N.J. Stat. § 2A:17-56.23b
As used in this act "net proceeds" means any amount of money, in excess of $2,000, payable to the prevailing party or beneficiary after attorney fees, witness fees, court costs, fees for health care providers, payments to the Medicaid program under section 6 of P.L. 1979, c.365 (C.30:4D-7.1), reimbursement to the Division of Employment Security in the Department of Labor, the employer or employer's insurance carrier for temporary disability benefits that may have been paid pending the outcome of a workers' compensation claim as provided by section 1 of P.L. 1950, c.174 (C.34:15-57.1), reimbursement to an employer or the employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier as provided in R.S. 34:15-40, and other costs related to the lawsuit, inheritance or settlement are deducted from the award, proceeds or estate; "prevailing party" or "beneficiary" shall not include a partnership, corporation, limited liability partnership, financial institution, government entity or minor child; and "agent" means an authorized representative of the prevailing party or beneficiary, a union representative, an executor or administrator of a decedent's estate, an arbitrator or any other person or entity if such person or entity is responsible for the distribution of net proceeds to a prevailing party or beneficiary.
If the prevailing party or beneficiary is not represented by an attorney, the judgment search shall be initiated by the opposing attorney, insurance company or agent before the proceeds are distributed to the prevailing party or beneficiary. In the case of a workers' compensation action, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall, at least once every 60 days, transmit information on child support judgment debtors to the Division of Workers' Compensation in the Department of Labor. The information shall include the debtor's name, Social Security number, the amount of the child support judgment, the Probation Division case number and the Probation Division office to which the judgment is payable. The Division of Workers' Compensation shall match the data received on child support judgment debtors against the information it maintains for individuals who have filed workers' compensation claims with the division. When a match is identified, the Division of Workers' Compensation shall notify the appropriate judge of compensation of the child support judgment before the decision, award, determination, judgment or order approving the settlement is rendered. The judge of compensation shall incorporate in the decision, award, determination, judgment or order approving the settlement, an order requiring the employer or the employer's insurance carrier to contact the Probation Division to satisfy the child support judgment out of the net proceeds of the workers' compensation award, order or settlement before any such monies are paid to the employee. The Division of Workers' Compensation shall be immune from any civil liability that may arise from any information provided by the division or any order issued by a judge of compensation relating to a child support judgment, in accordance with this section. In the case of judgments or settlements resulting from a labor arbitration involving employees of a school board or school district, a judgment search shall be initiated by the school board or district prior to the release of any net proceeds to the employees and only if there is an income withholding for child support active against the employee in the records of the school board or district. In the case of an inheritance, the executor or administrator of the decedent's estate shall initiate the judgment search. The judgment search company shall provide a certification to the attorney, insurance company, agent or party initiating the lawsuit identifying whether or not the prevailing party or beneficiary is a child support judgment debtor.
In the case of net proceeds that are to be paid through a structured settlement or other payment plan, the attorney, insurance company or agent shall be required to conduct the child support judgment search only at the time of settlement or prior to the distribution of the first payment under the plan. If a child support judgment is identified, the attorney, insurance company or agent shall provide the Probation Division with a copy of the structured settlement or payment plan within 30 days of identifying the child support judgment.
If there are no attorneys representing either party in a civil lawsuit, the party bringing the lawsuit shall initiate the judgment search and shall be required to file the certification with the court at least 10 working days prior to the trial or with the stipulation that the certification shall be filed at the time of the settlement or dismissal of the lawsuit.
For monies deposited with the court, no distribution of funds shall be made until the attorney, prevailing party or beneficiary provides the Clerk of the Superior Court with a copy of the certification showing that the prevailing party or beneficiary is not a child support judgment debtor.
The fee for a judgment search which is required by this section shall not exceed $10 for each name of a child support judgment debtor that is searched. The fee for a judgment search is chargeable against the net proceeds as a cost of the settlement, judgment, inheritance or award.
If there are no attorneys representing either party in a civil lawsuit and the certification filed with the court shows that the prevailing party or beneficiary is a child support judgment debtor, the court shall order that the opposing party pay the amount of the child support judgment to the Probation Division before any funds are paid to the prevailing party or beneficiary. The court shall also insure that any judgment related to the lawsuit docketed with the Clerk of the Superior Court reflect the Probation Division's superior claim to such funds.
N.J.S. § 2A:17-56.23b