New Jersey § 2a:41a-1

§ 2a:41a-1.

The Governor is hereby authorized and directed to execute a compact in the following

form on behalf of this State with any other State or States as defined in said compact

when entered into in accordance with the terms of said compact by said other State

or States and not disapproved by the Governor of this State under paragraph (c) of

article 7 of such compact: The contracting States solemnly agree: The aims of this compact are to promote comity and judicial cooperation among the

States party thereto; and to relieve from undue risk and uncertainty, a person who

may be subject to double or multiple liability because of the existence of adverse

claimants, 1 or more of whom in the absence of this compact may not be subject to

the jurisdiction of the adjudicating court, when such person makes all reasonable

efforts to secure judicial determination and discharge of his liability. For the purpose of this compact the following definitions shall apply: (a) A State shall mean (1) a State of the United States or any territory or possession

of the United States and the District of Columbia acting under Article 1, section 10, clause 3, of the Constitution of the United States in entering this compact with an American or a foreign jurisdiction, or (2) a State

of the community of nations and any component governmental unit of such a State which

under the laws thereof may validly become party to this compact. (b) A person shall include any entity capable of suing or being sued in the State

in which the interpleader is pending. (c) Interpleader shall mean a judicial procedure by which 2 or more persons who have

adverse claims against a third person may be required to litigate these claims in

1 proceeding. Article III--Service of Process. (a) Service of process sufficient to acquire personal jurisdiction may be made within

a State party to this compact, by a person who institutes an interpleader proceeding

or interpleader part of a proceeding in another State, party to this compact, provided

that such service shall fulfill the requirements for service of process of the State

in which the service is made and provided further that such service shall meet the

minimum standards for service of the jurisdiction where the proceeding is pending. (b) No such service of process shall be valid unless either: (1) the subject matter

of the proceeding is specific real property or tangible personal property situated

within the State in which the proceeding is pending; or (2) 1 or more of the claimants

shall be either a permanent resident or domiciliary of the State in which the proceeding

is pending; or (3) a significant portion of the transaction out of which the proceeding

shall have arisen shall have taken place in the State in which the proceeding is pending;

or (4) 1 of the claimants shall have initiated the action. Article IV--Scope of Interpleader Unaffected. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to change any requirement or limitation

on the scope of interpleader of the State in which the interpleader proceeding is

pending except in relation to acquisition of personal jurisdiction. Article V--Finality of Judgment. No judgment obtained against any person in any proceeding to which he had become a

party by reason of service of process effected pursuant to the provisions of this

compact shall be subject to attack on the ground that the adjudicating court did not

have personal jurisdiction over such person. Article VI--Enactment. (a) This compact shall enter into force and effect as to a State 1 year from the date

it has taken whatever action may be necessary pursuant to its required processes to

make this compact part of the laws of such State and the appropriate authority of

such State shall have deposited a duly authenticated copy of its statute, proclamation,

order, or similar official pronouncement having the force of law and embodying this

compact as law with the appropriate officer or agency of each of the States party

thereto. In the statute, proclamation, order or similar act by which a State adopts this

compact, it shall specify the officer or agency with whom the documents referred to

in this article shall be deposited. (b) Unless the statute, proclamation, order, or similar act by which a State adopts

this compact shall specify otherwise, and name the States with which the State intends

to compact, such adoption shall apply to all other States then party to or who may

subsequently become party to this compact. In the event that a State shall enter this compact with some States but not with

others, the deposit of documents required by paragraph (a) of this article shall be

effected only with those States to which the adopting State specifies an intention

to be bound. Article VII--Withdrawal. (a) This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on a party State until

such State shall withdraw therefrom. To be valid and effective, any withdrawal must be preceded by a formal notice in

writing of 1 year from the appropriate authority of that State. Such notice shall be communicated to the same officer or agency in each party State

with which the notice of adoption was deposited pursuant to article 6 of this compact. In the event that a State wishes to withdraw with respect to 1 or more States, but

wishes to remain a party to this compact with other States party thereto, its notice

of withdrawal shall be communicated only to those States with respect to which withdrawal

is contemplated. (b) Withdrawal shall not be effective as to service of process accomplished pursuant

to this compact prior to the actual date of withdrawal. (c) Any State receiving a notice of adoption from another State may by action of its

executive head within a year from the receipt of such notice in the manner provided

for withdrawal in paragraph (a) of this article specify its intention not to be bound

to the State depositing such notice and such adoption thereupon shall not be binding

upon the State so acting. Article VIII--Severability and Construction. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence

or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any

participating State, or in the case of a component governmental unit, to the constitution

of the State of which it is a part, or the applicability thereof to any government,

agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of

this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance

shall not be affected thereby; provided that if this compact shall be held invalid

or contrary to the constitution of any government participating therein the compact

shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining governments and in full

force and effect as to the government affected to all severable matters. It is the intent that the provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally

construed.