Rule 5:14-1.Complaint, Parties
Last amended September 5, 2000 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026
Full Text of Rule 5:14-1
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “Note” beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; a “Source” line names the former rule the current one grew out of, and “R. (1969)” citations refer to the earlier numbering it replaced.
Note: Source--new. Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; amended June 28, 1996, to be effective immediately; amended July 10, 1998 to be effective September 1, 1998; amended July 5, 2000 to be effective September 5, 2000.
Plain-English Summary
Proceedings are instituted by verified complaint, brought by the person, official or agency authorised by law.
Four categories must be made parties: the natural mother, the man presumed by law to be the natural father, anyone whose name appears on the birth certificate, and anyone who has attempted to file an acknowledgment of paternity. If any of them is outside the court's jurisdiction, they get notice under the civil rules or as the court directs, and an opportunity to be heard. The point is that a parentage judgment should not be entered behind the back of someone who has already claimed the relationship.
The child may be made a party, and the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent them — with an express prohibition worth noting: the child's mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or otherwise. The complaint sent to the alleged father includes a Certificate of Parentage and a statement of his rights and responsibilities, to encourage voluntary acknowledgment without a trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must be joined in a New Jersey paternity case?
The natural mother, the man presumed by law to be the natural father, anyone whose name appears on the birth certificate, and anyone who has attempted to file an acknowledgment of paternity.
Can a parent act as the child's guardian ad litem?
No. The child's mother or father may not represent the child as guardian or otherwise. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem instead.
What is sent to the alleged father?
The complaint, together with a Certificate of Parentage and a statement of his rights and responsibilities, to encourage the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity without the need for a trial.