New Jersey Divorce Laws

Understanding the New Jersey Divorce Laws

Divorce Requirements for New Jersey Residents

In filing for divorce in New Jersey, either the petitioner or the respondent must be a legal resident in the Garden State for at least one year. However, there can be no determined time limit in certain cases involving adultery, as long as one of the spouses is a legal resident of the state. Residency requirements must be satisfied when filing a Divorce Complaint in New Jersey,

New Jersey Grounds For Divorce

New Jersey has no-fault and fault-based grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground is irreconcilable differences, while fault-based grounds include adultery, desertion, extreme mental or physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness or drug habituation, institutionalism for mental illness, imprisonment, or deviant sexual behavior.

Child Custody Law in New Jersey

New Jersey divorce courts recognize joint custody in the child’s best interest, considering such factors in custody decisions:

1. Wishes and needs of the child;
2. Wishes of the child’s parent or parents;
3. Relationship of the child with the parents and siblings;
4. Child’s adjustment to home, school, and community; and
5. Mental and physical health of all individuals involved.

Guidelines for New Jersey Child Support

New Jersey child support guidelines are based on official guidelines and on the income shares model for calculating child support. Applying these guidelines and proportionally dividing each parent’s income will determine monthly support.

Where to file for a divorce?

New Jersey divorce forms are usually brought before the Superior Courts.

For a fast and inexpensive divorce process, you can file New Jersey online divorce forms.

Refer to the “Divorce Requirements for New Jersey Residents” above and also review the best online divorce sites.

Mediation

Divorce mediation is available in New Jersey and it involves a process whereby parties address and agree on issues such as living arrangements for the children, child care and education, parenting and parental access, and financial matters. The divorce mediator facilitates the couples in addressing all of these matters in an inexpensive manner.