Quick answer
Identify whether you have a preliminary notice, filed court case, judgment, or enforcement notice.
Do now
Calendar hearing and response requirements. Gather lease, rent ledger, receipts, notices, repair records, and assistance applications. Contact a tenant lawyer or legal-aid service promptly and ask about local representation programs.
Watch for
An assistance application or landlord conversation does not necessarily stop the court case. Do not assume a notice means you must leave immediately or that ignoring it is safe.
Official sources
NJ DCA — Truth in Renting, NY Attorney General — Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide, DC OTA — Tenant Bill of Rights, September 25, 2026, NJ Courts — Information for Residential Tenants.
