N.J. Stat. tit. 2A, ch. 37

N.J. Stat. tit. 2A, ch. 37
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-1 Action in superior court by attorney general; jury; title of state

When the attorney general is informed or has reason to believe that any person has died seized of real estate within the state, without having devised it and without heirs capable of inheriting the same, he shall bring an action, summary or otherwise, in the superior court to establish whether or not such real estate has escheated to the state. The action shall be tried with a jury, and it shall be determined in the action what real estate, if any, escheated to the state. Title to real estate escheating to the state shall pass to the state on the death of such person. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-2 Seizure by sheriff upon judgment for the state

If the judgment shall be for the state, a writ shall issue out of the superior court to the sheriff of the county, commanding him to seize and take into his hands the real estate adjudged to have escheated to the state. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-3 Exemplification of proceedings deposited with secretary of state; sale by state treasurer

Upon the return of the writ of seizure the attorney general shall cause the record and proceedings to be exemplified under the seal of the court and deposit the exemplification in the office of the secretary of state. The state treasurer shall thereupon cause the affected real estate to be sold at a public sale. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-4 Notice of sale; publication

The state treasurer shall give at least 6 weeks' previous notice of the time and place of such sale, by publishing the same in 1 of the newspapers printed at Trenton, in this state, and also in a newspaper published or circulated in the county, where the affected real estate is situate, 4 times, once in each week, during 4 consecutive calendar weeks next preceding the time of such sale. Such sale shall be subject to adjournment by the state treasurer for any time not exceeding in the whole 2 months. The proofs of such publication shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-5 Certificate of sale; payment of purchase price

The state treasurer shall give to the purchaser at the sale a certificate, containing the name of the purchaser, a description of the boundaries of the real estate purchased and the price to be paid therefor. Within 30 days after the delivery to him of the certificate the purchaser shall pay to the state treasurer the price designated in the certificate, and the state treasurer shall thereupon indorse upon the certificate a receipt for the purchase price. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-6 Deed and delivery of possession to purchaser

The attorney general shall, upon the production to him of the certificate and receipt mentioned in section 2A:37-5 of this title, in the name of the state, execute and deliver to the purchaser at the sale a deed of the real estate described in the certificate of sale, granting and conveying an estate of inheritance to such real estate to the purchaser, his heirs and assigns forever. Upon the presentation to the sheriff of the deed, he shall deliver the possession of the real estate therein described to the purchaser. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-7 Expenses of proceedings; payment

The state treasurer shall make a statement of the expenses of conducting the proceedings taken under this article and, when approved by the director of the division of budget and accounting, shall pay the same. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-8 Claims against escheated estate; filing, allowance and payment

Any person who has any claim or claims against the estate of any such intestate whose real estate has so escheated to the state, may give notice thereof, under oath, to the state treasurer. Thereupon the treasurer shall hold any moneys which may or shall come into his hands, derived from the sale of such real estate, for the period of 1 year. No claim shall be received by the treasurer which shall not be filed with him within the year aforesaid. When such claims shall be proven to the satisfaction of the treasurer and audited by the director of the division of budget and accounting, they shall be paid by the treasurer. If, however, such estate shall prove to be insolvent, the treasurer shall be empowered to pay the claims against such estate ratably. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-9 State party defendant to action to foreclose lien on escheated property; service of process

When any real estate which has escheated or may escheat to the state of New Jersey, on which, prior to such escheat, there has existed or may exist any lien of any mortgage, pledge or hypothecation in such real estate, the holder of such mortgage, pledge or hypothecation may make the state of New Jersey a party defendant to his action for the foreclosure thereof, whether instituted in a state court, or in a federal court. The state of New Jersey shall be considered to be served with proper and sufficient process and brought within the jurisdiction of any such court when a summons shall have been served on the attorney general of this state, the state of New Jersey being named as a party defendant in such summons. If the attorney general shall refuse to acknowledge service on the summons the physical delivery of a true copy thereof and the exhibition to the attorney general of the original summons shall be considered a good and sufficient service to comply with the provisions of this section. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-10 Waste or trespass; restraint; damages, action for

If any waste is done or committed on any real estate which has escheated or may escheat to the state, the attorney general shall apply to the superior court to restrain such waste. Any person doing or committing any waste or other trespass upon such property shall be liable in damages therefor, to be sued for and recovered in the name of the state, by an action in any court having jurisdiction thereof. L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.

N.J. Stat. § 2A:37-41.1 Loan of moneys in separate fund to Rutgers University

From the fund established by section 2A:37-41 of the New Jersey Statutes, the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to lend to Rutgers, the State University, a sum not exceeding $1,000,000.00 for the purpose of constructing student dormitories and related capital facilities. Any such loan shall be repaid in equal annual installments over a period of 20 years commencing July 1, 1962 at a rate of interest equal to 4% per annum computed over the life of the loan. L.1961, c. 31, p. 123, s. 1, eff. May 25, 1961.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026