## US-NJ interest rules

This source-backed guide covers US-NJ interest authority (N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11). It certifies only the quoted source-backed rules below; related interest categories remain outside this page unless they are expressly listed in the receipt.

## N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11

US-NJ interest controlling authority under N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11.

> **4.** Notice - Post-Judgment Interest Rate for Calendar Year 2026 (Rule 4:42-11) | NJ Courts Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website. Skip to main content . Search‏‏‎ Search Translate this page Portal Log In MENU CLOSE Search Search Self-Represented Represent Yourself In Court Appeals Guide to Completing Appeals Forms Municipal Court Appeals Supreme Court Appeals Child Abuse, Kinship, and Adoption Child Support and Custody Filing a Case Emergent Hearings Responding to a Complaint Change a Court Order F

## Use the calculator

DocketMath's interest calculator can model interest scenarios once you identify the controlling jurisdiction, amount, rate type, and accrual date. Use the source panel for the verified source-backed rule.

[Open the Interest calculator](/tools/interest)

## Sources

- [4 — N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11](https://www.njcourts.gov/notices/notice-post-judgment-interest-rate-calendar-year-2026-rule-442-11)

All sources are official primary law published by `www.njcourts.gov`.

**Corroboration method:** government_primary_source_direct_fetch.


Judgment Interest Calculator Guide for New Jersey: This DocketMath article is under primary-source review; claim-level legal values and citations are unavailable until verification is complete.

Judgment Interest Calculator Guide for New Jersey

CY 2026 AOC notice confirmed 4.5% / 6.5% with Special Civil Part ($20,000) threshold. Major surgery required: prior file contained 14+ fabricated statutory quotations including top-level flat '4%' rate, mis-citations to 2A:15-5.1/5.2/5.3 (joint-tortfeasor statutes), 2A:32-1/2 (replevin), 2A:14-1.1/1.2 (construction repose), 2A:15-1/6 (general jurisdiction), and 46:15-5.1/5.2/5.3 (realty transfer fees) — all unrelated to their purported interest-rate content.

ERISA does not prescribe a specific prejudgment interest rate. Courts exercise discretion; in the Third Circuit, the post-judgment rate under 28 U.S.C. § 1961 (weekly-average 1-yr constant-maturity Treasury yield) is a common benchmark, though courts may alternatively apply the IRC § 6621 underpayment rate.

New Jersey has no state-level general escrow interest mandate. The only statutory escrow-interest framework is N.J.S.A. 46:8-19, which governs residential security deposits and requires the landlord to pay the tenant interest actually earned (minus a 1% admin fee).

Post-judgment interest is governed by R. 4:42-11(a). The AOC sets the rate annually based on the average rate of return of the NJ Cash Management Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31; the rate for amounts exceeding the Special Civil Part monetary limit is that average plus 2 percentage points.

For calendar year 2026, the rate is 4.5% for judgments not exceeding the Special Civil Part monetary limit and 6.5% for judgments exceeding that limit.

New Jersey has no general statute fixing prejudgment interest in contract cases. The award is within the court's equitable discretion; the legal rate per N.J.S.A. 31:1-1 is 6% per annum absent a written contract (16% if written). Courts frequently apply the R. 4:42-11(a) AOC rate by analogy.

Except where provided by statute with respect to a public entity or employee, and except as otherwise provided by law, the court shall, in tort actions, including products liability actions, include in the judgment simple interest, calculated as hereinafter provided, from the date of the institution of the action or from a date 6 months after the date the cause of action arises, whichever is later, provided that in exceptional cases the court may suspend the running of such prejudgment interest.

The governing body may fix the rate of interest to be charged for the nonpayment of taxes or assessments... which rate shall not exceed 8% per annum on the first $1,500.00 of the delinquency and 18% per annum on any amount in excess of $1,500.00.

Within 30 days of the receipt of a security deposit from a tenant, the person receiving the security deposit shall... invest that deposit... in an insured money market fund... or in another account... that pays interest at a rate comparable to the money market fund rate... The person investing the security deposit may retain an amount equal to 1% per year of the deposit for administrative expenses, and shall pay to the tenant the remainder of the interest or earnings.

Except as otherwise ordered by the court or provided by law, judgments, awards, and orders for the payment of money, taxed costs, and counsel fees shall bear simple interest... at the average rate of return, to the nearest whole or one-half percent, for the corresponding preceding fiscal year terminating on August 31, of the State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund... provided that the rate for any amount of a judgment, award, or order in excess of the monetary limit of the Special Civil Part at the time of entry shall be 2% per annum in addition to such average rate of return.

For New Jersey calendar year 2026, postjudgment interest under Rule 4:42-11(a) is 4.5% at or below the Special Civil Part monetary limit and 6.5% above it. Tort prejudgment interest after January 1, 1988 uses the same rates as postjudgment interest.

interest in US-NJ is governed by N.J. Ct. R. 4:42-11.