Divorce and Adultery in New Jersey

BLOG

Divorce and Adultery in New Jersey

It’s not uncommon in a consultation that one of our attorneys is told a story of one partner having an affair during the marriage.  Whether it was an emotional or physical affair, the hurt and pain experienced by the parties involved in the relationship often lead to feelings of anger and distrust. It’s common for the spouse who was cheated on to seek some type of retribution, whether it be enhanced support or an unequal distribution of assets.  Here are the legal consequences of adultery and the impact it may have on a divorce proceeding:

Basis for Divorce Due to Adultery

New Jersey is a no-fault state, meaning that there does not have to be a reason for a divorce other than simply stating that the marriage did not work out. New Jersey has two no fault causes of action – or reasons for the divorce – which are irreconcilable differences and 18 months separation. However, there are also “fault based” causes of action which place the blame for the divorce or separation on one of the parties. When the divorce is due to adultery, most parties often wish to file under adultery. What they may not realize, however, is that in order to do so, you are to name the person with whom the adulterous affair took place, as well as the dates and times of the relationship. The third party must also be served with the complaint for divorce and given an opportunity to respond. This can complicate things significantly and may create even more animosity than already existed.

Effects of Adultery in New Jersey on Alimony

Some parties feel that they should receive more in the divorce if they were the party who was cheated on. In instances where the spouse who strayed would be the one to pay alimony, the other spouse may seek a higher than normal amount in order to “punish” the cheater.  Oftentimes when the higher wage earner is the party who was cheated on, he or she may take the position that they will not pay alimony to the cheating spouse. While New Jersey adultery laws allow you to file under the fault-based provision of adultery, in reality it does not entitle you to any more than you would have been otherwise permitted to receive.  Simply stated, the court will not permit you to punish the other side for the adultery when it comes to issues such as alimony. The court must consider 14 factors when establishing alimony – none of those factors are who was to blame for the breakdown of the marriage.

Equitable Distribution and Adultery in New Jersey

Just as with alimony, the court will not award a greater percentage of the assets of a marriage to one party over the other due to adultery in New Jersey. There may be other reasons for a disproportionate division of assets, such as a pre-marital share of retirement accounts, but the court does not consider the fault-based cause of action. In some settlements, there may some unequal division of some assets that may be somewhat related to the underlying reasons for the divorce.  It is important to keep in mind, though, that settlements are very different than what a person can expect from a trial, as the courts are bound to follow only the laws and the factors that guide each decision. A person who insists on filing a complaint for divorce due to adultery believes he or she is going to be awarded the lions share of the marital assets because of their spouse being unfaithful should be instructed otherwise based on New Jersey adultery laws.

If you have questions about New Jersey adultery laws and how adultery may impact your divorce, contact the attorneys of DeTorres & DeGeorge to schedule a consultation.

Divorce Guide
About DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law

DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law is a New Jersey based family law firm that has been helping New Jersey residents achieve the best possible results in their divorce for nearly 30 years. The DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law team is always ready to fight for their clients’ rights – determined to help New Jersey families overcome legal challenges from start to finish. Our legal team, with over 65 years of combined experience, provides expert guidance on all family law and divorce-related matters, including custody and parenting time, alimony and child support, equitable distribution of assets, premarital agreements, post-divorce issues, executive compensation distribution, divorces for business owners, and divorce mediation. The firm has been recognized for its dedication and expertise in the industry by multiple local and national organizations, including Super Lawyers, Law Firm 500, and the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. Rosanne DeTorres, Managing Partner, is one of 150 lawyers certified as a matrimonial law attorney.

Erin D. DeGeorge
Erin D. DeGeorge joined DeTorres & DeGeorge, LLC as partner to the firm in June of 2010. Prior to joining DeTorres & DeGeorge, Erin was associated with the national firm of Fox Rothschild LLP and Cutler, Simeone, Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark, LLC...
Share on:

knowledge & insights

Grandmother and Grandfather smiling with child on his shoulders

Grandparents rights in New Jersey

In many families, grandparents play a significant role in a child’s life. In positive situations, grandparents provide love, care and support complimenting the family dynamic, rather than creating conflicts with one or both parents.  NJ Grandparents’ Rights  In New Jersey, the Grandparent...

May 30, 2023 Read More

White cutout of a head with scribble writing inside and an image of children holding hands

Mental health and child custody

Mental health issues can impact every area of a person's life, and if not managed properly can have devastating effects on that person and all of their relationships, including their marriage or romantic relationship, which can lead to mental health and child custody issues.  Mental illness in...

May 18, 2023 Read More

People sitting at a table with documents

Divorce negotiations

Negotiating a divorce settlement is arguably the most important aspect of the divorce process. In order to reach a divorce settlement proposal, you will want to focus on your divorce negotiation strategy.  How you approach your divorce negotiations will be critical in determining how successful...

May 5, 2023 Read More

Divorce: The Answers you Need – Before, During & After

Download our eBook today!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

follow us
Top