N.J. Stat. § 54:35-20
A safe deposit company, trust company, bank or other institution or corporation or person failing to serve notice, allow an examination or retain a sufficient portion or amount to pay the tax and interest, pursuant to the requirements of section 54:35-19 of this title, shall be liable to pay the amount of the tax and interest due or to become due upon the securities, deposits, shares of stock or other assets so transferred or delivered, and in addition shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand dollars. Such liability to pay the tax and interest and penalty, may be enforced in an action at law in the name of the state, and, when recovered, the same shall be paid into the treasury for the use of the state.
This section shall not be deemed to render a safe deposit company, trust company, bank or other institution or corporation or person liable to such tax and interest or penalty of one thousand dollars where it or he delivers securities, deposits, shares of stock or other assets belonging to or standing in the names of two or more persons to one of such persons without knowledge or reasonable ground to believe that another one of such persons is dead.
N.J.S. § 54:35-20