§ 1:1-2 Construction and Relaxation; References to Marriage, Spouse and Related Terms

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1:1-2. Construction and Relaxation; References to Marriage, Spouse and Related Terms

    (a) The rules in Part I through Part VIII, inclusive, shall be construed to secure a just determination, simplicity in procedure,
fairness in administration and the elimination of unjustifiable expense and delay. Unless otherwise stated, any rule may be relaxed or dispensed with by the court in which the action is pending if adherence to it would result in an injustice. In the absence of rule, the court may proceed in any manner compatible with these purposes and, in civil cases, consistent with the case management/trial management guidelines set forth in Appendix XX of these rules.

    (b) As used in Part I through Part VIII of these rules and appendices, references to “marriage,” “husband,” “wife,” “spouse,”
“family,” “immediate family,” “dependent,” “next of kin,” “widow,” “widower,” “widowed,” or another word that in a specific context denotes a marital or spousal relationship shall include a civil union, as established by N.J.S.A. 37:1-28 to -36, and a registered domestic partnership, as established by N.J.S.A. 26:8A-1 to -13, and the persons in those relationships.