New Jersey Divorce Laws- Dissolution of Marriage

NJ Child Support

New Jersey divorce laws determine how child support payments are to be calculated and assigned to parents of children in this state. Family law guidelines are based on the income of both parents with the expectation that the higher income earner pay a greater share of that amount. NJ child support guidelines direct that the courts consider the following:

	The needs and liability of the child;
	All sources of income and assets of each parent;
	The standard of living and economic circumstances of each parent;
	The earning ability of each parent including education, training, skills and experience;
	The need and capacity of the child for education;
	The age and health of earning capacity of each parent and child;
	The income, assets and earning ability of the child;
	The responsibility of the parent for court ordered support of others;
	The reasonable debts and liabilities of each parent and child; and,
	Any other factors the court deems relevant and just.

Any order or judgment that includes NJ child support will include provisions indicating which party is responsible for maintaining health care coverage for the child and the terms and conditions by which that coverage is to be maintained. The New Jersey child support obligation ends once the child reaches the age of majority (18).

NJ Child Custody

The divorce laws in New Jersey charge the family courts with putting the best interests of the children above those of their parents in child custody determinations and all other areas. Parents are afforded the opportunity to agree on a Parenting Plan, Child Custody Schedule and Parenting Schedule. If they are unable to agree, the courts will make judgments or orders concerning care, custody, education and maintenance for the minor children. Minors will not be taken forcibly or against the will of the parent having custody by the other parent without a court order. Further considerations by the court will include:

	the parents' ability to agree, communicate and cooperate in matters relating to the child;
	the parents' willingness to accept custody and any history of unwillingness to allow parenting time not based on substantiated abuse;
	the interaction and relationship of the child with its parents and siblings;
	the history of domestic violence, if any;
	the safety of the child and the safety of either parent from physical abuse by the other parent;
	the preference of the child when of sufficient age and capacity to reason so as to form an intelligent decision;
	the needs of the child; the stability of the home environment offered;
	the quality and continuity of the child's education;
	the fitness of the parents;
	the geographical proximity of the parents' homes;
	the extent and quality of the time spent with the child prior to or subsequent to the separation;
	the parents' employment responsibilities; and
	the age and number of the children.

Having primary child custody does not permit one to use it in any form to punish or penalize the other parent. This includes not denying child custody (visitation, co-parenting) if the other parent is delinquent on paying child support.

Visitation
Co Parenting

Visitation in New Jersey, or more recently known as 'co-parenting', is determined by divorce laws for child custody. Parents have the opportunity to negotiate on, and agree to, an overall parenting plan, which will include a custody or visitation schedule. If the parents are unable to agree on an overall Parenting Plan, the Family Court will intervene with its own plan. A visitation schedule will typically provide co-parenting time to the non-custodian that will include every other weekend and one or two nights during the week, and alternating holidays. For those that fail to exercise their visitation privileges, the courts, if petitioned, can increase child support. Whether its during the negotiating process, or after the divorce is final, make sure everything is in writing. Details such as who picks up and drops off the kids should be in writing. Who pays which expenses? Right of first refusal if the custodial needs to find a care-giver/sitter for occasions such as sickness, work demands etc. So that you don't miss any details, check the links below.

Spousal Support
New Jersey Alimony
Maintenance

New Jersey family law courts have the ability to order alimony (also known as spousal support or maintenance) by one party for the benefit of the other in any manner it sees fit. Consideration of who will provide for the majority of care, custody, education and maintenance of the children will factor into any alimony decision. Reasonable and just are the operative words here. Note: when a couple has a track record of one parent staying home to care for the children while the other works outside the home, the courts will, in most cases, consider the stay-at-home parent's contribution to the marriage to be equal to that of the "bread-winner".

The court will consider any or all of the following factors:

	The actual need and ability of the parties to pay;
	The duration of the marriage;
	The age, physical and emotional health of the parties;
	The standard of living established in the marriage and the likelihood that each party can maintain a reasonably comparable standard of living;
	The earning capacities, educational levels, vocational skills, and employability of the parties;
	The length of absence from the job market of the party seeking maintenance;
	The parental responsibilities for the children;
	The time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment, the availability of the training and employment, and the opportunity for future acquisitions of capital assets and income;
	The history of the financial or non-financial contributions to the marriage by each party including contributions to the care and education of the children and interruption of personal careers or educational opportunities;
	The equitable distribution of property ordered and any pay outs on equitable distribution, directly or indirectly, out of current income, to the extent this consideration is reasonable, just and fair;
	The income available to either party through investment of any assets held by that party;
	The tax treatment and consequences to both parties of any alimony award, including the designation of all or a portion of the payment as a non-taxable payment; and
	Any other factors which the court may deem relevant.

Grounds For Divorce

New Jersey divorce laws detail accepted grounds for divorce. You either have to accuse your spouse of one of the eight marital misconducts below [fault divorce], or live apart from your soon-to-be ex for eighteen months, and use that separation as the basis for your petition [no-fault divorce]. Amazing, huh?

