New Jersey Small Claims Complaint Form: CN 10151 and What to File

If you've been searching for New Jersey small claims forms, you've probably run into at least three different document numbers — CN 10151, CN 10148, CN 10290, CN 10281 — and wondered which one you actually need to fill out. Here's the answer: most people need CN 10151, and most of the other documents are informational brochures, not filing forms.

The Forms That Matter

CN 10151 is the filing packet for non-motor vehicle small claims — contract disputes, unpaid invoices, security deposit cases, property damage from non-auto incidents, consumer refund disputes. Inside the packet you get Form A (the Complaint, where you describe your claim) and Form B (the Summons, which the court sends to the defendant).

CN 10148 is the motor vehicle version. If your claim involves damage from a car accident, fender-bender, or auto sale dispute, use this one instead of CN 10151.

Both packets include instructions. Both are free downloads from njcourts.gov.

The Brochures That Aren't Forms

CN 10290 is the Small Claims Brochure — a general overview of the process, limits, fees, and appeal rules. It's useful background reading, but it's not a filing form. A surprising number of people download CN 10290 thinking it's the complaint and wonder why there are no fill-in fields.

CN 10281 is the Special Civil Part Practice Guide, covering the broader $20,000 jurisdiction. It's even more detailed, but again — not a form you file.

Filling Out Form A (the Complaint)

The complaint asks for:

• Your name and address (plaintiff)
• The defendant's full legal name and address
• A brief factual statement of your claim — what happened, when, and why you're owed money
• The dollar amount you're claiming (up to $5,000)
• If your damages exceed $5,000, an explicit waiver in the complaint of recovery above $5,000

Keep the narrative focused on facts: dates, amounts, what was agreed, what went wrong. Don't argue your case or include emotional language — the judge decides the merits at trial, not from the complaint form.

Redaction Before Submitting

Rule 1:38-7 requires you to redact personal identifiers from every document you submit to the court — Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, credit card numbers, and bank account details. Keep unredacted copies for your own records, but the versions you file must be clean.

Where to Get the Forms

Search "CN 10151" on njcourts.gov to find the current packet. Forms are revised periodically — the current non-motor vehicle packet was revised effective May 2025. Always download fresh copies rather than reusing a form someone emailed you.

Our New Jersey Small Claims Filing Guide includes a pre-filing checklist that walks you through each field on Form A, the redaction requirements, and the fee calculation — so you don't submit a deficient package that the clerk bounces back.

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