Divorce Lawyers in Somerset County, Connecticut
Most people mistakenly believe that it takes a “barracuda” or “bulldog” type of attorney to “win” their divorce case. The reality of matrimonial law is that the lives of both spouses will change, and unnecessary conflict often makes things worse. The key is to have a divorce attorney who is a strong advocate, knows the law, and explains how it applies to your case. We will make sure that you understand issues such as:
- Grounds: In New Jersey, you can dissolve your marriage on no-fault grounds or by alleging that your partner has engaged in some sort of marital misconduct, such as adultery or cruelty. We will review the circumstances and suggest which option works best for you.
- Spousal support: Changes to New Jersey alimony law in the past few years have drastically altered what former spouses can expect in financial support after a divorce. Our firm will evaluate your circumstances and tell you what you can expect.
- Uncontested divorce: If you and your spouse agree on custody, property and alimony arrangements, our firm can reduce the time, expense and stress associated with your divorce. You might be able to move through the legal process quickly if your union lasted fewer than five years.
- Child custody: Nothing is more important than setting appropriate child custody arrangements. We work to reach an agreement on questions relating to parenting time, residence, and legal authority. If this cannot be accomplished, our firm has significant experience handling these types of cases in court, including matters where we have successfully enforced fathers’ rights. Our accomplished family law firm is up-front and honest with clients. In every case, our goal is to ensure that you emerge from the divorce process with your emotional and financial health intact.
- Division of assets: Importantly, marital assets and debts are not necessarily divided equally in New Jersey when a couple divorces, so hiring a skilled advocate is very important. In many cases, our firm can work out a fair arrangement that gives you the strong financial foundation you need to move ahead. If an agreement cannot be reached, under the state’s equitable distribution standard, the court determines what it believes to be a fair allocation based on a variety of factors.
The Divorce Process in New Jersey
As you may know, the divorce process is involved and document-heavy. For this reason, it’s always best to have a team of competent divorce lawyers in your corner who can effectively guide you through it. A brief outline of the divorce process in New Jersey is as follows:
- Filing the Complaint for Divorce: The first step in any New Jersey divorce process is the filing of a Complaint for Divorce. This document sets the legal grounds for the divorce, which can be either no-fault based on irreconcilable differences or fault-based, citing reasons such as adultery, abandonment, or extreme cruelty. You must file this complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey in the county where you or your spouse resides.
- Serving the Divorce Papers: Once the complaint has been filed, the next step is to serve the papers to your spouse. This involves delivering a copy of the divorce complaint and a summons to your spouse, typically done by a sheriff or a professional process server. Your spouse will have 35 days to respond, either by filing an answer, a counterclaim, or both.
- Case Management: After the response, the court will schedule a case management conference. This meeting between the judges, lawyers, and the parties involved aims to outline the issues that need resolution and set a timeline for the divorce process. It is a crucial step for organizing the proceedings and may include discussions on temporary support, custody, and scheduling discovery.
- Discovery Phase: During discovery, both parties exchange detailed information relevant to the divorce. This includes financial documents, asset valuations, and anything pertinent to contested issues like child custody or division of assets. Discovery tools include interrogatories, depositions, and subpoenas, and can take several months to complete.
- Early Settlement Panel/Mediation: Before the case goes to trial, the parties may be required to attend an Early Settlement Panel, where neutral attorneys help evaluate the case and propose a settlement. If the panel's recommendations are not accepted, the parties might attend mediation to resolve outstanding issues without going to court.
- Trial: If mediation fails, the divorce will proceed to trial. During the trial, both parties present their cases, including evidence and testimonies, before a judge. The judge will then make decisions on all contested issues, such as spousal support, child custody, and division of assets.
- Final Judgment of Divorce: Once the judge has made a decision, the final judgment of divorce will be issued, legally ending the marriage. This document will outline all the terms of the divorce, including any obligations regarding alimony, child support, and the division of property.
- Post-Judgment Motions: After the divorce is finalized, if circumstances change significantly, either party can file post-judgment motions to modify arrangements such as alimony, child support, or child custody.
Contact Our Divorce Lawyers Near You in Somerset County, NJ
If you need a team of Somerset divorce lawyers near you, look no further than The Law Offices of Kisha M. Hebbon, LLC. We represent divorcing spouses in Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Hunterdon, Morris, Mercer, and other counties across the state of New Jersey. Contact us today so we can get started working on your case.
