Legal Service Unit
The duties of the Legal Service Unit is to assist attorneys and pro se litigants by first processing and then delivering or "serving" the legal documents necessary for civil courts to conduct their business. The Officers assigned to this Unit provide legal service of court documents by delivering them to defendants and others, thereby commencing lawsuits, summonsing witnesses, and giving notice of protective orders. Additionally, after the courts make judgments, the civil process staff help enforce these judgments by seizing property, garnishing wages and performing Sheriff's sales.
Summons & Complaint Fees and Services
Call: 609-909-7223
Pro Se
Pro Se fee for service is $50.00 Cash/Money Order, no personal checks accepted. All checks/money orders are made payable to the Sheriff of Atlantic County. Three(3) copies of the Summons and three (3) copies of the Complaint along with cover letter of instruction can be mailed to:
Atlantic County Sheriff's Office
4997 Unami Boulevard,
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Attorney's Office Summons and Complaint Package
When a Summons and Complaint package is received from an Attorney's Office a $100.00 deposit is requested.
The Attorney's Office will e-file their own Affidavit of Service with that "County of Venue". Our Office will attempt service up to 5 times (3 daytime trips-2 nighttime trips).
Where to file for a Pro-Se Writ of Possession
Mailing Instructions
Writ of Possessions are filed in Trenton. Mail to:
Attn: Foreclosure Unit
Superior Court Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 971,
Trenton, NJ 08625
Note: Clerk of the Superior Court-Michelle M. Smith-Clerk $50.00 fee.
In person filing for Writ of Possession
GPS Address: Justice Complex, 25 W. Market Street, 6th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08625
Scheduling a Writ of Possession
Attorney / Pro Se fees require a $100.00 deposit, cash money order, treasure checks for prose. No personal checks. Attorney business checks accepted.
When the Sheriff's Office receives a Writ of Possession, we schedule an eviction date 10-15 days out from the date we receive the writ. When we receive a Writ of Possession -14 day of issuance, we schedule the eviction/ejectment within 14 days of receiving the writ. Our officers then Serve/Post the residence notifying the occupants of the eviction date to vacate premises.
The Occupants will receive a letter in the mail stating the date and time of the eviction. The Attorney/ Pro Se are required to obtain their own representatives, locksmith and moving company at their expense. The Officers will be at the residence on the day of the eviction to enforce the court order for the occupant to vacate the premises. All parties must be present Bank Representative, locksmith, and moving company to move out any personal belongings to a storage location and lock the residence. Our officers are on premises to make sure the property has been secured.
Note: If the Occupants need more time beyond the date scheduled, they can fill out Motion papers in Atlantic City and ask for a Court date to speak to the Judge and ask for more time.
Per NJ Law you are required to hold the personal belongings for 30 days, if you do not hold the belongings for 30 days you face a potential lawsuit.
Rights & Credits/Asset Levies
Call: 609-909-7220
For ALL General Executions, please include:
- A letter of instruction
- 3 copies of the Writ of Execution (include a completed endorsement)
- $100.00 deposit, which includes the $50.00 filing fee plus mileages to each location to be served in our county
- Payments accepted: Attorney check, money order made payable to the Sheriff of Atlantic County or cash. Please, no personal checks.
- A valid email address for convenient correspondence
Bank Levies
- 1 copy of the Writ of Execution for EACH location/bank that needs to be levied upon
- 2 extra copies for our file
- Addresses are needed for all locations to be served. We are not able to investigate information.
- Provide any/all identifiers along with defendant's address for notice of debtor including social security number and/or EIN, account number if available, address, date of birth, etc.
For re-levies, please Include the following:
- Letter of instructions
- Additional mileage if needed including a re-service fee of $2.00
- Copy of writ
Asset and Real Estate Levies
- Addresses are needed for all locations to be served.
- Provide any/all identifiers along with defendant's address for notice of debtor
- Lot and block required for real estate levies
- Asset levies for vehicles (vehicle seizure) require a $500.00 deposit for tow costs plus $200.00 deposit for sheriff sale of vehicle.
- All other asset levies sales require a $200.00 deposit.
Cash Seizure, Rights and Credits, and Rent Levies
Addresses are needed for all locations to be served.
Provide any/all identifiers along with defendant's address for notice of debtor
Further Inquiries
Wage Garnishment Department
Call: 609-909-7222
- 3 copies of Order for Wage Execution
- 3 copies of Writ of Execution for Wage Execution (must have endorsement page included)
- $50 Service Fee plus 1 mileage *Attorney check, money order or cash only. We will bill for any additional mileage used to serve.
- Letter of instruction
- Must include full social security number for identification purposes.
Fees and Mileage of Sheriffs and Other Officers
Print Fees and Milage List (Updated 2/5/2025)
*For serving or executing any process or papers where mileage is allowed by law, the officer shall receive mileage actually traveled to and from the courthouse, at the rate per mile of:
In addition to the mileage allowed by law:
For serving every summons and complaint, attachment or any mesne process issuing out of the Superior Court, the sheriff or other officer serving such process shall, for the first defendant or party on whom such process is served:
$24.00
For service on the second defendant named therein:
$20.00
For serving such process on any other defendant or defendants named therein:
$16.00 each
*If a man and his wife be named in such process they shall be considered as one defendant, except where they are living separate and apart.
