Document 3 of 6 · The case moves without you

Request for Entry of Default / Entry of Default

A default is a detour, not a verdict. Months of process remain before any sale, and every catch-up option still exists.

What this document is

A notice that, because no answer was filed within 35 days, the court has recorded you as not contesting the case. The lender can now proceed toward final judgment on paper, through the state Office of Foreclosure, without a hearing.

Your clock

There is no fixed countdown printed on this document, but the case is now on the uncontested track, and the lender’s next stop is applying for final judgment. Under the Fair Foreclosure Act you still receive a notice before final judgment is sought, with one more chance to cure.

What to do this week

  1. 1

    Ask a New Jersey attorney, quickly, whether moving to vacate the default makes sense in your case; courts can set defaults aside for good cause, and the sooner the motion, the better it looks.

  2. 2

    Push your loss mitigation application forward regardless. Default in the lawsuit does not shut down modification review.

  3. 3

    If keeping the home is not realistic, start a sale now, while there is still runway to close before an auction can happen.

What is still possible

Modification, reinstatement, sale of the home and Chapter 13 remain genuinely available. Contesting the case now requires the extra step of vacating the default first, which is why speed and legal advice matter at this stage.

Two minutes of questions tells you which of these options actually fit your numbers and your timeline.

See My Options, Free

Educational information, not legal advice. Deadlines reflect New Jersey law generally; your case may differ, and a licensed New Jersey attorney can confirm what applies.

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