On December 15, 2008, the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts released the revisions to the Domestic Violence Handbook.  One of the primary components of the revisions involves adoption of procedures for electronic filing of domestic violence complaints and temporary restraining orders in NJ.  Another provision of note concerns uniform rules for paternity testing in conjunction with domestic violence proceedings. 

The number of domestic violence cases handled by our offices every year seems to grow.  We suspect that this may be a function of the increasing number of these cases filed every year.  The electronic filing of complaints and TRO’s should make the process easier and shall probably translate in even more filings.  It will remain to be seen what collateral attacks and/or defenses shall arise by virtue of this process (e.g. evidence considered prior to filing).