N.J. Stat. § 30:4-71
When any patient shall be committed to any State or county institution as a contributing patient and an order has been made directing the payment of all or part of the cost of the care and maintenance of such patient out of his estate, or by the person or persons chargeable by law with his care and maintenance, and such estate shall subsequently become exhausted or such person or persons chargeable as aforesaid shall become unable to continue such payments, or if such payments so due cannot be collected by the management of the institution, the guardian of such patient, or the person or persons chargeable as aforesaid, or the chief executive officer of such institution may apply in writing to the judicial officer for the reopening of the matter, and such judicial officer shall have power, in his discretion, upon notice to the proper parties, to inquire into the facts, if necessary, and change the status of such patient, and make such further order of directions as may be necessary.
When any patient shall have been or shall be committed to any State or county institution on an order directing the payment of part of the cost of the care and maintenance of such patient out of his estate or by the person or persons chargeable by law with his care and maintenance, it shall be lawful for the judicial officer, upon application of the management of the institution or the Attorney General or county counsel, as the case may be, upon notice to the representative of the estate or to the person or persons chargeable by law with his care and maintenance, upon proof of the ability of the estate of such patient or such person or persons legally liable, to pay the whole or greater portion of the cost of such care and maintenance, not exceeding the per capita cost of maintenance in such institution, to enter an order directing that such new rate be paid by such estate or by such person or persons chargeable by law with the care and maintenance of such patient.
N.J.S. § 30:4-71