Click Here to Find a Lawyer or Attorney

You do not need a lawyer  or an attorney to file for an Order for Protection. However, you may wish to have a lawyer or an attorney, especially if your abuser has a lawyer or an attorney. If you can, contact a lawyer or an attorney to make sure that your legal rights are protected.

Restraining Order- New Jersey

It is a Court Order which is intended to protect you from further harm from someone who has hurt you; to keep the abuser away from you, or to stop harassing you, or keep the abuser from the scene of the violence, which may include your home, place of work, or apartment. It is a civil order and it does not give the defendant (the abuser) a criminal record.

A victim of domestic violence can obtain a Restraining Order. A victim of domestic violence means a person protected by the law and shall include any person who has been subjected to domestic violence by a spouse, or any other person who is a present or former household member and where the victim is 18 years of age or older or who is an *emancipated minor. A victim, of any age, who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person who she says will be the father of the child when the pregnancy is carried to term is also covered by this law. A victim, of any age, also includes any person who has been subjected to domestic violence by a person with whom the victim has had a dating relationship.

Domestic violence means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts committed against a victim by an adult or an emancipated minor:

• assault
• burglary
• criminal mischief
• criminal restraint
• terroristic threats
• criminal sexual contact
• criminal trespass
• false imprisonment
• harassment
• homicide
• kidnapping
• lewdness
• sexual assault
• stalking

*emancipated minor means a person who is under 18 years of age but who has been married, has entered military service, has a child or is pregnant, or has been legally declared by court or administrative agency to be emancipated.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, a judge can sign an Order of Protection that requires the abuser to obey the law. It is usually very specific. For example:

The abuser can be ordered not to have any contact with you, in person or by phone, at home, work, or almost anywhere you ask the court to put in the order. The order against contact may also protect other people in your family.

The court can order the abuser to leave the house or apartment that you and the abuser share; even if it is in the abuser's name.

Except in the most unusual situations, the court will grant you custody of your minor children. The court can also order the abuser to pay child support and support for you. The abuser may also be granted visitation with the child(ren) under certain conditions. If the children are in danger of abuse, you should let the judge know why you think so.

The court may order the abuser to pay for costs that resulted from the abuse, for example; household bills that are due right away, medical/dental treatment, moving expenses, loss of earnings. The judge can also make the abuser pay your attorney's fees, and can make the abuser pay damages to you or other people that helped you or got hurt by the abuser.

The judge may order the abuser to receive professional domestic violence counseling, or tell the abuser to get evaluated, or to go to AA or NA. You can agree to go to counseling if you want to (or to a free program like AA, AlAnon, or a domestic violence program), but the judge should only make it an order for the abuser.

The judge can order the police to escort the abuser to remove personal items from the residence, or shared place of business, so that you are protected by the police during any necessary contact.

The judge has the power under the law to order anything else that will help to protect you, as long as you agree to it.

Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., except on a holiday, you can go to the domestic violence unit of the Family Division and apply for the Order. Court employees will help you file the papers on forms they will provide.

If it is after the end of the court day, a holiday, or a weekend, you can go to your local police department to obtain an order. They have the forms and can call a judge to get an order that starts immediately. You will be asked to speak to the judge by telephone, unless the judge chooses to come to the court to hear your testimony directly.

If English is not a language you usually speak, you may want to bring a friend with you to interpret. An interpreter should be provided for you any time you are scheduled to appear in court, but might not be available at the police station.

When you first get protection under the law, it is only temporary. The order is called a T.R.O. for Temporary Restraining Order. You must return to court on the date indicated in the T.R.O., which will be about 10 days later. Both you and the abuser will be asked to appear in court on that date. During the 10-day period the police or Sheriff's Office will serve the abuser with a copy of the order so the abuser will know when the hearing is scheduled. Keep a copy of the order with you and give a copy to the police in any town where you think the abuser might bother you.

If you apply for the T.R.O. in the Family Division, you will appear before a judge so you can tell him/her what happened. You will usually appear before a judge without the abuser being present.

When you return to court on the date indicated in your order, the abuser has a right to be present. Both you and the abuser will have the opportunity to tell the judge what happened between you. You are allowed to bring a lawyer to this hearing, but it is purely you choice. (If you have any questions, especially if you do not have an attorney, please call one of the numbers in this listing and ask.) At the end of this hearing the judge will determine if you should receive a final order, for how long, and under what conditions.

