5. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, as to any residential mortgage for which a notice of intention to foreclose is required to be given pursuant to section 4 of this act, whether or not such required notice was in fact given, the debtor, or anyone authorized to act on the debtor’s behalf, shall have the right at any time, up to the entry of final judgment or the entry by the office or the court of an order of redemption pursuant to subsection g. of section 11 of this act, to cure the default, de-accelerate and reinstate the residential mortgage by tendering the amount or performance specified in subsection b. of this section. The payment or tender shall be made to the person designated in the notice pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection c. of section 4 of this act. The debtor may exercise the right to cure a default as to a particular mortgage and reinstate that mortgage only once every 18 months, provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply if the mortgage debtor cures a default by the date specified in paragraph (5) of subsection c. of section 4 of this act. The 18-month time period shall run from the date of cure and reinstatement.

b. To cure a default under this section, a debtor shall:

(1) pay or tender to the person identified pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection c. of section 4 of this act, in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or certified check, all sums which would have been due in the absence of default, at the time of payment or tender;

(2) perform any other obligation which the debtor would have been bound to perform in the absence of the default or the exercise of an acceleration clause, if any;

(3) pay or tender court costs, if any, and attorneys’ fees in an amount which shall not exceed the amount permitted under the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey; and

(4) pay all contractual late charges, as provided for in the note or security agreement.

c. To cure a default under this section, a debtor shall not be required to pay any charge, fee or penalty attributable to the exercise of the right to cure a default as provided for in this act.

d. Cure of a default reinstates the debtor to the same position as if the default had not occurred. It nullifies, as of the date of cure, any acceleration of any obligation under the mortgage, note or bond arising from the default.

e. If a default is cured prior to the filing of a foreclosure action, the lender shall not institute a foreclosure action for that default. If a default is cured after the filing of a foreclosure action, the lender shall give written notice of the cure to the court. Upon such notice, the court shall dismiss the action without prejudice.

f. The right to cure a default under this section is independent of any right of redemption or any other right or remedy under the common law, principles of equity, State or federal statute, or rule of court.

L.1995,c.244,s.5.