Actions may be instituted against defendants designated by an initial letter or letters or a contraction of a given first name or names. Neither final judgment nor notice or certificate of indebtedness shall, however, be entered or filed against a defendant so designated unless the defendant has been designated as provided by R. 4:26-5 or the plaintiff amends the complaint to state at least one full given name of the defendant or the court otherwise orders.
Rule 4:26-6.Initials or contractions of first name or names; effect on filing of complaints, entry of judgment, notice or certificate of indebtedness
Last amended September 11, 1978 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:26-6 permits actions against defendants designated only by initials or a contraction of a first name, but bars entering a judgment or filing a certificate of indebtedness against such a defendant unless the name is completed, the unknown-defendant rule is followed, or the court orders otherwise.
Full Text of Rule 4:26-6
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source-R.R. 7:4-5 (second paragraph). Amended July 7, 1971 to be effective September 13, 1971; caption and text; amended July 24, 1978 to be effective September 11, 1978.
Plain-English Summary
A defendant sometimes appears in records by initials rather than a full name. This rule lets an action be instituted against a defendant designated by an initial letter or letters or a contraction of a given name.
The judgment stage requires more precision. No final judgment, and no notice or certificate of indebtedness, may be entered or filed against a defendant so designated unless the defendant has been designated under the unknown-defendant rule, the plaintiff amends the complaint to state at least one full given name, or the court otherwise orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you sue a defendant identified only by initials?
Yes, an action may be brought against a defendant designated by initials or a contraction of a first name. But no judgment or certificate of indebtedness may be entered against that defendant unless the name is completed or the court otherwise orders.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:26-6). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: initials or contractionsdefendant by initialscontraction of first name