Serving summons and complaint in matrimonial actions, in addition to mileage:
$24.00
Serving capias ad respondendum, capias ad satisfaciendum, warrant of commitment, writ of ne exeat, in addition to mileage:
$50.00
Serving every execution against goods or lands and making an inventory and return, in addition to mileage:
$50.00
For returning every writ:
$2.00
Executing every writ of possession and return, in addition to mileage:
$50.00
Executing every writ of attachment, sequestration or replevin issuing out of any of the courts, in addition to mileage:
$50.00
For serving each out-of-State paper, in addition to the mileage allowed by law:
For the first defendant on whom such paper is served:
For service on the second defendant named therein:
For serving such paper on any other defendant or defendants named therein:
*If a man and wife be named in such paper, they shall be considered as one defendant, except where they are living separate and apart.
For transporting each offender to the State Prison, per mile, but not less than $3.00 for each offender:
*To be certified by the keeper of the prison and the certificate to be delivered to the county treasurer of the county where the conviction was had.
*The sheriff shall be entitled to retain out of all moneys collected or received by him on a forfeited recognizance, whether before or after
execution, or from amercements, or from fines and costs on conviction, on indictment or otherwise, whether such moneys are payable to the State or to the county treasurer of the county wherein conviction was had, five percent.
Execution Sales Fee Schedule
On a sale conducted in accordance with section 12 of P.L.1995, c.244 (C.2A:50-64) by virtue of an execution, the sheriff shall be entitled to charge:
6%
*However, if a sale reverts to the foreclosing plaintiff, the fee to be charged on a sale by virtue of an execution shall be:
$150.00
Execution Settlement without actual sale
3%
When a sale is made by virtue of an execution and is not conducted in accordance with section 12 of P.L.1995, c.244 (C.2A:50-64), the sheriff shall
be entitled to charge the following fees:
On all sums not exceeding $5,000.00:
10%
On all sums exceeding $5,000.00 on such excess:
5%
The minimum fee to be charged for a sale by virtue of an execution:
$150.00
| Making statement of execution, sales, and execution fees: |
$10.00
Advertising the property for sale, provided the sheriff or deputy sheriff attend in pursuance of the advertisement:
$20.00
Posting property for sale:
$20.00
For the crier of the vendue, when the sheriff proceeds to sell, for every day they shall be actually employed in such sale:
$5.00
Every adjournment of a sale, but no more than one adjournment shall be allowed, and if the sheriff shall have several executions against a defendant, they shall only be allowed for advertising, attending, and adjourning, as if they had but one execution:
$28.00
Drawing and making a deed to a purchaser of real property:
$75.00
For the crier of the vendue, when the sheriff proceeds to sell, for every day they shall be actually employed in such sale:
$5.00
*On an execution against wages, commissions and salaries, the sheriff shall charge the same percentage fees on all sums collected as those percentage fees applicable in cases wherein an execution sale is consummated.
*When the execution is settled without actual sale and such settlement is made manifest to the officer, the officer shall receive one-half of the amount of percentage allowed in case of sale.
*When more than one execution shall be issued out of the Superior Court upon any judgment, each sheriff to whom such execution shall be directed and delivered shall be entitled to collect and receive from the defendant named in such execution the fees allowed by law for making a levy and return and statement thereon, or for such other services as may be actually performed by them, and the sheriff who shall collect the amount named in said execution or any part thereof, shall be entitled to the legal percentage upon whatever amount may be so collected by them, but in case any such judgment shall be settled between the parties and the amount due thereon shall not be collected by either sheriff, then the percentage on the amount collected which would be due the sheriff thereon in case only one execution had been issued shall be equally divided among the several sheriffs in whose hands an execution in the same cause may have been placed.
*If any sheriff shall charge in such bill of costs for services not done, or allowed by law, or shall take any greater fee or reward for any services by them done than is or shall be allowed by law, they shall be liable for the damages sustained by the party aggrieved including a penalty of $30.00, to be recovered in a summary manner, in the action or proceeding wherein the execution was issued or otherwise.
Mileage
Print Mileage List
| Town |
Mileage |
Town |
Mileage |
| Absecon |
$3.84 |
Margate |
$7.68 |
| Atlantic City |
$6.08 |
Mays Landing |
$1.60 |
| Belcoville |
$1.60 |
Milmay |
$3.84 |
| Brigantine |
$7.68 |
Minotola |
$4.16 |
| Buena Acres |
$4.80 |
Mizpah |
$3.56 |
| Buena Boro |
$4.16 |
Mullica Twp |
$5.12 |
| Buena Vista Twp |
$3.84 |
Nesco |
$7.20 |
| Collings Lakes |
$7.68 |
Newfield |
$5.76 |
| Cologne |
$1.60 |
Newtonville |
$5.76 |
| Corbin City |
$5.76 |
Northfield |
$3.84 |
| Dorothy |
$2.24 |
Oceanville |
$6.08 |
| East Vineland |
$5.12 |
Pleasantville |
$3.84 |
| Egg Harbor City |
$2.24 |
Pomona |
$3.84 |
| Egg Harbor Twp |
$3.84 |
Port Republic |
$6.08 |
| Elwood |
$5.12 |
Richland |
$3.20 |
| Estell Manor |
$3.84 |
Smithville |
$6.08 |
| Folsom |
$5.76 |
Somers Point |
$5.76 |
| Galloway Twp |
$5.12 |
Sweetwater |
$6.08 |
| Hamilton Twp |
$1.60 |
Tuckahoe |
$5.76 |
| Hammonton |
$6.40 |
Ventnor |
$6.72 |
| Landisville |
$4.16 |
Weekstown |
$5.44 |
| Leeds Point |
$5.76 |
West AC |
$4.48 |
| Linwood |
$3.84 |
Weymouth |
$2.24 |
| Longport |
$8.32 |
Weymouth Two |
$3.84 |
