By LEAP Legal Software US | All-In-One Legal Software for All Practice Areas of Law | AAML NJ Silver Sponsor

If you’ve practiced family law in New Jersey for any length of time, you’re all too familiar with the Case Information Statement (CIS). Required in virtually every divorce case, this form is a detailed financial affidavit that provides a snapshot of a client’s past and present financial situation. Judges rely on it to help determine child support, alimony, and equitable distribution, making it one of the most critical documents in a divorce proceeding.

Despite its importance, the CIS can be cumbersome for both family law attorneys and their clients. Due just 20 days after the filing of an answer or appearance, clients often struggle to gather tax returns, pay stubs, and other key financial documents in time. Next, the attorney must review, calculate, and enter the data using the required CIS format, while ensuring accuracy within a structure that can feel restrictive and outdated.

And the work doesn’t stop after the initial submission. As a client’s financial circumstances change over time, you’re required to update the CIS and go through the same manual steps again. Ultimately, the entire process can feel tedious, time-consuming, and inefficient.

The good news? Advances in legal technology and document automation are changing the game, making New Jersey CIS preparation smoother, faster, and more adaptable to you and your clients’ unique needs.

A Smarter Approach: Flexible & Automated CIS

Legal tech and integrated practice management solutions are making CIS preparation far more manageable and efficient. Today, family law attorneys can get access to a smart, customizable, and automated CIS that can streamline the entire process.

Here’s how document automation and flexible formats can transform the way you handle the CIS:

• Auto-Populated Data: Reduce the need to manually re-enter client and financial information across multiple forms. With automation, relevant data is pulled directly from your client’s matter file in your practice management software.
• Faster Updates: Need to make changes? The automated CIS allows you to easily update client and financial details and push them across the CIS instantly.
• Editable Fields: Change the names of labels to best reflect each case’s unique circumstances.
• Adjustable Columns: Expand beyond the two columns in Part D to customize your client’s monthly expenses.
• Additional Lines: Add new lines to the monthly budget and assets and liabilities sections.
• Built-In Calculators: Convert your client’s financial information into required formats with integrated calculators.
• Microsoft Word Integration: Prepare, customize, and automate the CIS within Microsoft Word’s user-friendly software.

Why This Matters for Your Practice

Beyond saving time, document automation can significantly reduce the risk of errors, helping you avoid costly mistakes that could impact your cases. By streamlining CIS preparation, you can free up time to focus on tasks like strategizing with clients, preparing for court, or growing your practice.

And let’s not forget the client experience. A smoother, more efficient CIS process reduces stress and confusion for your clients as they navigate what is likely an already difficult time in their lives.

Turn CIS preparation into a more seamless, efficient process that can benefit both you and your clients. LEAP’s practice management software solution features automated forms and templates for New Jersey legal documents, including the CIS. To learn more about how LEAP can support New Jersey family law firms, visit leap.us/states/new-jersey.