The Role of the New Jersey Bankruptcy Trustee
The District of New Jersey is divided into three districts: Newark, Trenton, and Camden, and is overseen by the New Jersey bankruptcy trustees who handle the administration of cases filed under Chapters 7 and 13.
As in other jurisdictions, the Garden State maintains a clear distinction between the private trustees who handle the day-to-day management of your case and the Office of the U.S. Trustee (UST), which serves as the bankruptcy system’s watchdog under the Department of Justice.
By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).
Office of the U.S. Trustee (UST)
While private trustees handle individual cases, the United States Trustee oversees the overall integrity of the bankruptcy system. New Jersey is part of Region 3 of the U.S. Trustee Program, which also includes Pennsylvania and Delaware.
The regional office is located in Philadelphia, but New Jersey’s local U.S. Trustee office is based in Newark:
Location: One Newark Center, 1085 Raymond Boulevard, Suite 2100, Newark, NJ 07102. Phone: (973) 645-3014. Assistant U.S. Trustee: Jeffrey M. Sponder, Esq.
The New Jersey Bankruptcy Trustee
A Bankruptcy Trustee is a private individual, often an attorney, appointed to oversee and administer your specific case. Their responsibilities vary depending on which chapter you file.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees
Chapter 7 is commonly referred to as a “liquidation,” but whether anything is actually liquidated depends on the value of your assets. If you own property that exceeds New Jersey’s exemption limits, meaning the equity is not fully protected, the trustee is obligated to safeguard the bankruptcy estate. This may include selling non-exempt assets and distributing the net proceeds to creditors on a pro‑rata basis.
In a Chapter 7 case, the trustee’s role includes:
- Reviewing your petition and schedules for accuracy
- Conducting the 341 Meeting of Creditors
- Investigating potential fraudulent transfers through the adversary process
- Requesting a Rule 2004 Examination when necessary (similar to a deposition)
Below is the updated list of New Jersey bankruptcy trustees for Chapter 7 cases.
Bunce D. Atkinson, 1011 Highway 71, Suite 200, Spring Lake, NJ 07762. E-mail: bunceatkinson@aol.com, Phone: (732) 449-0525, Fax: (732) 449-0592.
Karen E. Bezner, 567 Park Avenue, Suite 103, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. E-mail: kbez@bellatlantic.net, Phone: (908)322-8484, Fax: (908)322-0560.
Donald V. Biase, P. O. Box 646, Essex Fells, NJ 07021. E-mail: dbiase4236@gmail.com, Phone: (862) 702-3185.
Andrea Dobin, 427 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611. E-mail: adobin@msbnj.com, Phone: (609) 695-6070, Fax: (609) 695-6071.
Charles M. Forman, 365 W Passaic Street, Suite 400, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662. E-mail: cforman@formanlaw.com, Phone: (201) 845-1000.
Ilissa C. Hook, 184 Grand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631. E-mail: bhannon@norgaardfirm.com, Phone: (201) 871-1333, Fax: (201) 871-3161.
Nancy Isaacson, 75 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068. E-mail: nisaacson@greenbaumlaw.com, Phone: (973) 577-1930, Fax: (973) 535-1698.
Steven P. Kartzman, 101 Gibraltar Drive, Suite 2F, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. E-mail: skartzman@msklaw.net, Phone: (973) 267-0220, Fax: (973) 267-2402.
Jeffrey A. Lester, 374 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. E-mail: jlester@bllaw.com, Phone: (201) 487-5544, Fax: (201) 487-4026.
Jay L. Lubetkin, 293 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 100, Livingston, NJ 07039. E-mail: jlubetkin@rltlawfirm.com, Phone: (973) 597-9100, Fax: (973) 597-9119.
Joseph D. Marchand, 106 Hickory Court, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. E-mail: jdmarchand@comcast.net, Phone: (856) 451-7600, Fax: (856) 451-6535.
John M. McDonnell III, 115 Maple Ave., Suite 201, Red Bank, NJ 07701. E-mail: jmcdonnell@mchfirm.com, Phone: (732) 383-7233, Fax: (732) 383-7531.
Thomas J. Orr, 321 High St., 2nd Floor, Burlington, NJ 08016. E-mail: tom@torrlaw.com, Phone: (609) 386-8700, Fax: (609) 386-7765.
