New Jersey Case Information Statement

The Case Information Statement is the most important document in a New Jersey divorce. Under Court Rule 5:5-2, both spouses must complete this sworn financial disclosure within 20 days after the defendant files their Answer or Notice of Appearance. Getting it wrong — or filing it late — can result in dismissed pleadings, sanctions, or a judge drawing unfavorable conclusions about your finances.

Here is exactly what the CIS requires and how to complete it.

The 7 Parts of the CIS

Part A: Case Information

Biographical and procedural details — dates of birth, marriage date, complaint filing date, and information about all children (names, dates of birth, current residency).

Part B: Miscellaneous Information

Employment details for both spouses (employer name, business address), health and life insurance coverage, auto insurance, and a list of any prior or pending family court actions.

Part C: Income Information

Your complete earnings history: last year's gross and net income, current year-to-date earnings, detailed payroll deductions, and all unearned income sources (interest, dividends, rental income, Social Security, pension payments). Bonuses, commissions, and stock option income must be disclosed separately.

Part D: Monthly Expenses

This is the section that trips up most people. Part D requires two parallel columns:

• Joint Lifestyle — monthly expenses during the marriage (the marital standard of living)
• Current Lifestyle — your individual post-separation budget

Expenses are categorized into Shelter (mortgage, property taxes, utilities), Transportation (car payments, gas, insurance), and Personal (food, clothing, healthcare, childcare, entertainment). NJ courts define a month as exactly 4.3 weeks for calculation purposes.

You will need 12-24 months of bank and credit card statements to reconstruct accurate historical spending.

Part E: Assets and Liabilities

A complete balance sheet: all real property, bank accounts, investment portfolios, retirement accounts, business interests, vehicles, and personal property — listed with current values and title status. All liabilities (mortgages, HELOCs, credit cards, student loans) with current balances.

Part F: Statement of Special Problems

An open narrative section for unique financial challenges — complex business valuations, hidden asset concerns, medical issues affecting earning capacity, or special needs that complicate the division.

Part G: Required Attachments

You must physically attach: three most recent pay stubs, complete federal and state tax returns for the prior year, W-2 forms, 1099 statements, and Schedule C forms if self-employed.

Deadlines and Sanctions

The initial CIS must be filed and served within 20 days of the Answer. You have a continuing duty to update and amend it whenever your financial situation changes. If the case goes to trial, a fully updated CIS must be re-filed at least 20 days before the trial date.

Failure to comply gives the court authority to dismiss your pleadings entirely, preventing you from contesting your spouse's demands. The court can also award attorney fees to your spouse and draw adverse inferences about hidden assets.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Estimating expenses instead of calculating from actual bank records
• Omitting unearned income (investment dividends, rental income, side business revenue)
• Forgetting to list all retirement accounts, including old employer 401(k)s
• Filing without the required attachment documents
• Using inconsistent numbers between the CIS and your tax returns

The New Jersey Divorce Financial Split Guide includes structured expense worksheets mapped directly to the CIS Part D categories, helping you reconstruct your joint and current lifestyle budgets from bank statements systematically rather than from memory.

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