NJ Supreme Court Announces DP Termination Rules

August 24, 2004

Supreme Court of New Jersey

Terminations of Domestic Partnerships - Procedures

The New Jersey Domestic Partnership Act (L. 2003, c.246, codified at N.J.S.A. 26:8A-1 et seq.), which became effective July 10, 2004, provides that terminations of domestic partnerships shall be within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court (N.J.S.A. 26:8A-10). The Supreme Court, by order of July 22, 2004, published with this Notice, relaxed and supplemented the following rules effective immediately so as to apply where applicable the rules and procedures relating to dissolution matters to terminations of domestic partnerships: Rule 5:4-1 (Process), Rule 5:4-2 (Complaint), Rule 5:4-3 (Answer, Acknowledgement, Appearance), Rule 5:5-1 (Discovery), Rule 5:5-2 (Case Information Statement), Rule 5:5-4 (Motions in Family Practice), Rule 5:7-1 (Venue), and Rule 4:43 (Default). More specific procedures for these matters will be promulgated by Directive shortly.

Richard J. Williams, J.A.D.
Administrative Director of the Courts
Dated: August 11, 2004

ORDER

It is ORDERED, pursuant to N.J. Const. Art. VI, sec. 2, par. 3, that effective immediately and until further Order, the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey are hereby relaxed and supplemented so as to apply where applicable the following Rules relating to dissolution matters to terminations of domestic partnerships under the Domestic Partnership Act, L. 2003, c.246 (codified at N.J.S.A. 26:8A-1 et seq.): Rules 5:4-1 (Process), 5:4-2 (Complaint), 5:4-3 (Answer, Acknowledgement, Appearance), 5:5-1 (Discovery), 5:5-2 (Case Information Statement), 5:5-4 (Motions in Family Practice), 5:7-1 (Venue), and 4:43 (Default).

For the Court
Deborah T. Poritz
Chief Justice
Dated: July 22, 2004