Estimate your share of marital property under New Jersey's equitable distribution laws. Personalized to your situation. Instant results.
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Equitable Distribution
Property System
equitable
Default Split
None
Waiting Period
12 months
Residency Required
New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, meaning the court divides marital property fairly but not necessarily equally. All property you and your spouse acquired from the date of marriage through the date of filing the divorce complaint is considered marital property. One unique New Jersey rule: gifts between spouses during the marriage are also subject to equitable distribution — unlike in most states where gifts are excluded.
New Jerseyuses equitable distribution, meaning the court divides marital property in a way that is fair — but not necessarily equal. The judge considers multiple factors including the length of the marriage, each party's income and earning potential, contributions as a homemaker, and the economic circumstances of each spouse.
Primary statute: N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23 (alimony); N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1 (equitable distribution factors)
New Jersey recognizes four types of alimony: open durational, limited duration, rehabilitative, and reimbursement. Since the 2014 Alimony Reform Act, permanent alimony no longer exists. If you were married for less than 20 years, alimony generally cannot last longer than the marriage itself. For marriages of 20 or more years, the court can award open durational alimony with no set end date. Alimony is presumed to end when the paying spouse reaches full retirement age (67).
The most critical rule in New Jersey is the 20-year marriage threshold. If you were married for just under 20 years, you are NOT eligible for open durational alimony — your maximum alimony duration is capped at your marriage length, unless you can prove exceptional circumstances. Also note that cohabitation with a new partner — even without marriage — can give the payor grounds to reduce or terminate alimony. It does not have to be a married relationship.
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Personalized to your numbers and New Jersey's actual laws.
Financial Snapshot
Assets, debts, net worth — classified by state law
Property Division
Who gets what under New Jersey's equitable distribution rules
What-If Scenarios
3 options compared with 10-year projections
Child Support
New Jersey-specific formula calculation
Alimony
Eligibility, amount, and duration estimate
Tax Impact
Filing status, capital gains, retirement transfers
Post-Divorce Budget
Monthly cash flow and 5-year projection
Action Plan
Step-by-step roadmap with cost estimates
New Jersey is an equitable distribution state. This means courts divide marital property fairly — but not necessarily equally. The judge considers multiple factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and contributions to the marriage.
New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, meaning the court divides marital property fairly but not necessarily equally. All property you and your spouse acquired from the date of marriage through the date of filing the divorce complaint is considered marital property. One unique New Jersey rule: gifts between spouses during the marriage are also subject to equitable distribution — unlike in most states where gifts are excluded.
New Jersey recognizes four types of alimony: open durational, limited duration, rehabilitative, and reimbursement. Since the 2014 Alimony Reform Act, permanent alimony no longer exists. If you were married for less than 20 years, alimony generally cannot last longer than the marriage itself. For marriages of 20 or more years, the court can award open durational alimony with no set end date. Alimony is presumed to end when the paying spouse reaches full retirement age (67).
No. New Jersey is a no-fault state for property division purposes. Adultery does not directly affect how property is divided, though it may impact other aspects of the divorce.
New Jersey does not have a mandatory waiting period. However, the residency requirement is 12 months — at least one spouse must have lived in the state for this long before filing.
Based on New Jersey law, the three most important questions to ask are: (1) Given the 2014 Alimony Reform Act, how does the length of our marriage affect the type and duration of alimony I can expect — and does our specific situation qualify for any 'exceptional circumstances' that would allow alimony to exceed the marriage length? (2) Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1, how will our specific assets — including retirement accounts, any business interests, and the marital home — be valued and distributed among the 16 equitable distribution factors? (3) How does the interspousal gift rule apply to any significant gifts we exchanged during our marriage, and could those be included in the equitable distribution analysis?
Given the 2014 Alimony Reform Act, how does the length of our marriage affect the type and duration of alimony I can expect — and does our specific situation qualify for any 'exceptional circumstances' that would allow alimony to exceed the marriage length?
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1, how will our specific assets — including retirement accounts, any business interests, and the marital home — be valued and distributed among the 16 equitable distribution factors?
How does the interspousal gift rule apply to any significant gifts we exchanged during our marriage, and could those be included in the equitable distribution analysis?
Your New Jersey divorce settlement is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Start My Free New JerseyEstimate →This tool provides educational estimates based on New Jersey equitable distribution law and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed New Jersey family law attorney before making decisions. Primary statute: N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23 (alimony); N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1 (equitable distribution factors). Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-2a/section-2a-34-23/