New Jersey Child Custody and Parenting Time Resources

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Custody in New Jersey is decided in the Superior Court, usually in the Chancery Division, Family Part. Most states split the question in two: who makes the big decisions for the child, and what the day to day schedule looks like. Both usually end up written into one order or parenting plan the judge approves.

The wording differs from state to state, so read the official New Jersey documents below rather than assuming a term you heard elsewhere means the same thing here. Courts decide these cases on the best interests of the child, and the official forms are written to collect the facts a judge needs.

Official New Jersey custody resources

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New Jersey family law forms (official index) (New Jersey judicial branch): The official statewide collection of New Jersey family law forms. When a direct document link stops working, this index is where the current version lives. https://www.njcourts.gov/forms/family

New Jersey court self-help resources (New Jersey courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own New Jersey family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help

New Jersey mediation and dispute resolution (New Jersey judicial branch): Official information on mediation and other ways to settle a New Jersey family case without a trial. https://www.njcourts.gov/public/family-mediation

JEDS (Judiciary Electronic Document Submission) (NJ Courts): If you do not have a lawyer, JEDS is your e-filing system for family cases, including divorce, custody, child support, and domestic violence papers, 24 hours a day. Attorneys mostly use a separate system called eCourts. https://www.njcourts.gov/self-help/jeds

New Jersey rules of procedure (New Jersey judicial branch): The court rules that control deadlines, service, and how family cases move in New Jersey. https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/rules-of-court

Verified official New Jersey custody documents

These official documents cover asking for custody, setting a schedule, and putting a parenting plan in front of the judge.

Non-Dissolution (FD) Application: Custody, Support, Parenting Time (CN 11492), form CN 11492 (Child Custody / Parenting), official document: https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/11492_fd_initial_appl_kit.pdf

Official link data for New Jersey was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.

Frequently asked questions

Which court hears family cases in New Jersey?

Family cases in New Jersey are heard in the Superior Court, usually in the Chancery Division, Family Part. Family cases are heard in the Superior Court, Chancery Division - Family Part. New Jersey organizes its Superior Courts into vicinages, usually one per county.

Does New Jersey favor one parent over the other?

Custody decisions are made on the best interests of the child, not on which parent asks first. Judges look at things like stability, each parent's involvement, the child's needs, and whether a parent supports the child's relationship with the other parent. Read the official New Jersey forms and self-help material for the factors this state asks about.

Do we have to go to mediation first?

Many courts send custody disputes to mediation before a hearing, and some require it. The official New Jersey mediation page linked above explains what this state offers and when it applies.