N.J. Stat. tit. 17, ch. 37

N.J. Stat. tit. 17, ch. 37
in effect

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-1 Property mutual company may insure

Any mutual fire insurance company of this state may insure dwellings, schoolhouses, houses for religious worship, mechanic shops, barns, wagon houses and other farm buildings, with or without their contents, against loss or damage by lightning or fire, without regard to the distance which any one building stands from another building or whether it is connected with any other building, dwelling house, shop, barn or other building, and may insure buildings, farm produce and other personal property against loss or damage by lightning or fire, wherever the same is located.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-2 Retirement or surrender of advance premium notes

When any mutual fire insurance company formed under this subtitle shall have taken advantage of sections 17:26-4 and 17:26-5 of this title, and shall have created a capital stock and issued policies, not mutual, participating or assessable, all notes received by the company at the time of its commencement of business as advance premiums for insurance, as required by section 17:17-7 of this title, and which notes are by said section 17:17-7 considered the capital stock of the company, may, by a majority vote of the directors of the company, be retired and surrendered to the persons by whom the same were given, if the policies of insurance in connection with which the notes have been received, have matured, or have been surrendered or canceled.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-3 Borrowing money

The directors of any mutual fire insurance company of this State issuing assessable policies may borrow money to an amount not exceeding $25,000.00, for and on behalf of the company and in its name, to pay losses and expenses for which the company is liable, and may raise moneys by assessments to pay the sums so borrowed, in the same manner as they are authorized and directed to raise money to pay losses. This limit shall not apply to any mutual fire insurance company issuing nonassessable policies. Amended by L.1981, c. 244, s. 1, eff. Aug. 3, 1981.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-4 Rewards

The directors of any mutual fire insurance company of this state may offer, in the company's name, such sum of money as in their judgment is proper as a reward for the apprehension and conviction of any person who burns or causes to be burned any property on which the company has a policy of insurance in force, and may raise the money necessary to pay the reward and pay the same in the same manner as they are authorized to raise and pay moneys for losses.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-5 Issuance of policies to others than the insured

Any mutual fire insurance company of this state, at the time of issuing a policy of insurance, may, with the assent of the insured, make the whole or any part of the loss which may occur under the policy payable to any person, other than the insured, who may have an interest in the property, and make indorsement thereof on the policy. Where the assent of the insured to the appropriation of the money to be paid in satisfaction of any loss that may occur under the policy is indorsed on the application for insurance or survey of the property insured, it shall constitute a part of the application or survey, and be sufficient authority to the company for the issuance of the policy in the manner therein prescribed.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-6 Limited liability of insured in certain companies

Any mutual fire insurance company organized by special act of the Legislature prior to the year 1875 may provide in the policy of insurance a limited liability of the insured to pay upon call during the existence of the policy any portion or all of the premium not paid in cash, notwithstanding, and in lieu of, any provision in the act incorporating the company for the deposit by the insured of a promissory note for the portion of premium not paid in cash and it shall not be necessary for any company to impose any limited liability to be paid upon call or to require the deposit of a promissory note when a policy is issued for a cash premium only, in pursuance of the authority of section 17:28-3. Amended by L.1954, c. 152, p. 656, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-7 Assessments

When the directors of any mutual fire insurance company of this State make an assessment, they may assess over and above the amount of the losses and liabilities existing and unpaid at the time of making the assessment, any sum which they determine. The assessment shall be made against each member in proportion to the amount of insurance upon which he is liable to assessment by the rules and regulations of the company, not to exceed 1% of the amount of insurance, or in proportion to the original amount of his deposit note, which is assessable according to the constitution and by-laws of the company making the assessment, and in the latter case does not exceed 20% of the deposit note. The surplus, if any, collected upon the assessment, shall be placed in the company's treasury and be used only for the payment of losses and expenses, according to the provisions of its charter or certificate of incorporation. The same rights and remedies shall exist for the collection of the assessment as are given in and by the charter or certificate of incorporation of the company for the collection of the assessments therein provided for but no assessment shall be made against any member upon a policy issued for a cash premium only in pursuance of the authority of section 17:28-3 of this Title. Amended by L.1954, c. 152, p. 657, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-8 Assessments required when liabilities of mutual fire insurer exceed assets

When the liabilities of any mutual fire insurance company organized under the laws of this State and now doing business shall exceed its assets, or hereafter organized shall exceed the net assets as provided in section 17:17-7 of this Title for the commencement of business, its board of directors shall raise money by assessment to restore such excess, and on neglect or refusal so to do, after 60 days' notice from the treasurer or the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance of such excess of liabilities over assets, the directors so neglecting or failing shall be personally liable to pay the liabilities to the persons to whom the same are due and the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall take possession of the property and business of the company as provided in section 17:30-1 of this Title. This section shall not apply to stockholders of mutual companies having a capital stock or to any mutual insurance company issuing insurance policies in accordance with the provisions of section 17:28-3 of this Title for cash premiums and without additional contingent premiums. Amended by L.1951, c. 206, p. 750, s. 7; L.1954, c. 152, p. 658, s. 4.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-9 Vice president; election; acting as president

Any mutual fire insurance company, organized under the laws of this state, may choose from its board of directors, at the time of its annual election, in the same manner as its president is elected, one vice president, who may, in case of the death or disability of the president, sign policies and perform all other acts which devolve upon the office of president, during the continuance of the disability, or until the election of a new president by the company, or as provided by its by-laws.

N.J. Stat. § 17:37-10 Tenure of directors of certain companies; cash payments

Any mutual fire insurance company of this state organized by special act prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five may, if deemed for its best interests, elect its directors for three-year terms. The company may, also, accept cash payments for premiums, or any portion thereof.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026