New Jersey Divorce Cases Form Sections and Details
What Goes Into a New Jersey Case Information Statement (CIS)?
A Case Information Statement (CIS) is a crucial legal document required in most New Jersey family law cases involving financial issues. It provides the court with a comprehensive overview of your financial situation, allowing the judge to make informed decisions about child support, alimony, and the division of assets. A CIS is divided into several detailed sections, each requiring precise and complete information. Here’s a thorough breakdown of each part:
🔹 Part A – Basic Information
This section covers your personal and case details. It sets the foundation for your case by providing essential background information, including:
- Full name and contact information (address, phone number, email)
- Date and place of marriage
- Date of separation (if applicable)
- Number of children (if any) and their names, birthdates, and custody arrangements
- Legal issues in dispute – including custody, alimony, child support, equitable distribution, and other financial matters
Why It Matters: This section helps the court understand the basic structure of the case and the key issues that need resolution.
🔹 Part B – Employment and Income Information
This section focuses on both parties’ employment and income details. You are required to provide detailed information about your financial standing, including:
- Current employer’s name, address, and contact information
- Job title and nature of employment (full-time, part-time, self-employed, etc.)
- Gross monthly income (before taxes)
- Deductions from pay – such as:
- Federal and state taxes
- Social Security and Medicare
- Health insurance premiums
- Retirement contributions
- Union dues
- Any additional sources of income, including:
- Bonuses
- Overtime pay
- Commissions
- Investment income
- Rental income
- Child support or alimony received from prior relationships
Why It Matters: The court uses this section to calculate child support, spousal support, and financial obligations fairly. Providing accurate and complete income details is essential to avoid underpayment or overpayment of support.
🔹 Part C – Monthly Expenses
This section requires you to outline your household’s monthly expenses in detail. The goal is to give the court a full understanding of your cost of living and financial needs. Categories include:
✅ Housing Expenses:
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Property taxes
- Homeowners/renters insurance
- Utilities (gas, electric, water, internet, cable)
- Home maintenance and repairs
✅ Transportation Expenses:
- Car payments
- Gas
- Insurance
- Maintenance and repairs
- Public transportation costs
✅ Personal and Family Expenses:
- Groceries and household supplies
- Clothing
- Childcare and babysitting
- Education (tuition, school supplies, extracurricular activities)
- Healthcare (medical, dental, and mental health expenses)
- Insurance premiums (health, life, disability)
✅ Other Expenses:
- Entertainment and recreation
- Travel and vacations
- Religious or charitable donations
Why It Matters: This section helps the court understand the financial needs of both parties and assess whether spousal or child support is justified. Overstating or understating expenses can lead to inaccurate financial awards.
🔹 Part D – Assets and Liabilities
In this section, you must list all assets and debts—whether jointly or individually owned—providing a full picture of the marital estate.
✅ Assets Include:
- Bank accounts (checking, savings, certificates of deposit)
- Real estate (including current market value and outstanding mortgages)
- Investment accounts (stocks, bonds, mutual funds)
- Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, pension)
- Vehicles (including cars, boats, motorcycles, etc.)
- Business interests and partnerships
- Personal property (furniture, jewelry, art, etc.)
✅ Liabilities Include:
- Mortgages and home equity loans
- Credit card debt
- Student loans
- Car loans
- Personal loans
- Tax debts
Why It Matters: The court uses this section to determine how assets and debts should be divided in a divorce. Full disclosure of assets and liabilities is required to ensure an equitable division.
🔹 Part E – Statement of Special Problems
This is an open-ended section where you can describe any special circumstances or issues that may affect the court’s financial decisions. Common issues include:
- Medical conditions or disabilities (yours or your children’s)
- Extraordinary childcare costs
- Special educational needs
- Loss of employment
- Business or investment losses
- Domestic violence history
- Substance abuse issues
- Expected future financial changes (e.g., retirement or career change)
Why It Matters: This section allows you to explain any unique challenges that may justify adjustments in financial awards or custody arrangements.
🔹 Part F – Attachments
You must provide supporting documentation to verify the information reported in the CIS. Required attachments include:
- Recent pay stubs (last 3 months)
- Most recent federal and state tax returns (including W-2s and 1099s)
- Bank statements (checking and savings)
- Mortgage statements
- Credit card statements
- Investment account statements
- Documentation of other income sources (e.g., rental agreements, business profit/loss statements)
Why It Matters: The court relies on these documents to confirm the accuracy of the financial information provided. Missing or incomplete documentation can weaken your case.
🚨 Why the Case Information Statement Is Critical
The CIS serves as the financial blueprint for the court’s decisions on:
- Child Support – The court follows the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines, which are based on the financial data provided in the CIS.
- Alimony – Spousal support is determined by evaluating both parties’ incomes, expenses, and financial needs.
- Property Division – Marital assets and debts are divided equitably based on the information in the CIS.
⚠️ What Happens If You Provide Inaccurate Information?
Inaccuracies, omissions, or inconsistencies in your CIS can have serious consequences:
- The court may dismiss your claims or defenses.
- You could be accused of hiding assets or income.
- Financial awards (support, property division) may be skewed against you.
- You may face sanctions or fines from the court.
Click here for information on the penalties and dangers of not completely filling ot the CIS for NJ.