Salem County Sheriff's Sale: How It Works and How to Stop It

If your home is scheduled for a Salem County sheriff's sale, you still have options, including adjournments you are entitled to by law. Here is when and where sales are held, what the rules are, and what David Chapman can do before your date.

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Salem County sheriff’s sale at a glance

When

Sales start promptly at 2:00 PM, roughly once a month; bidders must arrive by 1:45 PM so the sheriff can verify funds

Where

Salem County Courthouse, 92 Market Street, Salem (parking behind the old courthouse on Grant Street)

Bidder deposit

Certified checks payable to the Sheriff of Salem County, with a $1,000 cash limit and no exceptions; confirm the current deposit percentage with the Sheriff's Office

Adjournments

New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2A:17-36) entitles the homeowner to two adjournments of the sheriff's sale, and the court may grant additional adjournments for cause. Salem does not publish its adjournment procedure online; call the Sheriff's Office at (856) 935-7510 ext. 8375 to confirm the fee and deadline.

Salem County Sheriff's Office

94 Market Street, Salem, NJ 08079 · (856) 935-7510 ext. 8375

  • Sales are listed on salesweb.civilview.com (Salem).

Verified against the Salem County Sheriff’s website. Schedules change; David confirms every client’s sale date directly with the sheriff.

How a home gets to sheriff’s sale

A New Jersey sheriff’s sale is the last step of a court case, not the first. The lender must send a Notice of Intention to Foreclose, file a complaint, obtain a final judgment, and then deliver a writ of execution to the Salem County Sheriff, who has 150 days to schedule the sale and must advertise it for four weeks. Contested cases are heard at Salem County Courthouse in Salem. If you are reading this with a sale date already set, the judgment has been entered, but several tools remain.

Six ways to stop or postpone the sale

  1. Statutory adjournments. The homeowner is entitled to two by law, and the court can order more for cause. In Salem County, follow the sheriff’s procedure exactly; a request made the wrong way or too late is refused.
  2. A complete loan modification application. Federal rules restrict a servicer from holding the sale while a complete application received more than 37 days before the sale is under review. Loan modification.
  3. Reinstatement or payoff. Paying the arrears or the full judgment cancels the sale. Get the figure in writing.
  4. A short sale with a lender postponement. Lenders often postpone when a real offer is on the table. Short sales.
  5. A motion to stay the sale or vacate the judgment. Where service, notice, or standing were defective, the court can stop the sale. Foreclosure litigation.
  6. Bankruptcy, by referral. A filing imposes an automatic stay. David does not handle bankruptcy cases. When a bankruptcy filing is the right tool, he refers you to a bankruptcy attorney.

After the sale

The sale is not final the moment the gavel falls. The former owner has a short period to redeem or object, and the deed is delivered only afterward. If the home sold for more than the judgment, the difference is held by the court as surplus funds that you can claim. Tenants have separate rights and generally cannot be removed without a court process.

Have a Salem County sale date?

Bring the notice of sale and your latest mortgage statement. In one free conversation you will know whether the date can be moved and how.

(732) 790-1505Salem County foreclosure guide

Sheriff’s sales in other counties

FAQ

Salem County sheriff's sale questions

How do I stop a Salem County sheriff's sale?

The fastest tool is a statutory adjournment, which you are entitled to twice. Beyond that, a complete loan modification application, a negotiated postponement for a short sale, or a motion to the court can stop or delay the sale, and David chooses the combination that fits the time left before your date. A bankruptcy filing can also stop a sale; David does not handle bankruptcy cases and refers clients to a bankruptcy attorney when that is the right tool.

How do I postpone my Salem County sheriff's sale?

New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2A:17-36) entitles the homeowner to two adjournments of the sheriff's sale, and the court may grant additional adjournments for cause. Salem does not publish its adjournment procedure online; call the Sheriff's Office at (856) 935-7510 ext. 8375 to confirm the fee and deadline.

What happens at a Salem County sheriff's sale?

The sheriff reads the conditions of sale and opens bidding. The lender usually bids first. The highest bidder must pay a deposit on the spot: Certified checks payable to the Sheriff of Salem County, with a $1,000 cash limit and no exceptions; confirm the current deposit percentage with the Sheriff's Office. If no one outbids the lender, the property goes back to the lender.

Can I get my house back after the sale?

New Jersey gives the former owner a short window after the sale to redeem by paying the full judgment and costs, or to file an objection to the sale with the court. The deed is not delivered until that window closes, and a bankruptcy filed within it extends the time. Call the same day.

What if the house sold for more than I owed?

The extra money is called surplus funds. It is deposited with the court and can be claimed by the former owner by motion, after any junior lienholders are paid.

Every day counts

Talk to David before your Salem County sale date

Tell David what you're facing. You'll leave the conversation knowing your options, with no pressure and no obligation. Calls returned within one business day.

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