Irreconcilable Differences as Grounds for Divorce Comes To New Jersey
Leaving New York, as perhaps the only state not to have a "No fault" grounds for divorce, New Jersey adopted irreconcilable differences as a grounds for divorce.
As reported in the New Jersey Law Blog:
To the relief of many and the consternation of a few, New Jersey law now includes "irreconcilable differences" as a ground for divorce. The bill, just signed into law by Governor Corzine, means that a Complaint for Divorce can assert the existence of irreconcilable differences which have caused a breakdown of the marriage for six or more months.
The legal impact is that persons may now file for divorce without having to allege marital fault against their spouse or await the expiration of eighteen months separation. The law will remove some but not all of the animosity in divorce since the great majority of cases are more vigorously contested with regard to such issues as custody, parenting time, alimony, child support and division of marital assets. Nonetheless, lawyers welcome the new law since we know that except in rare instances where egregious fault may be considered by the court, marital fault is not a factor in the financial aspects of divorce. Even in custody cases, the fact that one's spouse has committed marital fault is not determinative. That person may at the same time have no parental faults, although there are situations where underlying problems such as anger may be important.
Finally, the new law does not replace other grounds for divorce such as adultery, desertion or extreme cruelty which still have their rightful place.
To the relief of many and the consternation of a few, New Jersey law now includes "irreconcilable differences" as a ground for divorce. The bill, just signed into law by Governor Corzine, means that a Complaint for Divorce can assert the existence of irreconcilable differences which have caused a breakdown of the marriage for six or more months.
The legal impact is that persons may now file for divorce without having to allege marital fault against their spouse or await the expiration of eighteen months separation. The law will remove some but not all of the animosity in divorce since the great majority of cases are more vigorously contested with regard to such issues as custody, parenting time, alimony, child support and division of marital assets. Nonetheless, lawyers welcome the new law since we know that except in rare instances where egregious fault may be considered by the court, marital fault is not a factor in the financial aspects of divorce. Even in custody cases, the fact that one's spouse has committed marital fault is not determinative. That person may at the same time have no parental faults, although there are situations where underlying problems such as anger may be important.
Finally, the new law does not replace other grounds for divorce such as adultery, desertion or extreme cruelty which still have their rightful place.
We can only hope that the New York lawmaker's will see the wisdom of changing the divorce law and enact a no-fault grounds for divorce in the current legislative session.
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Comments (3)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endCeline Awilda B. - February 21, 2007 8:16 PM
If a married couple has been having problems for the past year and the spouse has been out of the house for two months and have no intention to reconcile, can the divorce be granted or does the couple have to be living at different residents for six months?
new jersey divorce attorney - September 24, 2010 10:50 AM
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
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