Reviewed August 2026
Court Hearings in New Jersey
New Jersey handles divorce cases through the Family Part of the Superior Court, and most interim relief while a case is pending gets decided through motions. Courts call these pendente lite motions. These ask a judge to set temporary rules, such as support or use of the marital home, before the case reaches a final judgment. A Family Part case moving toward trial also goes through case management, where the court and the parties address scheduling, discovery, and whether issues like custody or support are contested. Every party with disputed financial issues has to file a Case Information Statement, form CN 10482. It lays out income, expenses, assets, and debts. The Superior Court Family Division in each county handles filing and scheduling for that county's cases, and New Jersey courts also publish statewide instructions for appearing remotely at hearings.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how court hearings works under New Jersey law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file New Jersey paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Pendente lite motions for temporary relief
While a divorce case is pending, either spouse can file a motion asking the Family Part for pendente lite relief, meaning temporary orders that stay in effect until the case is resolved. These motions typically address support, use of the marital residence, or other interim needs. A motion for financial relief generally needs a Case Information Statement (CN 10482). Courts require it. This applies whenever custody, support, alimony, or property division is disputed. That gives the judge a full picture of both parties' finances before ruling.
Case management in contested cases
The case is filed and answered. Contested Family Part matters typically move through case management. The court addresses scheduling, discovery deadlines, and whether the case will proceed toward an Early Settlement Panel, mediation, or trial. New Jersey courts route custody and parenting time disputes to court-connected mediation. Each county also runs an Early Settlement Panel, where experienced family law attorneys review the case and suggest a settlement framework, coordinated through the county's ESP coordinator.
Filing venue and how a case gets into the system
A divorce complaint is filed in the county where the couple last lived together, and if the filer no longer lives in New Jersey, it goes in the county where the other spouse lives. This venue rule comes from Court Rule R. 5:7-1. Filing can happen electronically through the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission system, in person at the county's Superior Court Family Division, or by mail. The complaint fee is $300 for the filing spouse and $175 for the responding spouse. Each party also pays a $25 parenting workshop fee if custody or parenting time is requested. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify.
Remote appearances
New Jersey courts publish statewide instructions for appearing remotely at hearings. This reflects the wide use of virtual and hybrid appearances in Family Part matters since the courts expanded remote access. Availability for a specific hearing, and whether it runs by video, phone, or in person, is set by the assigned judge and the county vicinage. Check the hearing notice first. Or check the court's remote instructions beforehand to confirm the format.
What to expect at a pendente lite or case management hearing
At a pendente lite motion hearing, the judge reviews the moving papers, any opposition, and each party's Case Information Statement before ruling on temporary support or other interim relief. Some motions are decided on the papers without oral argument. A case management conference is typically shorter and procedural. It focuses on setting deadlines and identifying what is contested, rather than resolving the merits. Mediation before filing and options like the Early Settlement Panel or economic mediation after filing remain available throughout the case. Economic mediation is not required when a restraining order is in place, though a domestic violence victim may still choose to participate voluntarily.
Sources: New Jersey Courts self-help, divorce filing overview, fees, venue, and forms, New Jersey Courts, Family Part forms and case resources, New Jersey Courts, remote appearance instructions
Not independently confirmed
- The exact Court Rule citation governing pendente lite relief motions (commonly cited as R. 5:5-4) was not independently re-verified against the current Rules of Court text this session, since njcourts.gov renders its rules pages through JavaScript that automated fetch could not read; confirm the current rule number on njcourts.gov's Rules of Court section.
- Whether case management conferences are formally required in every contested Family Part case or scheduled at the judge's discretion by vicinage was not independently confirmed for this page.
Court Hearings in New Jersey: frequently asked questions
What is a pendente lite motion in a New Jersey divorce?+
It is a motion. It asks the Family Part for temporary relief, such as support or use of the marital home, while the divorce case is pending. The relief stays in effect only until the case reaches a final judgment, and financial pendente lite motions generally require a Case Information Statement laying out each party's income, expenses, and assets.
Do I need a Case Information Statement for a New Jersey divorce hearing?+
Yes, if custody, support, alimony, or property division is disputed. The Family Part Case Information Statement, form CN 10482, is required so the court has full financial information before ruling on temporary or final relief involving money or property.
What happens at a case management conference in New Jersey?+
The court and the parties address scheduling, discovery deadlines, and which issues are contested, setting the path the case will follow, whether toward mediation, an Early Settlement Panel, or trial. It is procedural. Generally, it's not a hearing on the merits of custody or support.
Which county handles my New Jersey divorce hearing?+
The Superior Court Family Division in the county where the couple last lived together, or, if the filer has since moved out of state, the county where the other spouse currently lives. That's Court Rule R. 5:7-1.
Can I appear remotely at a New Jersey Family Part hearing?+
New Jersey courts publish statewide remote appearance instructions. Video or phone appearances are common in Family Part matters. Whether a specific hearing will be remote, hybrid, or in person is set by the assigned judge and county, so check the hearing notice or the court's remote instructions beforehand.
Is mediation required before a New Jersey divorce hearing?+
The court may require mediation. That's for custody and parenting time disputes. Economic mediation for financial issues is available but generally not required, and it is not used when a restraining order is in place, though a domestic violence victim may choose to participate voluntarily.
This page is general information about court hearings in New Jersey, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with New Jersey's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in New Jersey. Virdix does not prepare or file New Jersey divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in New Jersey.
More New Jersey divorce guides
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