If the abuser does not appear at the hearing, the judge will either continue the temporary order in effect until the abuser can be brought into court, or will enter a final order if there is proof that the abuser was served with the T.R.O./Notice to Appear. The sheriff or police should have proof of service. You can not be asked or told to serve papers on the abuser. If you don't appear, and have not made arrangements with the court to reschedule the case, someone from the court will attempt to contact you by phone at home or at work, or they may send you a certified letter if you have no phone. The courts take domestic violence very seriously, and will be worried about your safety if you do not call. If they cannot find you, your restraining order may be dismissed and you will no longer have the protection granted in the order.

The court will give you a copy of the order. Be sure to ask someone before you leave the court if there is anything you don't understand. Carry it with you at all times. If the abuser does not obey the order, call the police. The police have to arrest an abuser who violates any part of the order that protects you from threats or violence.

You have the right to police protection. If you carry your order with you at all times, it will be easier for the police to understand your current situation. If you lose your order, or it gets destroyed, return to the court and obtain another copy.

Call the Family Court Domestic Violence Unit if the abuser's only violation is failure to return personal property, failure to pay support or rent, not complying with custody or visitation conditions, or failing to attend domestic violence counseling. In those cases the Family Division will process your request to enforce the order.

If the abuser violates any of the other parts of the order, Call the Police. For some violations (having contact with you or coming to the house, for example) or if the abuser violated the order by committing a crime, (for example, stalking you, harassing you or trespassing) the local police must sign a criminal complaint for contempt.

You can file criminal charges against the abuser for acts of domestic violence, because they are all crimes. Criminal charges can only be filed at the local police department, and they will usually be heard at the local municipal court. For very serious crimes, the county prosecutor may take your case to state criminal court. You do not have to file criminal charges, but the law does allow you to file them if you choose, even if you also get a restraining order. You have at least a year after any incident to file criminal charges. The police can also file charges on their own and must do so when you show signs of injury or if a weapon was used. If the abuser is found guilty of the criminal charges, the court can impose fines, probation, or even jail as punishment.

Statewide Domestic Violence Resources

New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women
24-hour Hotline: 1-800-572-SAFE (1-800-572-7233)
Business: (609) 584-8107
E-mail: info@njcbw.org
www.njcbw.org

Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline (Womanspace, Inc.)
1-800-572-7233
Bilingual and TTY accessible.

Battered Lesbian Toll-Free Helpline
1-800-224-0211
Mon-Fri 7:30pm-9pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-2pm

New Jersey Division on Women
101 South Broad Street
PO Box 800
Trenton, NJ 08625-0800
(609) 292-8840

LSNJ Law: You and the Law in New Jersey
www.lsnjlaw.org
This site has free legal information and resources for NJ. They have information specifically for survivors of domestic violence here: www.lsnjlaw.org/english/family/dvhandbook.cfm

The Rutgers Law Domestic Violence Project
www-camlaw.rutgers.edu/organization/o-dvp/
This site provides free online brochures and links to other domestic violence services. You can also schedule an appointment to discuss an upcoming domestic violence restraining order hearing.

Partners for Women and Justice
60 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, New Jersey 07042
P: 973-233-0111
info@pfwj.org
Website: www.pfwj.org
Provides free legal representation and/or legal advice for low income women and victims of domestic violence in final restraining order hearings and other family law matters such as custody, visitation, child support and divorce; also offers free workshops on family law matters and financial literacy. Serves women primarily in northern and central New Jersey.

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Local Domestic Violence Resources
(Listed by County)

Atlantic County
Atlantic County Women's Center
P.O. Box 311
Northfield, NJ 08225
Hotline: (609) 646-6767 or 1-800-286-4184
Office: (609) 646-4376
Email: acwc@bellatlantic.net
www.acwc.org

Bergen County
Shelter Our Sisters (SOS)
P.O. Box 217
Hackensack,NJ 07602
Hotline: (201) 944-9600
TTY: (201) 836-3071
Office: (201) 498-9247
Email: sos@shelteroursisters.org
www.shelteroursisters.org

Alternatives to Domestic Violence
One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor
Hackensack,NJ 07601
Hotline: (201) 336-7575
TTY: (201) 336-7525
Email: adv@co.bergen.nj.us
www.bergenonline.org/ADV

Burlington County
Providence House/Willingboro Shelter
P.O. Box 496
Willingboro, NJ 08046
Hotline: (609) 871-7551
Office: (856) 824-0599
www.catholicharities.org

Camden County
Camden County Women's Center
PO Box 1459
Blackwood,NJ 08012
Hotline: (856) 227-1234
Office: (856) 227-1234