Eric R. Perkins, 103 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 403, Roseland, NJ 07068. E-mail: eperkins@hlgslaw.com, Phone: (973) 621-9020, Fax: (973) 621-7406.
Andrew S. Sklar, 20 Brace Road, Suite 205, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. E-mail: andy@sklarlaw.com, Phone: (856) 258-4050, Fax: (856) 258-6941.
Douglas S. Stanger, 646 Ocean Heights Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221. E-mail: doug.stanger@flastergreenberg.com, Phone: (609) 645-1881, Fax: (609) 645-9932.
Benjamin A. Stanziale Jr., 2839 Route 10, Suite 102, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. E-mail: ben@stanzialelaw.com, Phone: (973) 731-9393, Fax: (973) 731-9401.
Maureen P. Steady, 2 Kings Highway West, Suite 102, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Phone: (856) 428-1060, Fax: (609) 482-8011.
Daniel E. Straffi, 670 Commons Way, Toms River, NJ 08755. E-mail: dstraffi@comcast.net, Phone: (732) 341-3800, Fax: (732) 341-3548.
Thomas J. Subranni, 1624 Pacific Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401. E-mail: trustee@subranni.com, Phone: (609) 347-7000, Fax: (609) 345-4545.
John W. Sywilok, 51 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. E-mail: sywilokattorney@sywilok.com, Phone: (201) 487-9390, Fax: (201) 487-9393.
Jeffrey T. Testa, 4 Gateway Center, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Phone: (973) 639-7939, Fax: (973) 297-6230.
Brian S. Thomas, 327 Central Avenue, Suite 103, Linwood, NJ 08221. E-mail: brian@brianthomaslaw.com, Phone: (609) 601-6066, Fax: (609) 601-6061.
David A. Wolff, 396 Route 34, Matawan, NJ 07747. E-mail: dwtrustee@verizon.net, Phone: (732) 566-1189, Fax: (732) 566-1192.
Chapter 13 Standing Trustees
Chapter 13 is a reorganization designed for “wage earners.” In New Jersey, the Chapter 13 trustee collects your monthly plan payments and distributes them to creditors according to your court-approved plan. The trustee also monitors your compliance throughout the three‑to‑five-year duration of the case.
A crucial step in Chapter 13 is the Confirmation Hearing. This is where the judge determines whether your plan meets all legal requirements.
| District | Trustee Name | Office Address | Phone Number |
| Newark | Marie-Ann Greenberg | 30 Two Bridges Road, Suite 330, Fairfield, NJ 07004 | (973) 227-2840 |
| Trenton | Albert Russo | 1 AAA Drive, Suite 101, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 | (609) 587-6888 |
| Camden | Andrew B. Finberg | 535 Route 38, Suite 580, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 | (856) 663-5002 |
Professor’s Note: As I note in my textbook, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, the bankruptcy trustee is a fiduciary for the creditors. That means you should be careful and deliberate when communicating with them as they are responsible for protecting the interests of the bankruptcy estate, not advocating for you.
New Jersey trustees are generally professional and fair, but their legal duty is to maximize recovery for the estate, which will not align with your personal goals.
341 Meeting Update
As of early 2026, most 341 Meetings in New Jersey continue to be conducted remotely, typically via Zoom. Even though you may be attending from home, you are testifying under penalty of perjury. You must have your photo ID and Social Security card ready to show on camera, and some trustees require identification to be submitted in advance, along with your requested documents.
Always ensure that all required documents are provided to the trustee on time. Failure to do so can delay your case or even result in dismissal before it truly begins.
Pro-Tip: If you are filing Chapter 13, ensure your first plan payment is mailed to the Memphis, TN lockbox (not the local NJ office) before your 341 Meeting. Trustees like Albert Russo and Marie-Ann Greenberg will ask for proof of this payment immediately upon opening your hearing.
Additional information on the New Jersey bankruptcy court system can be found here.
Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish at an international university.
Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link.
You can learn more about filing for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy petition via this link. Information on the bankruptcy court system, contact information for trustees, and your state’s exemptions can be found here. The federal bankruptcy exemptions are listed here. The latest version of the 341 Meeting of the Creditors can be found here.
You can find additional categories by clicking below or by using the search feature at the top of this page:
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.
You must be logged in to post a comment.