in new jersey, what date will the court use as the cut off for such things as mortgage amount owed,credit card debt balances,etc.?

Without more information, it is hard to answer that question exactly. The filing date for the divorce is an important marker for describing the marital estate - so things like asset valuation, marital credit card debt, etc. would cut off at the date of filing. BUT if what you are asking is whether your mortgage servicer and your credit card company are going to let you off the hook for debt accrued on jointly held accounts that are accruing debt after the divorce is filed, the answer is likely NO, they will advise you that you and your spouse are both responsible for the debt, and that you should figure out between the two of you who is actually going to pay it. Lots of luck, Eric Reimer Legal disclaimer: Mr. Reimer is licensed to practice law in NJ and NY. His response here is not legal advice and does not create an attorney/ client relationship. The response is in the form of legal education and is intended to provide general information about the matter in question. Many times the questioner may leave out details which would make the reply unsuitable. Mr. Reimer strongly advises the questioner to confer with an attorney in their own state to acquire more information about this issue.