Questions, answered

How many times can a sheriff sale be adjourned in New Jersey?

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:17-36, the sheriff may grant five adjournments: two at the homeowner's request, two at the lender's request, and one when both agree, each for up to 30 calendar days. A court can order more for cause.

The two homeowner adjournments are the ones you control. They are requested through the county sheriff's office, and each county sets its own procedure and fee, so call ahead instead of assuming. Lender adjournments are separate and common, especially while a loss mitigation review is under way. A bankruptcy filing puts the sale on hold under a different rule, the automatic stay. Beyond the statutory adjournments, a judge can postpone a sale for cause, but that takes a motion and a good reason.

Check the status history on your county's listing to count what has been used, since entries labeled with the defendant generally mean one of your adjournments was taken, then confirm the count with the sheriff. Treat your two adjournments as a budget of up to about 60 days and spend them on something that ends the case, such as closing a sale, completing a loss mitigation application, or meeting with an attorney. An adjournment postpones the sale; it does not resolve the foreclosure, and once yours are used, the next date is much harder to move.

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Educational information, not legal advice. Your own court documents control your deadlines; a licensed New Jersey attorney can confirm what applies to your case.

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