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New Jersey Rules of Court: Family Practice – 2026

Part 5 of the New Jersey Rules of Court governing family practice in the Chancery Division, Family Part — dissolution, custody and parenting time, support, domestic violence, adoption, and juvenile delinquency.

Browse all 161 rules of the 2026 edition organized by section below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Sections

Rule 5:1 — Cognizability of Actions; Scope and Applicability of Rules Rule 5:2 — Venue- Rule 5:3 — General Provisions for Family Actions Rule 5:4 — Process, Pleadings, Appearances Rule 5:5 — Pretrial Procedures and Procedures Relating to Certain Judgments Rule 5:6 — Summary Action For Support Rule 5:6A — Child Support Guidelines Rule 5:6B — Cost-Of-Living Adjustments For Child Support Orders Rule 5:7 — Divorce, Dissolution of Civil Union, Termination of Domestic Partnership, Nullity, Separate Maintenance Rule 5:7A — Domestic Violence: Restraining Orders Rule 5:7B — Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act: Protective Orders Rule 5:7C — Limitations on Pretrial Incarceration Rule 5:8 — Custody of Children Rule 5:8A — Appointment Of Counsel For Child Rule 5:8B — Appointment Of Guardian Ad Litem Rule 5:8C — Appointment Of Court Appointed Special Advocate Rule 5:8D — Parenting Coordinators Rule 5:9 — Actions By Approved Agency For Termination Of Parental Rights Rule 5:9A — Actions for Kinship Legal Guardianship-- Rule 5:10 — Action For the Adoption of a Child Rule 5:10A — Adoption of a Child or an Adult; Use of Automated System; Name Checks Rule 5:11 — Action for Adoption of Adult Rule 5:12 — Proceedings By Division of Child Protection and Permanency Rule 5:13 — Proceedings Under the Child Placement Review Act Rule 5:14 — Proceedings To Determine Parent-Child Relationship Rule 5:15 — Petition: Contents; Filing; Service Rule 5:16 — Short-Term Custody Rule 5:17 — Juvenile-Family Crisis Hearing Rule 5:18 — Out-of-Home Placement Rule 5:19 — General Provisions Rule 5:20 — Complaint; Process Rule 5:21 — Custody; Pretrial Detention Rule 5:21A — Juvenile Plea Form Rule 5:22 — Referral to Other Courts Rule 5:23 — Transfer Of Causes From Other Courts Rule 5:24 — Disposition Rule 5:25 — Juvenile Conference Committees; Referees Rule 5:26 — Expungement of Family Court Records
Rule 5:1 — Cognizability of Actions; Scope and Applicability of Rules Rules 5:1-1–5:1-5 Rule 5:2 — Venue- Rules 5:2-1–5:2-2 Rule 5:3 — General Provisions for Family Actions Rules 5:3-1–5:3-8 Rule 5:4 — Process, Pleadings, Appearances Rules 5:4-1–5:4-5 Rule 5:5 — Pretrial Procedures and Procedures Relating to Certain Judgments Rules 5:5-1–5:5-10 Rule 5:6 — Summary Action For Support Rules 5:6-1–5:6-9 Rule 5:6A — Child Support Guidelines Rule 5:6A Rule 5:6B — Cost-Of-Living Adjustments For Child Support Orders Rule 5:6B Rule 5:7 — Divorce, Dissolution of Civil Union, Termination of Domestic Partnership, Nullity, Separate Maintenance Rules 5:7-1–5:7-11 Rule 5:7A — Domestic Violence: Restraining Orders Rule 5:7A Rule 5:7B — Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act: Protective Orders Rule 5:7B Rule 5:7C — Limitations on Pretrial Incarceration Rule 5:7C Rule 5:8 — Custody of Children Rules 5:8-1–5:8-7 Rule 5:8A — Appointment Of Counsel For Child Rule 5:8A Rule 5:8B — Appointment Of Guardian Ad Litem Rule 5:8B Rule 5:8C — Appointment Of Court Appointed Special Advocate Rule 5:8C Rule 5:8D — Parenting Coordinators Rule 5:8D Rule 5:9 — Actions By Approved Agency For Termination Of Parental Rights Rules 5:9-1–5:9-3 Rule 5:9A — Actions for Kinship Legal Guardianship-- Rules 5:9A–5:9A-3 Rule 5:10 — Action For the Adoption of a Child Rules 5:10-1–5:10-17 Rule 5:10A — Adoption of a Child or an Adult; Use of Automated System; Name Checks Rule 5:10A Rule 5:11 — Action for Adoption of Adult Rule 5:11 Rule 5:12 — Proceedings By Division of Child Protection and Permanency Rules 5:12-1–5:12-7 Rule 5:13 — Proceedings Under the Child Placement Review Act Rules 5:13-1–5:13-8 Rule 5:14 — Proceedings To Determine Parent-Child Relationship Rules 5:14-1–5:14-4 Rule 5:15 — Petition: Contents; Filing; Service Rules 5:15-1–5:15-3 Rule 5:16 — Short-Term Custody Rules 5:16-1–5:16-2 Rule 5:17 — Juvenile-Family Crisis Hearing Rules 5:17-1–5:17-4 Rule 5:18 — Out-of-Home Placement Rules 5:18-1–5:18-3 Rule 5:19 — General Provisions Rules 5:19-1–5:19-4 Rule 5:20 — Complaint; Process Rules 5:20-1–5:20-5 Rule 5:21 — Custody; Pretrial Detention Rules 5:21-1–5:21-8 Rule 5:21A — Juvenile Plea Form Rule 5:21A Rule 5:22 — Referral to Other Courts Rules 5:22-1–5:22-5 Rule 5:23 — Transfer Of Causes From Other Courts Rules 5:23-1–5:23-2 Rule 5:24 — Disposition Rules 5:24-1–5:24-6 Rule 5:25 — Juvenile Conference Committees; Referees Rules 5:25-1–5:25-5 Rule 5:26 — Expungement of Family Court Records Rule 5:26