New Jersey Rules Governing Practice in the Chancery Division, Family Part
Cited as R. 5:1-1 · 160 rules in 4 chapters
Part V of the New Jersey Rules of Court governs practice in the Chancery Division, Family Part — divorce and dissolution, custody and parenting time, child support, domestic violence, adoption, and juvenile delinquency. These rules sit alongside the civil rules of Part IV, which apply in the Family Part except where Part V provides otherwise.
Chapter I. Actions Cognizable; Scope and Applicability of Rules; General Provisions; Process; Venue; Pleadings; Process; Appearances
- R. 5:1 — Cognizability of Actions; Scope and Applicability of Rules
- Rule 5:1-1 Scope and Applicability of Rules
- Rule 5:1-2 Actions Cognizable
- Rule 5:1-3 Transfer of Actions to and From the Family Part
- Rule 5:1-4 Differentiated Case Management in Civil Family Actions
- Rule 5:1-5 Arbitration
- R. 5:2 — Venue
- Rule 5:2-1 Venue, Where Laid
- Rule 5:2-2 Change of Venue
- R. 5:3 — General Provisions for Family Actions
- Rule 5:3-1 Applicability
- Rule 5:3-2 Closed Hearings; Record
- Rule 5:3-3 Appointment of Experts
- Rule 5:3-4 Counsel: Appearance; Prosecutor
- Rule 5:3-5 Attorney Fees and Retainer Agreements in Civil Family Actions; Withdrawal
- Rule 5:3-6 Continuous Trials
- Rule 5:3-7 Additional Remedies on Violation of Orders Relating to Parenting Time, Alimony,...
- Rule 5:3-8 Review and Enforcement of Arbitration Awards
- R. 5:4 — Process, Pleadings, Appearances
- Rule 5:4-1 Process
- Rule 5:4-2 Complaint
- Rule 5:4-3 Answer, Acknowledgment, Appearance
- Rule 5:4-4 Service of Process in Family Part Summary Actions: Initial Complaints and Applications...
- Rule 5:4-5 Issuance of Summons for Dissolution Complaints
- R. 5:5 — Pretrial Procedures and Procedures Relating to Certain Judgments
- Rule 5:5-1 Discovery
- Rule 5:5-2 Family Case Information Statement
- Rule 5:5-3 Financial Statements and Case Information Statements in Summary Support Actions
- Rule 5:5-4 Motions in Family Actions
- Rule 5:5-5 Participation in Early Settlement Programs
- Rule 5:5-6 Participation in Mandatory Post-ESP Mediation or in a Mandatory Post-ESP...
- Rule 5:5-7 Case Management Conferences in Civil Family Actions
- Rule 5:5-8 Previous File or Record
- Rule 5:5-9 Procedures Concerning the Entry of Certain Final Judgments of Divorce, Dissolutions...
- Rule 5:5-10 Default; Notice for Final Judgment
Chapter II. Specific Civil Actions
- R. 5:6 — Summary Action for Support
- Rule 5:6-1 When and by Whom Filed
- Rule 5:6-2 Matters Brought by Assistance Agencies
- Rule 5:6-3 Hearing
- Rule 5:6-4 Interstate Support
- Rule 5:6-5 Enforcement of Orders
- Rule 5:6-6 Probation-Initiated Status Review of Support Orders
- Rule 5:6-7 Separate Maintenance
- Rule 5:6-8 Affidavit or Certification of Non-Military Service
- Rule 5:6-9 Termination of Child Support Obligations
- R. 5:6A — Child Support Guidelines
- Rule 5:6A Child Support Guidelines
- R. 5:6B — Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Child Support Orders
- Rule 5:6B [Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Child Support Guidelines]
- R. 5:7 — Divorce, Dissolution of Civil Union, Termination of Domestic Partnership, Nullity, Separate Maintenance
- Rule 5:7-1 Venue
- Rule 5:7-2 Application Pendente Lite
- Rule 5:7-3 Corroboration
- Rule 5:7-4 Orders Establishing Alimony and Child Support Obligations
- Rule 5:7-4A Income Withholding for Child Support; Notices
- Rule 5:7-5 Failure to Pay; Enforcement by the Court or Party; Suspension and Revocation of...
