File Small Claims Online New Jersey: JEDS Portal Guide

You can file a small claims case online in New Jersey through the JEDS portal — the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission system. It's available 24/7, accepts PDFs, and saves you a trip to the courthouse. But there's a catch: the online system most people find first isn't the right one.

JEDS vs. eCourts: Which One You Use

New Jersey runs two separate electronic filing systems, and they serve different users:

JEDS is for self-represented litigants (pro se filers). This is where you submit your small claims complaint, summons, and supporting documents if you're filing without a lawyer. JEDS stands for Judiciary Electronic Document Submission.

eCourts is the mandatory filing platform for licensed attorneys. If you're representing yourself, you don't file through eCourts. You can register for an eCourts account to view your case jacket and monitor activity after filing, but the initial complaint goes through JEDS.

This trips people up constantly — searching "NJ courts online filing" usually surfaces eCourts first, and the registration process doesn't immediately make it clear that pro se litigants belong elsewhere.

How JEDS Works

1. Go to the JEDS portal on njcourts.gov.
2. Create an account or log in.
3. Select the proper county: generally, where at least one defendant lives or does business; if no defendant resides or does business in New Jersey, where the cause of action occurred.
4. Upload your completed Form A (Complaint) and Form B (Summons) from packet CN 10151 (or CN 10148 for motor vehicle claims).
5. Pay your filing fee and service fees by credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer.

Uploaded documents must be in PDF, DOCX, or JPG format, with a 35MB maximum file size per upload. The portal is available around the clock, but court clerks process submissions during business hours — weekdays, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

When Is Your Case Officially Filed?

Uploading to JEDS doesn't automatically establish your filing date. Your case is legally filed when a court clerk accepts the submission and processes the fee. If the clerk finds a deficiency — wrong fee amount, missing redaction, incomplete form — you'll get a deficiency notice and need to resubmit.

This matters for statute of limitations purposes. If you're filing close to a deadline, consider submitting several days early to allow for clerk processing time.

What You Can't Do Through JEDS

JEDS handles complaint filings and document submissions, but self-represented litigants cannot use it to submit trial evidence before a hearing. Evidence for trial goes through the court's separate Electronic Evidence Submission portal or is brought as physical copies.

Filing Tips

• Download fresh copies of CN 10151 from njcourts.gov every time — forms get revised.
• Redact all personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, license numbers, credit card numbers) before uploading under Rule 1:38-7.
• Double-check your fee calculation: $50 base plus $5 per additional defendant plus $10 per defendant for court mail service.
• Save a copy of your upload confirmation — it's your proof of submission timing.

Our New Jersey Small Claims Filing Guide walks through the JEDS submission process alongside the form preparation steps, so everything is in order before you hit upload.

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