Divorce can be an emotionally taxing and contentious experience for the spouses and children involved. While we always hope a marriage will withstand the test of time, it doesn’t always work out that way. Couples grow apart, or circumstances change, creating a need to separate or divorce. Such a separation leads to questions about spouses’ rights regarding children, assets, liabilities, and spousal support.
An experienced Union County family lawyer can answer these questions and make the process less daunting. Weiner Law has provided exceptional legal service and compassionate support to Union County families for over 35 years. We are here to help you navigate this difficult time in your life.
Services Our Union County Family Lawyers Can Provide
Our Union County family lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and skill to provide a wide array of legal services. Our attorneys are compassionate and committed to hearing your side of the story. We take pride in providing one-on-one attention and tailoring our services to meet each client’s needs.Â
Divorce
Divorce can be complex and distressing, whether contested or uncontested, fault-based or no-fault. The divorce process in New Jersey requires completing various legal and financial forms, negotiating agreements, meeting various deadlines, and appearing in court to advocate for your position.
The process can be incredibly confusing if you are not familiar with the relevant laws, court rules, and local procedures. Having a knowledgeable attorney by your side can relieve stress and help advance your interests.Â
Child Support
Each parent has the responsibility of financially supporting their child or children. A formula is applied to calculate the level of support, and you can use the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet to get an idea of who will pay support and in what amount.Â
The court and worksheet use factors in the Child Support Guidelines to determine child support. The relevant factors include:
- The parents’ incomes,
- The child’s age and needs,
- The custody arrangement, and
- The average amount families spend on their children.
The goal is to serve the child’s best interests.
Our skilled attorneys can estimate child support payments using the guidelines and formula. We can assess your case, calculate payments, and fight for your goals. Whether you believe you need to increase the child support you receive or reduce the payments you make, Weiner Law can help.
Child Custody
Child custody is often one of the most critical issues in a divorce case. Parents often disagree about where the child should live and who gets to make decisions over their upbringing.
Generally, courts and public policy prefer that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents and that the parents share the rights and responsibilities of child-rearing. The court may award joint custody or sole custody after considering various factors. We can assess your circumstances and highlight the factors that bolster your custody goals.
We can also assist with creating a parenting plan that meets your needs and is in your child’s best interests. Our attorneys can represent you in child custody modification, relocation, and enforcement matters.
Alimony
Alimony (or spousal support) is the legal obligation for one spouse to provide financial support to their former spouse. Both parties should be able to maintain lifestyles comparable to the ones they enjoyed during the marriage. The amount of alimony will differ for every couple and is not always guaranteed.Â
Weiner Law attorneys are well-versed in handling alimony cases in Union County. We will work to ensure you receive the spousal support you need to maintain your standard of living. We can also help if you are paying support but believe your circumstances have changed and warrant a modification or termination of alimony payment obligations.
Equitable Distribution
Parties can agree on property division and ask the court to incorporate it into the final divorce order. If they can’t agree, the court must decide for them. The judge will review financial and asset disclosures and distribute marital property equitably. Equitable means fair; it does not always mean equal or 50/50.
Our attorneys can review your property, assets, and liabilities and help you determine which are subject to division. We will work closely with you to understand what property and assets you hope to keep and protect. Our attorneys will fight to pursue those interests.
Prenuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement protects your interests before you tie the knot. It is a legal agreement that sets out each spouse’s rights and responsibilities if they get divorced.Â
A prenuptial agreement has several requirements and conditions for execution. Our attorneys can draft prenuptial agreements that meet the requirements. We can create an agreement that memorializes your intentions to secure future rights, protect assets, and divide property.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence continues to be a serious issue across the United States and in New Jersey. In 2020, there were 63,058 reports of domestic violence in New Jersey.Â
If you are a victim of domestic abuse or are facing allegations of abuse, you need an experienced domestic violence lawyer to navigate the issues. Our team has handled hundreds of domestic violence matters and can provide you with the support and advocacy you need.
How Much Does a Union County Divorce Cost?
Divorce costs in New Jersey vary from case to case, depending on the circumstances. Some factors that impact the cost include the complexity of the case, the parties’ willingness to compromise, the number of unresolved issues, and the need for other professional services (e.g., appraisals, accounting, expert witnesses, forensic accounting).
One way to reduce costs is to collaborate with your spouse to agree on as many issues as possible. If you can amicably resolve most issues, you may be able to file for an uncontested divorce. In an uncontested divorce, the parties agree on child custody, parenting time, alimony, division of property, and child support.
They file the agreement with the court, which will check to ensure it doesn’t conflict with public policy or the law. If there are no issues, the judge will ratify the agreement by incorporating it into the final divorce order. This can save time and money for both sides.
Couples willing to work together may wish to resolve their issues in mediation or collaborative divorce. These alternative dispute resolution methods are often more cost-effective than court.
When spouses cannot agree, the process takes longer because the judge has to resolve their differences—meaning the case has to go to court. Going to court tends to be time-consuming and costly because there is more legal work, more court hearings, and, therefore, more billable attorney hours.
Legal costs can be intimidating, but don’t let that deter you from hiring an experienced Union County family law attorney. If you make a mistake or misunderstand the law, you can harm your interests and negatively impact your family life for years to come. Weiner Law is dedicated to creating innovative and efficient legal strategies as we strive to reduce your costs and stress as much as possible.
Weiner Law: Union County Family Law Attorneys You Can Trust
Family law matters are complex and frustrating to go through alone. Weiner Law has experienced Union County family law attorneys who understand the process and how to protect your rights. Our lawyers are thoughtful and compassionate.
We are an AV-rated firm with a strong focus on all family law matters. Many of our lawyers have received Super Lawyers Rising Star and New Jersey Super Lawyer Rising Star awards. We also have court-qualified family law mediators, certified matrimonial law attorneys, and trained collaborative law attorneys on our team.Â
We look forward to collaborating with you and using our in-depth legal knowledge to find the best solutions to your family law issues. Contact Weiner Law today to learn how we can get started on your case.