New Jersey Divorce Laws

New Jersey divorce laws for people considering a New Jersey divorce or filing a New Jersey divorce with issues to be resolved about child custody, child support, visitation and alimony.   New Jersey statutes can be viewed at http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/.  Statutes cover but are not limited to the following subjects:

•Divorce Definitions

•Divorce Residency Requirements

•Grounds for Divorce

•Uncontested Divorce

•Simplified Divorce Process

•Military Divorce Laws

•Child Custody

•Child Support Considerations

•Child Support Definitions

•Child Support Guidelines

•Spousal Support, Maintenance, and Alimony guidelines

•Property Division Considerations

•Grandparents’ Rights

New Jersey Divorce Definitions

These definitions will help you understand some unique characteristics to the New Jersey Divorce laws, process and paperwork which is filed with the court.

Filing Party Title: Plaintiff -The spouse who will initiate the Divorce by filing the required paperwork with the court.

Non-Filing Party Title: Defendant -The spouse who does not initiate the Divorce with the court.

Court Name: Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, _____ County -The proper name of the court in which a Divorce is filed in the state of New Jersey. Each jurisdictional court typically has a domestic relations or a family law department or division.

Child Support Enforcement Website:
http://www.njchildsupport.org-The state run office devoted to enforcing existing child support orders and collecting any past due child support.

Document Introduction: In Re the Marriage of: -The lead-in verbiage used in the legal caption or header of the documents filed with the court. The introduction typically prefaces both spouse’s names.

Initial Divorce Document: Verified Complaint for Divorce -The title and name of the legal document that will initiate the New Jersey Divorce process. The filing spouse is also required to provide the non-filing spouse a copy of this document.

Final Divorce Document: Judgment of Divorce -The title and name of the legal document that will finalize the New Jersey Divorce process. This document will be signed by the judge, master, or referee of the court to declare your marriage officially terminated.

Clerk’s Office Name: _______________ The office of the clerk that will facilitate the Divorce process. This is the title you would address letters to or ask for when contacting the courthouse.

Legal Separation: The grounds for legal separation (or a divorce from bed and board) are the same as for divorce. One of the spouses must be a resident of New Jersey for at least 1 year prior to filing for legal separation or when the cause for legal separation is adultery and took place in New Jersey, 1 of the spouses must have been a resident (no time limit). [New Jersey Statutes Annotated; Title 2A, Chapter 34-2].

Property Distribution: Equitable Distribution -The applicable New Jersey law that will dictate how property and debt is to be divided upon Divorce.

New Jersey Divorce Resources -

New Jersey Specific Divorce Overview

New Jersey Specific Divorce Articles -

New Jersey Specific Divorce Documents -

New Jersey Specific Divorce Professionals -