- Rule 5:7-6 Consolidated Enforcement and Modification Proceedings
- Rule 5:7-7 Delay in Prosecution: Order to Proceed
- Rule 5:7-8 Bifurcation
- Rule 5:7-9 Affidavit or Certification of Non-Military Service
- Rule 5:7-10 Suspension Provisions of Child Support Orders
- Rule 5:7-11 Application for Title IV-D Child Support Services; Probation Division Enforcement;...
- R. 5:7A — Domestic Violence: Restraining Orders
- Rule 5:7A Domestic Violence: Restraining Orders
- R. 5:7B — Victim's Assistance and Survivor Protection Act: Protective Orders
- Rule 5:7B Victim’s Assistance and Survivor Protection Act: Protective Orders
- R. 5:7C — Limitations on Pretrial Incarceration
- Rule 5:7C Limitations on Pretrial Incarceration
- R. 5:8 — Custody of Children
- Rule 5:8-1 Investigation Before Award
- Rule 5:8-2 Direction for Periodic Reports
- Rule 5:8-3 Investigation After Award
- Rule 5:8-4 Filing of Report
- Rule 5:8-5 Custody and Parenting Time/Visitation Plans, Recital in Judgment or Order
- Rule 5:8-6 Trial of Custody Issue
- Rule 5:8-7 Non-Dissolution Education Program
- R. 5:8A — Appointment of Counsel for Child
- Rule 5:8A Appointment of Counsel for Child
- R. 5:8B — Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem
- Rule 5:8B Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem
- R. 5:8C — Appointment of Court Appointed Special Advocate
- Rule 5:8C [Appointment of Court Appointed Special Advocate]
- R. 5:8D — Parenting Coordinators
- Rule 5:8D [Parenting Coordinators]
- R. 5:9 — Actions by Approved Agency for Termination of Parental Rights
- Rule 5:9-1 Venue
- Rule 5:9-2 Service
- Rule 5:9-3 Hearing
- R. 5:9A — Actions for Kinship Legal Guardianship
- Rule 5:9A-1 Title of Action
- Rule 5:9A-2 Filing and Service
- Rule 5:9A-3 Venue in Actions Concerning Kinship Legal Guardianship
- R. 5:10 — Action for Adoption of a Child
- Rule 5:10-1 Venue
- Rule 5:10-2 Caption of Complaint; Waiver of Filing Fees
- Rule 5:10-3 Contents of Complaint
- Rule 5:10-4 Surrogate Action
- Rule 5:10-5 Post-Complaint Submissions
- Rule 5:10-6 Indian Child Welfare Act
- Rule 5:10-7 Judicial Surrender of Parental Rights
- Rule 5:10-8 Preliminary Hearing
- Rule 5:10-9 Order Upon Preliminary Hearing
- Rule 5:10-10 Petition for Modification or Revocation of an Order
- Rule 5:10-11 Final Hearing
- Rule 5:10-12 Judgment of Adoption; Procedures for Closing and Sealing Adoption Records
- Rule 5:10-13 Requests to Unseal Adoption Cases: Procedure
- Rule 5:10-14 Domestic Adoptions and Readoptions of Foreign Citizens
- Rule 5:10-15 Adoptions of United States Citizens by Residents of Foreign Countries That Are...
- Rule 5:10-16 Adoptions of United States Citizens by Residents of Foreign Countries That Are...
- Rule 5:10-17 Co-Parent Adoption Complaints
- R. 5:10A — Adoption of a Child or an Adult; Use of Automated System; Name Checks
- Rule 5:10A Adoption of a Child or an Adult; Use of Automated System; Name Checks
- R. 5:11 — Action for Adoption of Adult
- Rule 5:11 Action for Adoption of Adult
- R. 5:12 — Proceedings by Division of Child Protection and Permanency
- Rule 5:12-1 Notices Regarding Placement of a Child; Form and Contents of Complaint
- Rule 5:12-2 Process
- Rule 5:12-3 Discovery
- Rule 5:12-4 Case Management Conference, Hearings, Trial, and Termination of Parental Rights...
