Resources
Glossary & where to file
The words of a NJ divorce, made plain — and the court that handles your case based on your county.
Where do I file my case?
Pick your county and we'll tell you which family court handles your case.
NJ divorce glossary
- Pro se (self-represented)Pro se (te representas tú mismo)
- It means you're handling your own divorce without a lawyer speaking for you. You fill out and file your own papers and talk to the court yourself.
- Complaint (Complaint for Divorce)Demanda (Demanda de Divorcio)
- The first paper you file to officially start the divorce. It tells the court who you are, who you're divorcing, and what you're asking for.
- PlaintiffDemandante
- The spouse who files the Complaint and starts the divorce. If you file first, you're the plaintiff.
- DefendantDemandado
- The other spouse, the one who receives the Complaint. Being the defendant doesn't mean you did anything wrong; it just means you didn't file first.
- No-fault / Irreconcilable differencesSin culpa / Diferencias irreconciliables
- A way to divorce without blaming anyone. You just tell the court the marriage has had serious problems for at least 6 months and can't be fixed. Most NJ divorces use this (TYPICAL).
- Uncontested divorceDivorcio sin disputa
- A divorce where both spouses agree on the big things, like kids, money, and property, so there's no fight for a judge to settle. It's usually faster and cheaper.
- DefaultRebeldía (default)
- What can happen when the defendant doesn't respond to the Complaint in time. The court can move ahead and grant the divorce without that spouse's input.
- Equitable distributionDistribución equitativa
- How New Jersey splits what you built during the marriage, like property, savings, and debts. "Equitable" means fair, which isn't always an exact 50/50.
- CIS (Case Information Statement)CIS (Declaración de Información del Caso)
- A detailed financial form listing your income, expenses, property, and debts. The court uses it to make decisions about support and dividing things up.
- Legal custodyCustodia legal
- Who gets to make the big decisions for your child, like school, doctors, and religion. Parents often share this (called joint legal custody).
- Physical custodyCustodia física
- Where your child mainly lives day to day. The parent the child lives with most is often called the parent of primary residence.
- Parenting timeTiempo de crianza
- The schedule for when your child is with each parent, including weekdays, weekends, and holidays. It used to be called visitation.
- Child support guidelinesGuías de manutención de hijos
- New Jersey's formula for figuring out child support based on both parents' incomes and the parenting schedule. The number it produces is a starting point a judge can adjust (TYPICAL).
- Alimony (spousal support)Pensión alimenticia (manutención conyugal)
- Money one spouse may pay the other after divorce to help with living costs. Whether there's any, how much, and for how long depends on your situation and a judge.
- MSA (Marital Settlement Agreement)MSA (Acuerdo de Divorcio)
- The written deal where you and your spouse spell out the agreed terms, like property, support, and parenting. Once a judge approves it, it becomes part of your divorce.
- CertificationCertificación
- A statement you sign swearing the information is true, under penalty of perjury. In NJ you usually don't need a notary for this, just your honest signature.
- Docket numberNúmero de expediente (docket)
- The unique ID the court gives your case. Write it on every paper you file and have it ready whenever you call or visit the court.
- Venue (county)Jurisdicción / condado (venue)
- The correct county where your divorce belongs, usually where you or your spouse live. That county's court handles your case.
- Service of processNotificación (entrega de papeles)
- The official way you deliver the Complaint to your spouse so they know about the case. The court requires proof that it happened.
- Final Judgment of DivorceSentencia Final de Divorcio
- The signed court order that officially ends your marriage. Once the judge signs it, you're legally divorced. Keep a copy in a safe place.