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By Peter Van Aulen, Esq.
Being Served With a Summons and ComplaintIf you are served with a Summons and Complaint for a NJ Divorce , you are given 35 days to answer the same. Do not allow said 35 days to lapse without filing a responsive pleading. If said 35 days lapses you will be in default and your spouse might get everything they want at your expense. Please contact the Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen immediately to speak to an experienced New Jersey divorce lawyer.
Those Who Represent Themselves Have a Fool for a ClientThe above line is an old saying from law school. All kidding aside it is usually not a good idea to represent yourself while going through a divorce. Divorce is one of the greatest emotional and financial decisions a person can make. The outcome of your divorce could affect you and your children for many years. The divorce process can get complicated fast. This is why you need competent representation by an experienced lawyer. Further, you should not hire an attorney who is a jack-of-all-trades. You should hire an attorney who practices primarily in Family Law.
Consult With a New Jersey Divorce Attorney Moving Around AssetsIf you are going through a Divorce in NJ or thinking about filing for a Divorce, consult with an NJ divorce attorney before you make any major financial decisions such as purchasing real estate, transferring assets, or managing inherited and premarital property. Certain properties your spouse may not be entitled to in a Divorce such as property purchase before marriage which was not purchase in contemplation of marriage and inherited property. However, if you commingle said property with marital property your spouse may gain an interest in said property. For example you inherited $50,000.00 from one of your parents and you place it a joint savings account with your spouse or use it to purchase a home with your spouse’s name on the deed. Said $50,000.00 depending on the situation may no longer be exempt from equitable distribution. In plan English your spouse may be deemed to own a substantial part of that asset.
The Case Information Statement is One of the Most Important Documents in Your DivorceAfter a Divorce Complaint is filed, the Court requires both parties' New Jersey divorce lawyers to file a Case Information Statement. This is a nine page document in which you state your income, monthly expenses, assets and liabilities. This is one of the most important documents you will file in your divorce. A Judge uses said document to determine the division of assets and to determine temporary and final support issues. New Jersey divorce attorneys and mediators also use said document in settlement negotiations. Therefore, it is imperative that said document is filled out correctly. There is a column in said statement that asks for your expenses when the parties lived together. I seen many litigants including ones represented by counsel leave said column blank. This is a mistake.
Do Not Make Settlement Offers Without First Discussing Them With Your New Jersey Divorce LawyerIf you have hired an attorney, do not make an offer to settle your case directly with your spouse without first discussing it with your attorney. You hire an attorney not only to represent you in Court, but to give you legal advice.
The Judge is Watching YouWhen in the Courtroom show respect to the Judge, Court personnel and other counsel. I know this sounds remedial; however, the Judge is constantly observing the parties.
Do Not Ignore OrdersDo not ignore a Judge’s Order. If you are unhappy with the decision, file a Motion for Reconsideration or/and Appeal. Ignored Orders will come back to bite you.
Spare Your ChildrenDo not tell your children the details of your divorce litigation or use them in any way to get to your spouse. Do not alienate your children’s affections towards your spouse. Children need to be protected.
Peter Van Aulen has been a divorce lawyer serving New Jersey for over 23 Years. If you have any questions about, a NJ Divorce call us today at 201-845-7400 for a free initial consultation.
Even in the best of circumstances, a divorce in NJ is an emotionally challenging endeavor. The best circumstances rarely exist when a marriage is coming to an end. With that understood, there are some strategies to employ that work to make the divorce process at least somewhat easier for those involved.
Realistic ExpectationsA key strategy to employ when embarking on a divorce in NJ is the necessity of keeping expectations realistic. This includes a variety of different types of expectations.
An individual needs to keep expectations regarding all aspects of the divorce cases itself within realistic parameters. This includes financial matters and issues involving the custody of minor children. In the end, unreasonable expectations regarding these key divorce issues enflames emotions and makes resolving a divorce case far more complicated, time consuming and costly.
Another area in which realistic expectations must prevail centers on the post-divorce relationship between spouses. On the one hand, assuming that spouses will be enemies for life is not realistic, particularly when children are involved. At the other extreme, believing that spouses can become friends in the direct aftermath of a divorce generally is not realistic either. Allowing the passage of time is necessary in order to adjust the relationships between former spouses.
Retain a NJ Divorce LawyerA fundamental strategy to employ to make the divorce process less taxing is retaining a divorce lawyer. A NJ divorce lawyer makes the marriage dissolution process easier in many different ways. First and foremost, a skilled and experienced New Jersey divorce attorney understands the legal process and ensures that a case is pursued in an appropriate manner.
The presence of a NJ divorce lawyer in a case also assists in lessening the tension and emotions between spouses. Spouses that can communicate decently oftentimes can avoid impairing that connection when attorneys negotiate the details of a case. On the other hand, when parties cannot communicate effectively, a divorce attorney is able to ensure that the case continues to move forward towards a suitable resolution.
Take Advantage of Time OutsFinally, when it comes to employing strategies to make the divorce process easier, parties to a case need to take advantage of time outs or cooling off opportunities. As a general rule, a marriage did not fall apart overnight. In the same vein, a divorce does not have to be completely resolved in a compressed timeframe. Rather, parties to a divorce usually benefit from time outs and cooling off periods during the overall process.
By employing these strategies, divorcing parties typically end up with mutually agreeable case settlements. In addition, the emotional aspect of a divorce is kept better in check from the filing of a case to the issuance of a final decree.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Peter Van AulenPeter Van Aulen has over twenty-three years’ of experience as a NJ divorce and family law attorney. He has been certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a matrimonial attorney. If you have any questions concerning divorce, call the Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen today at 201-845-7400 for a consultation.