coordinates the statewide Legal Services system in New Jersey, providing free legal services to low-income people in civil matters. Part of Legal Services’ mission is to make people more aware of their legal rights and provide helpful information if they choose to pursue a legal case on their own. Awareness may allow you to resolve some problems on your own, without the need for a lawyer, or to make better use of a lawyer if you have one.
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Getting a Lawyer
If you are facing foreclosure, it is best to try to get a lawyer. Defending yourself against a foreclosure is a complicated process. It requires more than just going to court. You must file papers with the court, respond quickly in writing to papers you receive from the lender’s attorney, and meet specific deadlines. And, if your case goes to trial, you may have to question witnesses and present evidence in court.
If you need an attorney but can’t afford one, you may be eligible for legal help from Legal Services of New Jersey or your regional Legal Services program. To find out if you are eligible and to apply for assistance, call LSNJ-LAW™, Legal Services of New Jersey’s statewide, toll-free legal hotline, at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529).
If you are not eligible for free legal assistance, LSNJ may refer you to a private attorney who defends homeowners in foreclosure matters. You will probably have to pay legal fees. However, some attorneys may be willing to wait for all or some of their fees until your case is settled or decided by the court. This is because some of the laws of the foreclosure process require the lender to pay your attorney’s fees if you win your case.
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Acknowledgments
Rebecca Schore, Senior Attorney at LSNJ, did the research for and writing of this manual, created all of the forms, and helped to see the work through to conclusion. LSNJ Senior Attorney Deborah Fennelly did the major editing of this manual. Susan Perger, Publications Director, and Alyce Garver, Assistant Publications Director, were responsible for design, layout, and production of the printed edition of this manual. Special thanks to LSNJ’s Training Director, Donna Hildreth, for her help with editing and proofreading.
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Comments or Suggestions
We hope that this manual will be helpful to you. Please let us know if you have comments or suggestions about how to make it better. You can write to us or e-mail us at:
Legal Services of New Jersey
P.O. Box 1357
Edison, N.J. 08818-1357
Melville D. Miller, Jr., President
Legal Services of New Jersey
Edison, New Jersey
April 2009
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