php gets stringified object as null
<p>I'm trying to pass a some information to a php page with jquery ajax. I really can't understand why the php page keeps echoing back that the strinified JSON i'm sending is null</p>

<pre><code>//php
if ($type == "new" || $type == "update"){
    $new_address = json_decode($_REQUEST['address'], true);
    echo json_encode($new_address); //Null
}

//js
var string_encoded_address = JSON.stringify(address_obj.address);
string_encoded_address = encodeURIComponent(string_encoded_address);
console.log(string_encoded_address);
$.ajax({
    type: "post",
    url: "order_queries_templates/queries/address.php",
    data: "type=new&amp;user_id=" + user_id + "&amp;address=" + string_encoded_address,
    dataType: "json",
    success: function (returnedData) {
        console.log(returnedData);
    }
});
</code></pre>

<p>this gives me a string for my <code>data</code> property:</p>

<pre><code>type=new&amp;user_id=8244&amp;address=%7B%22companyName%22%3A%22test%20company%22%2C%22address1%22%3A%222420%20sample%20Road%22%2C%22city%22%3A%22SIOUX%20CITY%22%2C%22state%22%3A%22IA%22%2C%22zip%22%3A%2251106%22%2C%22cityStateZip%22%3A%22SIOUX%20CITY%2C%20IA%2051106%22%7D 
</code></pre>

<p>What could be wrong with it? Thanks!</p>
