Family Matters

Homework for Litigants: The New Jersey Family Part Case Information Statement

So you hired our office to represent you in your family matter… now what? One of the first “homework” assignments you will receive from our office is your Case Information Statement, referred to as a CIS. This is a 12-page Court form that examines your financial situation across four categories: what you make, what you spend, what you own, and what you owe.

Step 1: Understand What the CIS is Really Asking

The CIS gives the parties and the Court a clear snapshot of your financial situation. It helps the Court understand how much money your family made together versus what each person will make on their own moving forward. It also helps the Court understand what it cost to maintain the family lifestyle and what it will now cost to maintain your new lifestyle. When the Court can understand these two pieces of your picture, it can determine support. Further, it serves as the foundation for determining what the Court can expect to divide between the parties: equitable distribution of debts and assets. With a CIS, the goal is always accuracy, not perfection. Once you understand that the CIS is a structure to present your financial reality, the form becomes far less intimidating.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Before you start filling out the form, organize your documents so you can pull numbers directly rather than guessing. You will need your three most recent pay stubs, statements regarding other forms of income, tax returns, bank statements, mortgage information, utility bills, credit card statements, statements for any other monthly debts, retirement account statements, brokerage account statements, cryptocurrency statements, and anything else that reflects your financial picture. Having these documents ready makes the CIS much easier to complete and gives you something concrete to reference if asked where a number came from.

Step 3: Take the CIS in Sections

Once you receive the blank CIS, take a few days and break it up into parts. Start with income. Refer to your pay stubs and other income information for your current year earnings and your tax returns for last year’s income.

Next, move to your monthly expenses, which are divided into four schedules. Schedule A covers shelter expenses: your mortgage/monthly rent, your utilities, and other costs related to your home. Schedule B covers transportation expenses: your car payment, auto insurance, gas, oil changes, tolls, and similar costs. Schedule C acts as a catch-all for all personal expenses: food, clothing, entertainment, medical care, hobbies, personal care, etc. Schedule D includes seasonal or occasional expenses like snow removal, pool opening and closing, landscaping, home maintenance, etc. You should rely heavily on your bank and credit card statements for Schedules C and D, whereas Schedules A and B typically refer to their own bills.

After determining your monthly budget, you will disclose what you own and what you owe in the assets and liabilities sections. You should include what you own, with values if known, and should include whether that property is marital or separate. Similarly, you should include what you owe, to whom, with your overall debt and monthly payment amounts. This also requires you to notate whether the debt is marital or separate.

Finally, you sign at the end, after verifying that the information you provided is truthful and accurate to the best of your ability.

Step 4: Avoid Common Mistakes

Litigants often make the same few mistakes: guessing instead of confirming with their documentation, deflating/overinflating monthly costs, forgetting irregular expenses, or failing to disclose debts and assets. These issues can slow the divorce process and affect your credibility. Referring back to your documentation helps you avoid these issues.

Step 5: Review With Your Attorney

While we are here for you throughout as you prepare your draft CIS, it is important that we schedule a time to review your CIS together before we file. We can help spot inconsistencies, identify expenses that may seem unusual but are part of your lifestyle, and serve as another set of eyes to ensure your CIS accurately reflects your situation. This review is an important part of presenting a clear and reliable financial picture.

Step 6: Amend Your CIS

As your case progresses, you may learn about additional expenses, your income may change, or new debts may arise. While the heavy lifting is done when you first exchange and file your CIS, your obligation to keep your statement current continues throughout the matter.

Preparing your financial disclosures can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Contact one of Obermayer’s Family Law attorneys to protect your rights, safeguard your assets, and guide you through every stage of the legal process.

The information contained in this publication should not be construed as legal advice, is not a substitute for legal counsel, and should not be relied on as such. For legal advice or answers to specific questions, please contact one of our attorneys.