Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) No person shall
act as, offer to act as, or hold himself or herself out to be, a foreclosure
consultant or use the designation foreclosure consultant, foreclosure
consultant specialist, or similar designation in this State unless licensed by
the Commissioner as set forth in the Act.
1. A
complete application as prescribed by the Commissioner which shall include the
following:
i. The legal name of the
applicant, any trade or alternate name in which the applicant intends to
operate, the official e-mail address of the applicant, and the business address
of the principal office from which the applicant will conduct foreclosure
consulting activity and at which the applicant may be contacted by the
Department;
ii. The identification
of any additional locations at which the applicant will engage in the business
of foreclosure consulting on an ongoing basis. All such locations shall conform
to all applicable local laws and ordinances and shall be conducive to the
maintenance of the confidentiality of the personal identification and financial
information of all consumers to whom the applicant provides any distressed
property services, in accordance with all applicable Federal and State laws and
rules;
iii. If different from the
principal business location referenced in (a)1i above, the primary contact
location of the applicant, including its mailing and e-mail
addresses;
iv. A designation of the
location at which the records of the applicant shall be maintained;
v. If the applicant is a business entity
other than a sole proprietorship, information identifying all partners, all
members and managers of a limited liability company, corporate officers,
directors, and stockholders owning 10 percent or more of the shares of a
corporation, and a personal certification from all such individuals.
vi. The name and address of the applicant's
registered agent in this State; and
vii. The applicant's Federal Tax
Identification Number or Social Security Number, as applicable;
2. Evidence of submission to a
criminal history record background check by all owners, principals, officers,
directors, partners, members, and managers of a limited liability company,
shareholders owning 10 percent or more of the applicant, and by all employees
requiring individual licensure as foreclosure consultants, which shall include:
i. An FBI criminal history record background
check; and
ii. A New Jersey
Division of State Police criminal history record background check, including
fingerprinting in the manner currently required by the New Jersey State Police
or their authorized representative;
3. Disclosure of the revocation, denial, or
suspension of, and any restraint upon, any business or professional license,
registration, certificate, or other credential authorizing the person to engage
in business issued to or sought by the applicant, or any officer, director,
partner, member, owner, or stockholder holding 10 percent or more of the
company of the applicant, or any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the
applicant, by this State, another state, the Federal government, or by any
agency or instrumentality thereof;
4. The submission to the Department of an
original executed bond, on a bond form provided by the Department on its
website, from a surety company authorized to do business in this State, which
bond meets the requirements of N.J.A.C. 3:18-3;
5. An unqualified audited financial statement
prepared by a certified public accountant or a public accountant, in good
standing;
6. An application for a
business license by a corporation organized under the laws of this State shall
be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's Certificate of Incorporation as
filed with the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Revenue. A
foreign corporation shall submit a copy of its Certificate of Incorporation
from the state in which it is incorporated, and a copy of its Certificate of
Authority to do business in this State approved by the New Jersey Department of
Treasury, Division of Revenue. If an alternate name is to be utilized, a copy
of the registration of that name with the New Jersey Department of Treasury,
Division of Revenue shall be provided;
7. An application for a business license from
a sole proprietorship or partnership where a trade name is to be used shall be
accompanied by a trade name certificate filed with the county clerk's office in
the county in which the licensee is to be located, and any filing made with the
New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Revenue;
8. An application for a business license from
a limited liability company shall be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's
Certificate of Formation as filed with the New Jersey Department of Treasury,
Division of Revenue and a copy of its operating agreement. A foreign limited
liability company shall submit a copy of its formation document from the state
where it was established, a copy of its Certificate of Authority to do business
in this State approved by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division
of Revenue, and a copy of its operating agreement. If an alternate name is to
be utilized, a copy of the registration of that name with the New Jersey
Department of Treasury, Division of Revenue shall be provided;
9. The non-refundable application fee as
specified at
N.J.A.C.
3:23-2.1(b)
10. A certification that the personal
identification and financial information of all clients of the business shall
be maintained in accordance with all Federal and State laws and rules
applicable to personal identification and financial information privacy;
and
11. A certification that the
principal office is in compliance with all applicable local laws and
ordinances.
(b) If the
applicant is a natural person who will be employed by a business entity as a
foreclosure consultant, such an applicant shall submit the following: a
complete application, a non-refundable application fee as specified in
3:23-2.1(b),
evidence of submission to criminal history record background checks through
fingerprinting in the manner currently required by the New Jersey State Police
or their authorized representative, a personal certification, and the
application fee.
(c) The applicant
shall bear all costs, including those associated with completion of the
criminal history record background checks through the New Jersey Division of
State Police and the FBI, and all fees and charges imposed by the Department,
including non-refundable application fees.