New Jersey Divorce Forms & Papers

Divorce Papers > New Jersey Divorce Forms & Papers

It is seen that the social and cultural background of the world is changing rapidly. Earlier, a marriage was considered as a bond that should be preserved till death. However, nowadays the breaking of such bond is quite a common issue. Due to the new values and changes in the mindset of people, termination of marital relationship has become a normal incident. Though people are aware of the fact that divorce is to be carried out by a legal sanction, they are not acquainted with the procedural requirements of it. Every state gives emphasis to these legalities. Therefore, it is necessary to know about the New Jersey divorce forms and papers if you are applying for dissolution of your marriage in this state.

The Types of New Jersey Divorce Forms & Papers

Basically, these are the documents related to divorce that contain various forms and financial reports. It is essential to have details about the monitory and occupational status before filling the divorce papers. These documents include:

Petition for divorce: This is the initial document that is used to start the process of divorce. It is known as divorce complaint which can be filed by either of the spouses. It contains the identification of both parties and reason for divorce.
Child custody appeals: If a spouse is interested in demanding the full or partial guardianship of the children, an appeal should be made to the court in this regard. These papers include the request, and details about the children.
Spousal support and child support applications: The alimony and child support are obligatory duties of a spouse. The partner requesting such maintenance should file the request in the court. Afterwards, the court issue orders that contain the amount of maintenance, duration, other obligations, etc.
Property Disclosures: Division of assets is one of the important aspects of divorce. If requested by another party, a partner has to disclose the details related to property including debts and income sources. It is a written report of all financial belongings. The court will determine property distribution on this basis.
Settlement agreements: If there is any nuptial agreement made by partners, it should be submitted in the court at the time of dissolution. A couple can craft a settlement accession afterwards also. This is a vital document as it contains the terms and conditions on which the termination of marriage takes place.

Residency Requirements in New Jersey

It is essential that the spouses, who are seeking divorce in this state, must comply with the residency conditions before applying in the court. Following are the legal provisions regarding this matter:

At least one of the spouses must be a resident of New Jersey for at least one year prior to filing for divorce; or
when the cause for divorce is adultery and took place in New Jersey, one of the spouses must have been a resident (no time limit). The divorce may be filed in any county in New Jersey. [New Jersey Statutes Annotated; title 2A, Chapters 34-8 and 34- 10]. For more information on filing divorce see our page on how to apply for separation.

Grounds for Filing New Jersey Divorce Forms & Papers

The one and only no-fault ground for divorce in New Jersey is: Living separate and apart for 18 months and no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. [New Jersey Statutes Annotated; Title 2A, Chapter 34-2].

When it comes to fault divorce, this state has accepted following reasons for granting a termination of marriage:

Infidelity or cheating the partner
Cruel behavior of any spouse causing injury to other
Mental harassment by a spouse
Desertion or separation for the long period of time
Incompatibility to consummate the marriage.

To obtain dissolution of marriage, the partner has to prove any of these grounds in the court with sufficient evidences. Generally, this kind of case is solved by litigation, where both parties present their views during the hearing.

Important Points Regarding Filling of Divorce Papers

USE THESE WORDS IN THE COURT DOCUMENTS FOR NEW JERSEY

Use these exact words, all in capital letters: SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY, CHANCERY DIVISION, FAMILY PART, COUNTY
Use these exact words, using -all capital letters: COMPLAINT FOR DIVORCE
Use the word "Plaintiff'. Be sure the "P" is capitalized.
Use the word "Defendant". Be sure the "D" is capitalized.
Use these exact words, all in capital letters: JUDGMENT OF DIVORCE
Use the word "County" here.

For detailed divorce laws in New Jersey state, please see New Jersey Divorce Laws page.

Free New Jersey Divorce Forms for Download

Following divorce forms are free for download. Most of the forms are provided with instructions on how to fill the form. To download any of these divorce papers and forms just right click on the link and select "Save As...".