New Jersey’s recently enacted domestic Partnership Act provides that once persons register as domestic partners, the registration can only be vacated by an Superior Court action similar in nature to a divorce.

The Administrative Office of the Courts has released guidelines to the Courts for the termination of domestic partnerships.

Under the guidelines, a complaint must be filed with the Court, the complaint must set forth grounds for the termination similar to the grounds for divorce and the Court may, but is not required, to distribute the parties property as in a divorce.

The guidelines permit a domestic partner to seek an order of custody, parenting time or child support without having filed an action for termination of the partnership.