CJLS Services
HOUSING PROBLEMS
Tenant’s rights, eviction, unsafe housing conditions, foreclosure, Section 8, and other housing assistance.
FAMILY
MATTERS
Divorce, child custody & parenting time, child & spousal support, guardianship, domestic violence restraining orders, and other assistance for domestic violence survivors.
CONSUMER ISSUES
Bankruptcy, debt collection, credit access, consumer fraud, foreclosures, liens, identity theft, and property tax collections.
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
Medicaid, medicare, managed care, long term care services, and treatment access.
PUBLIC
BENEFITS
TANF, GA, emergency assistance, SSI/SSD, SNAP, and unemployment.
SENIOR
CITIZENS
Wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, guardianship, social security, and senior housing.
CJLS FAQs
What types of cases does CJLS handle?
Central Jersey Legal Services provides free legal help in civil (non-criminal) matters to people who cannot afford a private attorney. We do not have the resources to provide full service in every applicant’s case. Depending on the type of case and details about your problem, we may provide full representation, or we may give you legal advice and instruction that will help you resolve your legal problem.
The types of cases we take include:
- Housing law – eviction, landlord/tenant issues, housing subsidies, foreclosure, and other housing problems.
- Family law – child custody, parenting time, divorce, support, guardianship, and other family issues.
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Consumer law: debt collection, bankruptcy, consumer fraud, and other issues.
- Public Entitlements: SNAP, TANF, GA, EA, SSI/SSD, Unemployment.
- Health care: Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, long-term care, and access to health care.
What types of cases does CJLS NOT Handle
Criminal Matters
We don’t provide assistance on criminal matters. If you need help with a criminal matter, click here for a list of public defenders in New Jersey.
Municipal Court Matters
We don’t provide advice about municipal court matters such as DUI, parking, and other traffic tickets. If you need a lawyer for one of these types of issues, contact the municipal court clerk.
Do I qualify for assistance?
To qualify for help from CJLS, you must meet our income guidelines (currently 250% of poverty) and be a resident of Middlesex, Mercer, or Union Counties. If you live in another county in New Jersey, click here to find the legal services program that serves your area. If you live outside of New Jersey, click here to find a legal aid program near you.
Our online application can help you determine if you qualify for services with us. Or you may call one of our offices to speak with an intake specialist. You will be asked questions about your household size, income, and assets, as well as more detail about your legal problem. If you are 60 years old or older, CJLS will provide you with legal advice even if your household income exceeds our eligibility guidelines.
How do I apply for help?
You can apply online or call the CJLS office in your county.
Mercer County: 609-695-6249
Middlesex County: 732-249-7600
Union County: 908-354-4340
Our phones are staffed M-F, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. You can apply online at any time. It is very helpful if you have any paperwork about your legal problem available when you call.
If you are seeking legal assistance from CJLS, please make sure that you have voicemail set up on your phone and enough space in your voicemail so that we can leave you a message.
What if I need services in a language other than English?
Central Jersey Legal Services provides quality services to applicants / clients in their preferred language. We will provide interpreting and translation as needed at no cost to you, through the use of bilingual staff or telephone interpreters.
Welcome to CJLS
Locations
New Brunswick, NJ
317 George Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
PH: (732) 249-7600
Fax: (732) 249-7966
Middlesex County
Perth Amboy, NJ
313 State Street,
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
PH: (732) 324-1613
Fax: (732) 249-7966
Middlesex County
Trenton, NJ
198 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
PH: (609) 695-6249
Fax: (609) 392-7952
Mercer County
Hamilton, NJ
By Appointment
Only
No Walk-ins
Mercer County
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