Rules of Court · Part 5 · New Jersey

R. 5:7-1 New Jersey Rules of Court, R. 5:7-1: Venue, rendered as code with every cross-reference linked

Venue

the rule, verbatim; Code adds line numbers, links on every cross-reference and the list of rules that cite this one

Except as otherwise provided by law, venue in actions for divorce, dissolution of civil union or termination of domestic partnership, nullity and separate maintenance shall be laid in the county in which plaintiff was domiciled when the cause of action arose, or if plaintiff was not then domiciled in this State, then in the county in which defendant was domiciled when the cause of action arose; or if neither party was domiciled in this State when the cause of action arose, then in the county in which the plaintiff is domiciled when the action is commenced, or if plaintiff is not domiciled in this State, then in the county where defendant is domiciled when service of process is made. For purposes of this rule, in actions brought under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(c), the cause of action shall be deemed to have arisen three months after the last act of cruelty complained of in the Complaint. For purposes of this rule, in actions brought under N.J.S.A. 26:8A-10 for termination of a domestic partnership in which both parties are non-residents and without a forum available to dissolve the domestic partnership, venue shall be laid in the county in which the Certificate of Domestic Partnership is filed. For purposes of this rule, for the dissolution of a civil union created in New Jersey in which both parties are now non-residents and without a forum available to dissolve the civil union, venue shall be laid in the county in which the civil union was solemnized.

Note: Source-R. (1969) 4:76. Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; amended January 10, 1984, to be effective immediately; amended July 14, 1992 to be effective September 1, 1992; amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; Rule 5:7 caption amended and Rule 5:7-1 text amended July 21, 2011 to be effective September 1, 2011; amended July 28, 2017 to be effective September 1, 2017.

Verbatim rule text, unmarked. Nothing here is a summary.

rule 5:7-1 "Venue" {
Except as otherwise provided by law, venue in actions for divorce, dissolution of civil union or termination of domestic partnership, nullity and separate maintenance shall be laid in the county in which plaintiff was domiciled when the cause of action arose, or if plaintiff was not then domiciled in this State, then in the county in which defendant was domiciled when the cause of action arose; or if neither party was domiciled in this State when the cause of action arose, then in the county in which the plaintiff is domiciled when the action is commenced, or if plaintiff is not domiciled in this State, then in the county where defendant is domiciled when service of process is made. For purposes of this rule, in actions brought under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(c), the cause of action shall be deemed to have arisen three months after the last act of cruelty complained of in the Complaint. For purposes of this rule, in actions brought under N.J.S.A. 26:8A-10 for termination of a domestic partnership in which both parties are non-residents and without a forum available to dissolve the domestic partnership, venue shall be laid in the county in which the Certificate of Domestic Partnership is filed. For purposes of this rule, for the dissolution of a civil union created in New Jersey in which both parties are now non-residents and without a forum available to dissolve the civil union, venue shall be laid in the county in which the civil union was solemnized.
Note: Source-R. (1969) 4:76. Adopted December 20, 1983, to be effective December 31, 1983; amended January 10, 1984, to be effective immediately; amended July 14, 1992 to be effective September 1, 1992; amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; Rule 5:7 caption amended and Rule 5:7-1 text amended July 21, 2011 to be effective September 1, 2011; amended July 28, 2017 to be effective September 1, 2017.
}
referenced_by: 5:2-1
source: njcourts.gov // verbatim; changed 2025-09-17; corpus harvested 2026-09-02

R. 5:7-2 → · chapter 5:7 · all rules

The Rules of Court are a government edict and carry no copyright; the text above is the Judiciary’s own publication, unchanged. Structure, links and highlighting are ours and carry no legal weight. Read the rule on njcourts.gov before you rely on it; amendments take effect each September 1.