This will depend on whether it is necessary to file a lawsuit to enforce collection. We generally recommend filing suit if your obligor will not resolve the claim amicably at the outset of our collection efforts. With the recent budget cuts, many New Jersey Courts suffer from staffing shortages that delay the processing of routine paperwork in both contested and uncontested cases. Contested lawsuits are typically resolved in 6–18 months or less, depending on whether the matter is heard in Special Civil Part (for balances less than $15,000) or Superior Court (for balances in excess of $15,000).