Stack of overflowing binders filled with numerous documents, placed on a dark surface. The binders are slightly open, revealing the clutter of papers inside.

What Documents Do I Need To File For Divorce in New Jersey?

Getting divorced can require a lot of paperwork. You even have to gather up plenty of documents and other items before you can begin the process. Our Morristown divorce attorneys can help you make sure that you have everything that you need so that your divorce can proceed smoothly.

Which Documents Should You Have If You Want to Divorce in NJ?

There are a few documents that you’ll want to gather up before you file for divorce. This can include:

Your marriage certificate
Any kind of government-issued ID, like your driver’s license
Your Social Security card
Financial documents, like bank, credit card, and savings accounts statements
Statements from investment and retirement accounts
Life insurance policies
Tax returns from recent years
Paystubs
Property deeds
Titles to vehicles
Your prenuptial agreement, if one was signed

All of this can help show what you own and what kind of properties might need to be divided up in marriage. There are also documents that you’ll need in order to file for divorce. You should have:

Your divorce complaint
A Confidential Litigant Information Sheet
A Certification of Verification and Non-Collusion
Certificate of Insurance Coverage
Certification by Self-Represented Litigant
A summons, which is used to notify your spouse

You can do this on your own, but we would recommend seeking out the help of an attorney. Someone from our firm can make sure that you don’t make any mistakes, forget any paperwork, or otherwise get delayed.

Where Can You Get the Documents You Need?

Most of the documents you need to actually file for divorce can be found on the state court’s website. You can fill out everything and file electronically, or you can bring three copies of your paperwork to the courthouse in the county where you want to file for divorce. Filing by mail is also an option. Pay your filing fees or request a waiver and you’ll have the divorce process started.

When Does Your Spouse Get Notified?

Once you have gathered the necessary documents and filed all of your paperwork, you can consider the divorce process started. Now your spouse has to be notified, or “served,” so that they can respond.

In most cases, this is easy. They can be served at their home or at work, so knowing their address and workplace are usually enough. However, if you do not know where your spouse is you may need to take additional steps to ensure that they are informed about your intentions and given a chance to file their own response.

Talk to a Divorce Attorney

If you have other questions about divorce and what’s required to end your marriage in New Jersey, we can answer them. Contact Lazor Rantas, PC and ask to schedule a consultation with our team. We’ll do everything that we can to make this process easier for you.