Rule 5:5-2.Family Case Information Statement

Last amended September 1, 2025 · Current through September 1, 2026 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5:5-2 requires a Family Case Information Statement in contested family actions involving custody, support, alimony or equitable distribution, filed within 20 days of an answer or appearance, kept current, and confidential.

Full Text of Rule 5:5-2

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

(a) Applicability. The case information statement required by this rule shall be filed and served in all contested family actions, except summary actions, in which there is any issue as to custody, support, alimony or equitable distribution. With respect to summary actions, R. 5:5-3 shall apply. In all other family actions, a case information statement may be required by order on motion of the court or a party.

(b) Time and Filing. Except as otherwise provided in R. 5:7-2, an initial case information statement or certification that no such statement is required under subparagraph (a) shall be filed by each party with the clerk in the county of venue within 20 days after the filing of an Answer or Appearance or at any other time designated by the court. The Family Case Information Statement shall be filed in a form prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Courts. The court on either its own or a party's motion may, on notice to all parties, dismiss a party's pleadings for failure to have filed a case information statement. If dismissed, said pleadings shall be subject to reinstatement upon such conditions as the court may deem just.

(c) Amendments. Parties are under a continuing duty in all cases to inform the court of any material changes in the information supplied on the case information statement. All amendments to the statement shall be filed with the court no later than 20 days before the final hearing. The court may prohibit a party from introducing into evidence any information not disclosed or it may enter such other order as it deems appropriate.

(d) Income Tax Returns. Following the entry of a final judgment, the court shall order the return to the parties of any income tax returns filed with a case information statement under this rule.

(e) Marital, Civil Union or Domestic Partnership Standard of Living Declaration. In any matter in which an agreement or settlement contains an award of alimony, (1) the parties shall include a declaration that the marital, civil union or domestic partnership standard of living is satisfied by the agreement or settlement; or (2) the parties shall by stipulation define the marital, civil union or domestic partnership standard of living; or (3) the parties shall preserve copies of their respective filed Family Case Information Statements until such time as alimony is terminated; or (4) any party who has not filed a Family Case Information Statement shall prepare Part D (“Monthly Expenses”) of the Family Case Information Statement form serving a copy thereof on the other party and preserving that completed Part D until such time as alimony is terminated.

(f) Confidentiality. The Family Case Information Statement and all attachments thereto shall be confidential and unavailable for public inspection, pursuant to R. 1:38-3(d)(1).

End

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 -- R. (1969) 4:79-2. Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; amended January 10, 1984, to be effective April 1, 1984; paragraphs (b) and (e) amended November 5, 1986 to be effective January 1, 1987; paragraphs (b) and (e) amended November 2, 1987 to be effective January 1, 1988; paragraphs (a) and (e) amended November 7, 1988 to be effective January 2, 1989; paragraph (e) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraph (b) amended January 21, 1999 to be effective April 5, 1999; paragraph (e) amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; caption amended and new paragraph (f) adopted July 27, 2006 to be effective September 1, 2006; paragraph (c) amended, former paragraph (e) deleted and redesignated as new Rule 5:5-10, and former paragraph (f) redesignated as paragraph (e) June 15, 2007 to be effective September 1, 2007; new paragraph (f) adopted July 16, 2009 to be effective September 1, 2009; paragraph (e) caption and text amended July 21, 2011 to be effective September 1, 2011; paragraphs (a) and (b) amended July 9, 2013 to be effective September 1, 2013; paragraph (b) amended July 31, 2025 to be effective September 1, 2025.

Plain-English Summary

The case information statement is the financial backbone of a contested family case. It is required in all contested family actions except summary ones where custody, support, alimony or equitable distribution is at issue; summary actions follow Rule 5:5-3 instead. In other family actions the court can order one on motion.

Each party files within 20 days after an answer or appearance, or when the court directs — or files a certification that no statement is required. Failing to file can cost you your pleadings: the court may dismiss them, subject to reinstatement on such conditions as it deems just.

The duty to update is continuing. Parties must tell the court about material changes, and all amendments must be filed no later than 20 days before the final hearing; the court may bar undisclosed information from evidence. Where a settlement awards alimony, the rule requires the standard of living to be pinned down in one of four ways — a declaration that it is satisfied, a stipulated definition, preserved case information statements, or a completed monthly expenses section preserved until alimony ends. The statement and its attachments are confidential and not open to public inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Family Case Information Statement due?

Within 20 days after the filing of an answer or appearance, or at another time the court designates.

What happens if I do not file one?

The court, on its own or a party's motion and on notice, may dismiss your pleadings — subject to reinstatement on conditions it considers just.

How late can I amend my case information statement?

No later than 20 days before the final hearing. The court may bar information you did not disclose from being introduced in evidence.

Is my case information statement public?

No. The statement and all attachments are confidential and unavailable for public inspection.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the official New Jersey Rules of Court, Part V (N.J. Ct. R. 5:5-2). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: case information statementCISfinancial disclosurefamily case information statementbudget