In Essex County

Fast Facts About Uncontested Divorce in Essex County

Similar to Bergen and Hudson County, Essex County is a high volume divorce filing county. Approximately 5000 contested and uncontested divorce cases are filed in Essex county each year. Whether you live in the larger urban areas of Essex County, such as Newark, Irvington, or East Orange, or you reside in one of Essex County’s smaller townships like Belleville, Bloomfield, Orange or West Orange; or if your home is located in one of Essex County’s suburban communities like Nutley, Montclair, Livingston or Maplewood, all Essex county resident divorce cases are filed and finalized in downtown Newark.

Essex County uncontested divorces move through the system at a relatively slow pace compared to other Northern New Jersey counties. Receiving the docket number may take up to 3 weeks post-filing. Scheduling the court date after the final default papers are filed may take 8 weeks or more. The total timeframe from filing to divorce may take more than 4 months.

Day of Divorce

Essex county divorce judges require a personal appearance and testimony by the plaintiff (the person filing for divorce). Some of the judges also require presentation of the marriage certificate in court in order to grant the divorce. Unlike the divorce courts in Bergen and Hudson counties Essex county judges usually take one case at a time into the courtroom, so your case is generally not heard in front of a room of strangers.

As in all New Jersey uncontested divorce cases, the Judgment of divorce is granted, signed and sealed in court on the day of divorce. There is no fee for the “sealing” (gold seal placement on the judgment of divorce and Name Change Order). With regard to members of the military, I have appeared in court on behalf of servicemembers who are stationed overseas – the client appeared via telephone.

If there is a written property settlement agreement some Essex county divorce judges will require a separate affidavit from a non-appearing spouse. This practice is unique to certain judges solely in Essex county.

The Judges of the Superior Court, Essex County, Family Part are:

• Hon. Stephen J. Bernstein, J.S.C.
• Hon. Michael R. Casale, J.S.C.
• Hon. Claude M. Coleman, J.S.C.
• Hon. Miguel A. de la Carrera, J.S.C
• Hon. David B. Katz, J.S.C.
• Hon. Ned M. Rosenberg, J.S.C.
• Hon. James G. Troiano, J.S.C.
• Hon. Ronald D. Wigler, J.S.C.
• Hon. Sallyanne Floria, J.S.C.
• Hon. Wayne J. Forrest, J.S.C.
• Hon. Garry J. Furnari, J.S.C.
• Hon. Robert H. Gardner, J.S.C.
• Hon. Donald A. Kessler, J.S.C.
• Hon. Nancy Sivilli, J.S.C.
• Hon. Cathy L. Wasserman, J.S.C.

The address of the Essex County Child Support Office is 212 Washington Street, 11th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102. If you have any questions about filing an uncontested divorce in Essex county do not hesitate to call me directly at (844) 431-3380, or use the e-mail contact form located on this page.