	Desertion for 12 or more months
	Extreme cruelty (any physical or mental cruelty)
	Separation for 18 months or longer 5. Addiction to any narcotic drug or drunkenness for a period of 12 or more consecutive months
	Institutionalization for mental illness for a period of 24 or more consecutive months
	Imprisonment for 18 or more consecutive months
	Deviant sexual conduct voluntarily performed by the defendant without the consent of the plaintiff.

Marriage Annulment
Marital Annulment

The marriage annulment process is not spelled out in New Jersey divorce law as much as it is based on case law (previous cases settled). It is a legal process in much the same way as a divorce is and if your annulment petition successful, the court will declare that the marriage never existed (a nullity). An annulment can carry with it less stigma than a divorce, and for those with religious concerns, annulments can pave the way for subsequent religious annulments or future marriages. There are four 'grounds' accepted for annulments in this state.

	Fraud is the most common plea for annulment. An example of fraud would be that your spouse represented that they could have children, and you find out later that wasn't true. Another example of fraud eligible for annulment would be if someone married you while still married to someone else.
	Concealing a material fact would be grounds for annulment. An example would be if someone concealed an addiction to alcohol or drugs, a felonious criminal past or that they have children.
	Inability to consummate the marriage is a ground for annulment.
	A significant misunderstanding or deception would be a condition for a marital annulment. An example would be that your spouse indicated a desire for children but now says no way.

Mediation
Marriage Counseling

Divorce laws in New Jersey provide for a mandatory education program known as the "Parents' Education Program." It is designed to assist and advise divorced parents on issues concerning divorce, separation and custody. It is a form of marriage counseling. The course can be the gateway for mediation.

The purpose of the program is to promote cooperation between the parties and to assist parents in resolving issues which may arise during the divorce or separation process, including, but not limited to:

	Understanding the legal process and cost of divorce or separation, including arbitration and mediation;
	Understanding the financial responsibilities for the children;
	Understanding the interaction between parent and child, the family relationship and any other areas of adjustment and concern during the process of divorce or separation;
	Understanding how children react to divorce or separation, how to spot problems, what to tell them about divorce or separation, how to keep communication open and how to answer questions and concerns the children may have about the process;
	Understanding how parents can help their children during the divorce or separation, specific strategies, ideas, tools, and resources for assistance;
	Understanding how parents can help children after the divorce or separation and how to deal with new family structures and different sets of rules; and
	Understanding that cooperation may sometimes be inappropriate in cases of domestic violence.

Legal Separation
Marriage Separation

Waiting Period

Divorce laws in New Jersey provide that there is no waiting period, other than the 18 month uninterrupted separate-living requirement needed to obtain a no-fault divorce.  

Grandparents Rights

	The relationship between the child and the applicant;
	The relationship between each of the child's parents or the person with whom the child is residing and the applicant;
	The time which has elapsed since the child last had contact with the applicant;
	The effect that such visitation will have on the relationship between the child and the child's parents or the person with whom the child is residing;
	If the parents are divorced or separated, the time sharing arrangement which exists between the parents with regard to the child;
	The good faith of the applicant in filing the application;
	Any history of physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect by the applicant; and
	Any other factor relevant to the best interests of the child

Divorce Settlement
Distribution of Assets

New Jersey is an equitable distribution state as it relates to a divorce settlement. Equitable distribution is defined as dividing the marital assets in an equitable (or fair) manner, but not necessarily an equal one. If you and your spouse are unable to reach a divorce settlement, the court will step in. In most every case, you and your spouse will be much better off if you can agree on a divorce settlement rather than let the court decide.

Factors the court may consider are:

	The duration of the marriage;
	The age and physical and emotional health of the parties;
	The income or property brought to the marriage by each party;
	The standard of living established during the marriage;
	Any written agreement made by the parties before or during the marriage concerning an arrangement of property distribution;
	The economic circumstances of each party at the time the division of property becomes effective;
	The income and earning capacity of each party, including educational background, training, employment skills, work experience, length of absence from the job market, custodial responsibilities for children, and the time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party to become self-supporting at a standard of living reasonably comparable to that enjoyed during the marriage;
	The contribution by each party to the education, training or earning power of the other;
	The contribution of each party to the acquisition, dissipation, preservation, depreciation or appreciation in the amount or value of the marital property, as well as the contribution of a party as a homemaker;
	The tax consequences of the proposed distribution to each party;
	The present value of the property;
	The need of a parent who has physical custody of a child to own or occupy the marital residence and to use or own the household effects;
	The debts and liabilities of the parties;
	The need for creation, now or in the future, of a trust fund to secure reasonably foreseeable medical or educational costs for a spouse or children;
	The extent to which a party deferred achieving their career goals; and
	Any ante nuptial settlements the couple may have constructed in writing.

Residency Requirements