How to Postpone a Sheriff Sale in New Jersey

Can you really postpone a sheriff sale in New Jersey?

Yes — and unlike most foreclosure relief, this one is a right, not a favor. New Jersey law gives the homeowner (the defendant in the foreclosure) the right to two adjournments of the sheriff sale. Each adjournment pushes the sale back roughly 30 days, though the exact length and procedure vary by county.

You do not need a lawyer, a hardship application, or the lender's permission for these first two. You go to (or contact) the sheriff's office in the county where the property sits, request the adjournment before the sale date, and pay a modest fee. Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, and every other New Jersey county handle this through their sheriff's civil division, and each has its own paperwork and deadlines, so call the office directly to confirm the process.

We walk homeowners through this constantly, because a sale date on the calendar feels final and it is not. If you just found out about a scheduled sale, start with our stop foreclosure overview and keep reading.

How do you request your two statutory adjournments?

The mechanics are simple. First, find your sale date and sheriff's case number — they are on the notice of sale you received, and most county sheriff websites list upcoming foreclosure sales. Second, contact the sheriff's office civil/foreclosure unit in your county and tell them you are the homeowner requesting a statutory adjournment. Third, complete their form and pay the fee before the deadline they give you (some counties want the request a set number of days before the sale).

Do it in person if you can, get a receipt, and confirm the new sale date in writing. Then mark the new date and remember: you can do this exactly one more time as of right. Many homeowners use the first adjournment reflexively and waste it. The better move is to request it with a plan for what the 30 days is for.

What if you need more time than two adjournments give you?

After your two statutory adjournments are used, more time is possible but no longer automatic. The lender can consent to additional adjournments — and lenders often will if you show them a signed contract of sale, an approved short sale, or an active loss mitigation application, because a completed payoff is usually better for them than an auction.

A court can also order a postponement. If you have a genuine reason — a pending loan modification decision, a sale about to close, or a procedural problem with the foreclosure — an attorney can file a motion asking the judge to adjourn the sale. Judges have discretion here, and outcomes vary, which is exactly why this route calls for a foreclosure attorney rather than a do-it-yourself filing. Legal Services of New Jersey helps qualifying homeowners for free.

Finally, a bankruptcy filing triggers an automatic stay that stops a scheduled sheriff sale immediately. Bankruptcy is a serious step with long-term consequences, and it should be a considered decision made with a bankruptcy attorney — not a panic button — but you should know it exists.

What should you actually do with the extra 30 to 60 days?

An adjournment that just delays the same outcome is wasted. An adjournment with a plan can change the outcome entirely. In our experience the time is best spent on one of three tracks.

Track one: keep the home. Call a HUD-approved housing counselor (free) and push your servicer on a loan modification or reinstatement. If a modification is genuinely within reach, that is often the best result, and we will tell you so.

Track two: sell and protect your equity. If you owe less than the home is worth, 30 to 60 days is enough time to close a cash sale and frequently enough to get a strong retail offer under contract. We cover the mechanics in selling before a sheriff sale. Track three: negotiate an exit. If there is no equity, the time can be used to pursue a short sale or a deed in lieu, both of which usually leave you better off than a completed foreclosure.

Can selling the house stop the sheriff sale altogether?

Yes. A sale that closes before the sheriff sale pays off the judgment in full, and the foreclosure is over — no auction, no eviction, no foreclosure completion on your record. The adjournments exist precisely to make outcomes like this possible.

This is where we do our actual work. Top Dollar Home Solutions buys houses for cash across South Jersey and Philadelphia, and we also list homes for full retail — so instead of pushing you toward whichever option pays us, we show you both side by side. A cash offer can close in a couple of weeks, comfortably inside one adjournment. If your equity and timeline support it, listing with us or a novation arrangement may net you meaningfully more. And the number we offer is the number you get — no fees deducted, no renegotiation at the closing table.

If your property is in Camden County, where sheriff sale volume is high, our Camden County page covers the local specifics.

What mistakes should you avoid when postponing a sale?

First, do not wait until the day before the sale. Counties have request deadlines, offices have hours, and a missed deadline means a lost adjournment. Act as soon as you know the sale date.

Second, do not burn both adjournments without a plan — they are the only postponements you fully control. Third, be careful who you trust: sale dates are public record, and homeowners with scheduled sales get flooded with letters and calls, some from outfits charging fees for "foreclosure rescue" that does nothing, or worse, asking you to sign your deed over. Never pay upfront fees for foreclosure help, and never sign a deed to someone promising to "save" your house.

If you want a straight answer about your situation — including whether keeping the home is realistic — request a free options review. We will map your sale date, your adjournment rights, and your equity, and show you every path in one conversation.