Cape May County
CARA, Inc. (Coalition Against Rape and Abuse)
P.O. Box 774
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Hotline: (609) 522-6489 or (877) 294-2272
Office: (609) 522-6489
Email: carasafe1@verizon.net
www.cara-cmc.org

Cumberland County
Cumberland County Women's Center
PO Box 921
Vineland,NJ 08362
Hotline: (856) 691-3713 or (800) 286-4353
TTY: (856) 691-6024
Office: (856) 691-3713

Essex County
Family Violence Program
755 South Orange Avenue
Newark, NJ 07106
Hotline: (973) 484-4446
Office: (973) 484-1704
www.babyland.org

The Safe House
P.O. Box 1887
Bloomfield,NJ 07003
Hotline: (973) 759-2154
Office: (973) 759-2378
Outreach: (973) 759-5719

NCJW Center for Women
513 W. Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 325
Livingston,NJ 07039
Office: (973) 994-4994
Helpline: (973) 994-WISH
Email: centerforwomen@ncjwessex.org
www.ncjwessex.org

Rachel Coalition of Jewish Family Service
570 West Mt. Pleasant Ave., Suite 203
Livingston, NJ 07039
Hotline: (973) 740-1233
Office: (973) 740-1233
www.rachelcoalition.org
intake@jfs-metronj.org

Gloucester County
Gloucester County Women's Service
P.O. Box 755
Glassboro,NJ 08028
Hotline: (856) 881-3335 or (866) 423-8723
www.centerffs.org
gcdvs@centerffs.org

Hudson County
Womenrising, Inc.
YWCA Battered Women's Program
YWCA of Hudson County
270 Fairmount Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Hotline: (201) 333-5700
TTY: (866) 954-0100
Email: womenrising@aol.com

Hunterdon County
Women's Crisis Services
47 E. Main Street
Flemington,NJ 08822
Hotline: (908) 788-4044 or (888) 988-4033
TTY: (908) 788-4044
Office: (908) 806-8605
Email: agencyinfo@womenscrisisservices.org
www.womenscrisisservices.org

Mercer County
Womanspace, Inc.
1212 Stuyvesant Ave.
Trenton, NJ 08618
Hotline: (609) 394-9000
TTY: (609) 394-9000 or (800) 572-7233
Office: (609) 394-0136
Email: info@womanspace.org
www.womanspace.org

Womanspace Outreach Office
1860 Brunswick Ave.
Lawrence, NJ 08648
Office: (609) 394-2532

Middlesex County
Women Aware, Inc.
P.O. Box 312
New Brunswick.NJ 08901
Hotline: (732) 249-4504
TTY: (732) 249-0600
Office: (732) 249-4900
Email: womenaware@aol.com
www.womenaware.net

Women Aware Outreach Office
96 Paterson Street
Office: (732) 937-9525
(Bilingual available)

Monmouth County
180 Turning Lives Around
I Bethany Road, Bldg. 3 #42
Hazlet, NJ 07730
Hotline: (732) 264-4111 or (888) 843-9262
TTY: (732) 203-0862
Office: (732) 264-4360
Email: wcmcmain@aol.com

Morris County
Jersey Battered Women's Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 363
Morristown, NJ 07962
Hotline: (973) 267-4763
TTY: (973) 285-9095
Office: (973) 455-1256
www.jbws.org

Ocean County
Providence House of Ocean County
PO. Box 4344
Bricktown, NJ 08723
Hotline: (732) 244-8259 or (800) 246-8910
TTY: (732) 244-8259
Office: (732) 262-3143
www.catholicharities.org

Providence House Outreach
35 Beaverson Blvd., Bldg. #6
Brick, NJ 07823
Office: (732) 262-3143

Passaic County
Passaic County Women's Center
P.O. Box 244
Paterson, NJ 07513
Hotline: (973) 881-1450
TTY: (973) 278-8630
Office: (973) 881-1450

Strengthen Our Sisters, Inc.
P.O. Box U
Hewitt, N.J. 07421
Tel: 973-248-0776
24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-SOS-9470
www.sosdv.org

Salem County
Salem County Women's Services
PO. Box 125
Salem, NJ 08079-0125
Hotline: (856) 935-6655 or (888) 632-9511
TTY: (856) 935-7118
Office: (856) 935-8012

Somerset County
Resource Center for Women and Their Families
427 Homestead Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Hotline: (908) 685-1122
TTY: (908) 359-8604
Office: (908) 359-0003
Email: info@rcwtf.org
www.rcwtf.org

