Except as otherwise provided by R. 1:13-1 (clerical errors), a motion for rehearing or reconsideration seeking to alter or amend a judgment or final order shall be served not later than 20 days after service of the judgment or order upon all parties by the party obtaining it. The motion shall state with specificity the basis on which it is made, including a statement of the matters or controlling decisions that counsel believes the court has overlooked or as to which it has erred, and shall have annexed thereto a copy of the judgment or final order sought to be reconsidered and a copy of the court’s corresponding written opinion, if any.
Rule 4:49-2.Motion to Alter or Amend a Judgment or Final Order
Last amended September 1, 2022 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:49-2 requires a motion for reconsideration of a judgment or final order to be served within 20 days, spelling out specifically what the court is believed to have overlooked or gotten wrong.
Full Text of Rule 4:49-2
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. 4:61-6. Amended November 5, 1986 to be effective January 1, 1987; amended July 14, 1992 to be effective September 1, 1992; amended July 10, 1998 to be effective September 1, 1998; amended July 19, 2012 to be effective September 4, 2012; caption and text amended August 5, 2022 to be effective September 1, 2022.
Plain-English Summary
Asking a court to reconsider its own judgment or final order comes with a short fuse and a specificity requirement. The motion has to be served within 20 days after the winning party serves the judgment or order on everyone else, and it can't just say the court got it wrong — it has to identify the particular matters or controlling decisions counsel believes the court overlooked or misapplied.
The motion also has to come with its receipts: a copy of the judgment or order being challenged, and the court's written opinion, if it issued one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a party have to move for reconsideration of a New Jersey judgment?
20 days after the judgment or order is served on all parties by the party who obtained it.
What must a motion for reconsideration include?
A specific statement of the matters or controlling decisions the court is believed to have overlooked or erred on, along with a copy of the judgment or order and the court's written opinion, if any.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:49-2). 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: motion for reconsiderationalter or amend judgment