Equitable Distribution

New Jersey Divorces are not 50-50 split

New Jersey is an equitable distribution state. In a divorce where the parties reside in New Jersey, that means that there is not an automatic split 50-50 of the assets. Equitable distribution is defined as the division of marital assets in a manner that is fair but not necessarily equal.

In accordance with New Jersey’s Equitable Distribution Statute, the Court must consider the following factors:

The duration of the marriage;
The age, physical and emotional health of the parties;
The income or property brought to the marriage by each party;
The standard of living during the marriage;
Any written agreement made by the parties before or during the marriage concerning an arrangement of property division;
The economic circumstances of each party at the time the division of property becomes effective;
The income and earning capacity of each party, including educational background, training, employment skills, work experience, length of absence from the job market, custodial responsibilities for children, and the time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party to become self-supporting at a standard of living reasonably comparable to that enjoyed during the marriage;
The contribution by each party to the education, training or earning power of the other;
The contribution of each party to the acquisition, dissipation, preservation, depreciation or appreciation in the amount or value of the marital property, as well as the contribution of a party as a homemaker;
The tax consequences of the proposed distribution to each party;
The present value of the property;
The need of a parent who has physical custody of a child to own or occupy the marital residence and to use or own the household effects;
The debts and liabilities of the parties;
The need for creation, now or in the future, of a trust fund to secure reasonably foreseeable medical or educational costs for a spouse or children;
The extent to which a party deferred achieving their career goals; and
Any other factor which the court may deem relevant.

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