Sussex County
Domestic Abuse Services, Inc
P.O. Box 805
Newton, NJ 07860
Hotline: (973) 875-1211
TTY: (973) 875-6369
Office: (973) 579-2386
Email: dasi@nac.net
www.dasi.org

Union County
Overlook Hospital's Domestic Violence Program
99 Beauvoir Avenue
Summit, New Jersey 07902
Office: (908) 522-5655

Project: Protect
c/o YWCA
1131 East Jersey St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Hotline: (908) 355-4357
TTY: (908) 355-1023
Office: (908) 355-1500
Email: ywca_euc@hotmail.com

Mental Health Association
Domestic Violence Center
15 Alden Street
Cranford, NJ 07016
Office: (908) 272-0304

Warren County
Domestic Abuse & Rape Crisis Center (DARCC)
P.O. Box 423
Belvidere, NJ 07823
Hotline: (908) 475-8408 or (866) 623-7233
TTY: (908) 453-2553
Office: (908) 453-4121
darcc@goes.com
www.darcc.org

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Legal Aid
(for free or low cost legal services)

LSNJ Law: You and the Law in New Jersey
www.lsnjlaw.org
This site has free legal information and resources for NJ.

Legal Services of New Jersey - Central Office
100 Metroplex Drive, Suite 402
P.O. Box 1357
Edison, NJ 08818-1357
(732) 572-9100
Toll-free: 888-LSNJ-LAW (888-576-5529)
www.lsnj.org

Partners for Women and Justice
60 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, New Jersey 07042
P: 973-233-0111
info@pfwj.org
Website: www.pfwj.org
Provides free legal representation and/or legal advice for low income women and victims of domestic violence in final restraining order hearings and other family law matters such as custody, visitation, child support and divorce; also offers free workshops on family law matters and financial literacy. Serves women primarily in northern and central New Jersey.

Atlantic County
South Jersey Legal Services
Atlantic County Office
26 South Pennsylvania Avenue
1st Floor
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 348-4200

Bergen County
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services
Bergen County Office
61 Kansas Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 487-2166

Burlington County
South Jersey Legal Services
Burlington County Office
107 High Street
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 261-1088

Camden County
South Jersey Legal Services
Camden County Office
745 Market Street
Camden, NJ 08102
1-800-496-4570
(856) 964-2010

Cape May County
South Jersey Legal Services
Cape May County Office
1261 Route 9 South
P.O. Box 785
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
(609) 465-3001

Cumberland County
South Jersey Legal Services
Cumberland & Salem Counties Office
& Farmworker Division
22 East Washington Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(856) 451-0003
or (856) 935-8047

Legal Services of New Jersey
Farmworkers Project
71 East Commerce Street, 3rd Floor
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(856) 455-0017

Essex County
Essex-Newark Legal Services
5 Commerce Street, 2nd Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 824-3000
or (973) 624-4500

Gloucester County
South Jersey Legal Services
Gloucester County Office
47 Newton Avenue
Woodbury, NJ 08096
(856) 964-9400

Hudson County
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services
Hudson County Office
574 Summit Avenue, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07306-2797
(201) 792-6363

Hunterdon County
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey
Hunterdon County Legal Service
82 Park Avenue
Flemington,NJ 08822-1168
(908) 782-7979
www.lsnj.org/lsnwj/index.htm

Mercer County
Central Jersey Legal Services
Legal Aid Society of Mercer County
198 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
(609) 695-6249
www.lsnj.org/cjls/index.htm

Middlesex County
Central Jersey Legal Services
New Brunswick Office
317 George Street, Suite 201
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-2584
(732) 249-7600
www.lsnj.org/cjls/index.htm

Central Jersey Legal Services
Perth Amboy Office
313 State Street, Suite 308
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861-4117
(732) 324-1613
www.lsnj.org/cjls/index.htm

Monmouth County
Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services
Freehold Office
Boro Plaza
25 Broad Street, Suite 13
Freehold, N.J. 07728
Phone (732) 866-0020
TTY (732) 866-4178
www.lsnj.org/omls/index.htm

Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services
Red Bank Office
Riverview Professional Plaza
65 Mechanic Street, Suite 201
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 747-9655
www.lsnj.org/omls/index.htm

Morris County
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey
Morris County Office
30 Schuyler Place, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 900
Morristown, NJ 07963-0900
(973) 285-6911
www.lsnj.org/lsnwj/index.htm

Ocean County
Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services
Toms River Office
The Cory Building
599 Route 37 West, 2nd Floor
Toms River, NJ 08755
Phone (732) 341-2727
TTY (732) 341-0526
www.lsnj.org/omls/index.htm

Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services
Boro Plaza
25 Broad Street, Suite 13
Freehold, NJ 07728
Phone: (732) 866-0020
Fax: (732) 866-9009
TTY (732) 866-4178

Passaic County
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services
Passaic County Office
152 Market Street
Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 523-2900

Salem County
South Jersey Legal Services
Cumberland & Salem Counties Office
& Farmworker Division
22 East Washington Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(856) 451-0003
or (856) 935-8047

Somerset County
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey
Somerset County Office
34 West Main Street, Suite 301
Somerville NJ 08876
(908) 231-0840
www.lsnj.org/lsnwj/index.htm

Sussex County
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey
Sussex County Office
18 Church Street
Newton, NJ 07860
(973) 383-7400
www.lsnj.org/lsnwj/index.htm

Union County
Central Jersey Legal Services
Union County Office
60 Prince Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07208
(908) 354-4340
www.lsnj.org/cjls/index.htm

Warren County
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey
Warren County Office
91 Front Street,
PO. Box 65
Belvidere.NJ 07823
(908) 475-2010
www.lsnj.org/lsnwj/index.htm
lsnj-warren@lsnj.org

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Lawyer Referral Services
(for Private Attorneys)

Ask the lawyer referral service whether they screen for lawyers who are experienced in handling domestic violence or sexual assault cases -- not all lawyer referral services do this. You may want to check out the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence's list of Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Attorney. You may also want to check with your local domestic violence program, rape crisis center or legal aid association to see if they can refer you to someone who is experienced in representing victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Association of Trial Lawyers -- NJ Lawyer Referral Service
150 W. State St.,
Trenton, NJ 08608
(800) 367-0089
E-mail: info@atlanj.org

Atlantic County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Atlantic County Court House
1201 Bacharach Blvd.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 345-3444
atcobara@aol.com

Bergen County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
15 Bergen Sreet
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 488-0044
www.bergenbar.com

Burlington County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
45 Grant St.
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 261-4862
www.burlcobar.org

Camden County Bar Association
1040 N. Kings Highway, Suite 201
Cherry Hill, 08034
(856) 482-0620
www.camdencountybar.org

Cape May County
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Rt. 9, Main St., P.O. Box 425
Cape May, NJ 08210
(809) 463-0313
cmcbarasn@aol.com

Cumberland County
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
P.O. Box 731,
Milville, NJ 08332
(856) 825-2001
www.cumbnjbarassoc.org
rpagliughi@cumbnjbarassoc.org

Essex County Bar Association
354 Eisenhower Parkway Plaza 2
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 533-6775
imendez@essexbar.com
www.essexbar.com

Gloucester County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Justice Complex, P.O. Box 338,
Woodbury, NJ 08096
(856) 848-4589
www.gcbanj.org

Hudson County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
583 Newark Ave.
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 798-2727

Hunterdon County
PO Box 573
Annandale 08801
Phone: (908) 735-2611
Fax: (908) 735 0305

Archer & Greiner
Plaza 1, one State Route 12
Flemington 08822
Phone: (908) 788-9700
Fax: (908) 788-7854

Mercer County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
1245 Whitehorse Mercerville Rd, Suite 420
Mercerville, NJ 08619-3894
(609) 585-6200
E-mail: info@mercer.com
www.mercerbar.com

Middlesex County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
87 Bayard St.,
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-0053
irs@mcbalaw.com
www.mcbalaw.com

Monmouth Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Court House,
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 431-5544

Morris and Sussex County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
28 Schuyler Place
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 267-5882
www.morriscountybar.com

Ocean County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Courthouse, P.O. Box 381,
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 240-3666
www.oceancountybar.org

Passaic County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Courthouse 77, Hamilton St.
Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 278-9223
www.passaicbar.org

Salem County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
(856) 935-5629
www.salemcountybar.org

Somerset County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Courthouse 1 floor, 10 N. Bridge St.
P.O. Box 1095,
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2323
www.somersetbar.com

Union County Bar Association
NJ Lawyer Referral Service
Courthouse, 3rd Floor
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
(908) 353-4715 (Monday - Thursday, 10 A.M.-1 P.M.)

Warren County Bar Association
413 Second Street
Belvidere, NJ 07823
(908) 387-1835

The information on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.  

For more information about restraining orders for the state of New Jersey, check out  http://www.womenslaw.org/NJ/NJ_how_to.htm  for more information.   The information above was gathered from  http://www.state.nj.us/dca/womdvcrt.htm and http://www.womenslaw.org/NJ/NJ_how_to.htm.