Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 2A:34-84

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • State: extends to and includes any State, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia and the Canal Zone. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
32. Hearing and Order.

a. Unless the court enters a temporary emergency order pursuant to section 16 of this act, upon a finding that a petitioner is entitled to the physical custody of the child immediately, the court shall order the child delivered to the petitioner unless the respondent establishes that:

(1) the child custody determination has not been registered and confirmed under section 27 of this act, and that

(a) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction under article 2 of this act;

(b) the child custody determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under article 2 of this act or federal law; or

(c) the respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards of section 8 of this act in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought; or

(2) the child custody determination for which enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under section 27 of this act, but has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under article 2 of this act or federal law.

b. The court shall award the fees, costs, and expenses authorized under section 34 of this act and may grant additional relief, including a request for the assistance of law enforcement officials, and set a further hearing to determine whether additional relief is appropriate.

c. If a party called to testify refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the court may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.

d. A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses and a defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child may not be invoked in a proceeding under this article.

L.2004,c.147,s.32.