Commonly a flat monthly fee in the low hundreds of dollars or a project fee in the low thousands, depending on how contested the case is. Free help exists too: legal services programs and court mediation cost nothing.
Pricing models vary: some firms charge monthly for as long as they defend the case, others quote a flat fee for defined work such as answering the complaint and negotiating a modification, and bankruptcy filings are priced separately. Before hiring anyone, ask three things: exactly what work is included, what the realistic goal of the defense is, and how the engagement ends. A lawyer who promises a guaranteed outcome is waving a red flag; the law prohibits guarantees.
For homeowners who cannot pay, Legal Services of New Jersey and county legal aid programs handle foreclosure cases for qualifying incomes, and the court's foreclosure mediation program provides a housing counselor and mediator at no cost. Paying for defense makes the most sense when there is something concrete to win: a modification you qualify for, a defect in the lender's case, or time needed to close a sale. Paying monthly simply to delay, with no endgame, mostly converts your remaining equity into fees.
The free two-minute assessment turns general answers into your specific next step.
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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.