- Rule 5:12-5 Bond
- Rule 5:12-6 Matters Involving Law Enforcement
- Rule 5:12-7 Claims of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
- R. 5:13 — Proceedings Under the Child Placement Review Act
- Rule 5:13-1 Definitions
- Rule 5:13-2 Forms
- Rule 5:13-3 Commencement of Proceedings
- Rule 5:13-4 Voluntary Placement; Initial Court Determination
- Rule 5:13-5 Reviews of Children in Placement; Court Orders; Submission of Placement Plan
- Rule 5:13-6 Board Recommendations
- Rule 5:13-7 Court Determination Following Board Review
- Rule 5:13-8 Confidentiality
- R. 5:14 — Proceedings to Determine Parent-Child Relationship
- Rule 5:14-1 Complaint, Parties
- Rule 5:14-2 Consent Conference; Trial
- Rule 5:14-3 Judgment
- Rule 5:14-4 Gestational Carrier Matters; Orders of Parentage
Chapter III. Families in Crisis
- R. 5:15 — Petition: Contents; Filing; Service
- Rule 5:15-1 When and by Whom Filed
- Rule 5:15-2 Form and Contents of Petition
- Rule 5:15-3 Filing and Service, Notice of Hearing
- R. 5:16 — Short-Term Custody
- Rule 5:16-1 Standards for Taking Into Custody
- Rule 5:16-2 Procedure Following Custody
- R. 5:17 — Juvenile-Family Crisis Hearing
- Rule 5:17-1 Appearances
- Rule 5:17-2 Finding
- Rule 5:17-3 Disposition
- Rule 5:17-4 Closed Hearings; Records
- R. 5:18 — Out-of-Home Placement
- Rule 5:18-1 Petition for Out-of-Home Placement; Temporary Placement
- Rule 5:18-2 Temporary Out-of-Home Placement; Hearing
- Rule 5:18-3 Long-Term Placement
Chapter IV. Juvenile Delinquency Actions
- R. 5:19 — General Provisions
- Rule 5:19-1 Establishment of Venue; Change of Venue
- Rule 5:19-2 Confidentiality of Hearing and Records
- Rule 5:19-3 Individual Hearings
- Rule 5:19-4 Use of Restraints on a Juvenile
- R. 5:20 — Complaint; Process
- Rule 5:20-1 Complaint
- Rule 5:20-2 Summons
- Rule 5:20-3 Warrant
- Rule 5:20-4 Necessary Parties
- Rule 5:20-5 Juvenile Delinquency Matters; Discovery and Inspection
- R. 5:21 — Custody, Pretrial Detention
- Rule 5:21-1 Taking Into Custody, Initial Procedure
- Rule 5:21-2 Release
- Rule 5:21-3 Detention Hearings
- Rule 5:21-4 Place of Detention or Shelter Care
- Rule 5:21-5 Standards for Detention
- Rule 5:21-6 Post-complaint Detention
- Rule 5:21-7 Adjudicatory Hearing
- Rule 5:21-8 Custody and Detention of Material Witness
- R. 5:21A — Juvenile Plea Form
- Rule 5:21A Juvenile Plea Form
- R. 5:22 — Referral to Other Courts
- Rule 5:22-1 Referral at Election of Juvenile
- Rule 5:22-2 Waiver of Jurisdiction and Referral Without Juvenile's Consent
- Rule 5:22-3 Detention Hearing After Referral
- Rule 5:22-4 Proceedings After Waiver
- Rule 5:22-5 Remand to the Family Part
- R. 5:23 — Transfer of Causes from Other Courts
- Rule 5:23-1 Transfer Generally
- Rule 5:23-2 Proceedings After Transfer
- R. 5:24 — Disposition
- Rule 5:24-1 Disposition Hearing
- Rule 5:24-2 Predisposition Evaluation
- Rule 5:24-3 Manner of Disposition
- Rule 5:24-4 Order of Disposition
- Rule 5:24-5 Retention of Jurisdiction
- Rule 5:24-6 Modification of Order of Disposition: Post-disposition Relief
- R. 5:25 — Juvenile Conference Committees; Referees
- Rule 5:25-1 Juvenile Conference Committees
- Rule 5:25-2 Referees [Deleted] Deleted
- Rule 5:25-3 Child Support Hearing Officers [Deleted] Deleted
- Rule 5:25-4 Domestic Violence Hearing Officers [Deleted] Deleted
- Rule 5:25-5 Court Staff Mediators and Hearing Officers
- R. 5:26 — Expungement of Family Court Records
- Rule 5:26 [Expungement of Family Court Records]
Source: New Jersey Courts ·
Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey ·
Current through September 1, 2026 ·
Official source