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First, I must inform you that I am not licensed to practice law in New Jersey. You should contact a lawyer in New Jersey to determine the specific requirements for custody in your state. No matter what state your in there are going to be many factors the court use to determine joint custody. I think that it is fair to say that it is importatnt to live in close proximity to your estranged wife in order for joint custody to be practical. Right now your children are young and school is not a factor but in the near future it will be. You will both need to live in or near to the same school district. More important than your physcial location will be what is in the best interest of the children. If you can show the court that it is best for your children to spend equal time with both parents then you have a good chance of receiving joint custody. The court will also look at how the parents have shared care responsibilities in the past. If you and your wife have both been equally involved in the day to day care of the children then your odds of receiving joint custody increase. Obviously, there is no way for me to predict the outcome of your case. There are so many factors to consider. I can almost guarantee you will not receive joint custody unless you ask for it. Since I am not familiar with the court system in New Jersey, I do not know whether custody is determined by the Family or Divorce Court. Again, I strongly recommend that you contact an attorney in New Jersey.