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The Gloucester County divorce lawyers at Puff, Sierzega & MacFeeters provide experienced legal representation from our conveniently located office in Woodbury, NJ. If you have reached the point of irreconcilability in your marriage, we are here to help you get through this and get on with your life.
Deciding to get a divorce is among the most difficult decisions an individual or couple can make. This choice, whether initiated by you or thrust upon you by your spouse, is just the beginning of a long process. Our family law attorneys strive to provide high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective legal representation to clients navigating divorce.
We understand that each client’s goals and objectives vary. We take pride in providing individualized divorce planning and representation tailored to meet each client’s personalized goals. At all times, we seek a result that is favorable to you. In this context, our experienced attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and often financial drain associated with the divorce process.
Personalized Divorce Representation in New Jersey
In New Jersey, all collateral issues to a marriage must be resolved before a Final Judgment of Divorce can be issued, and your marriage dissolved. These collateral issues may include custody and parenting time for your children; alimony and child support for you and your children; insurance; equitable distribution of your property and debts; and/or a contribution to counsel fees and costs associated with the divorce. These collateral issues may be resolved through an Agreement and the entry of a Marital Settlement Agreement, or by way of litigation and a decision rendered by the Court. Amicable resolution requires the cooperation and commitment of both spouses to find that amicable resolution.
For litigants who cannot resolve their matters on their own, the New Jersey Courts design the litigation track to foster and encourage amicable resolution before trial takes place.
Gloucester County Divorce Lawyers: The Divorce Process
- Click on our Chart entitled “Anatomy of a Divorce“
- ROW 1: Default. A spouse will sometimes refuse to participate in the divorce process or ignore attempts at contact from the other spouse’s attorney. In such instances, the matter proceeds by default.
- ROW 2: Negotiated Agreement without Litigation. In many divorce cases, people can resolve the outcome through a Marital Settlement Agreement. If you and your spouse can agree upon all collateral issues without engaging in the litigation process, a divorce can be entered on an “uncontested” basis. The only request made in the Complaint is to incorporate the parties’ Agreement into the Final Judgment.
- ROW 3: Litigation. In many cases, when parties are at an impasse, litigation can move the matter along through the Court. The Court works to have parties agree to as much as possible, as far in advance as possible. Additionally, the Court offers free mediation for custody and parenting time. You also have the opportunity to appear at a Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel (MESP).
How Long Will it Take?
This is mainly up to the litigants themselves. Every case is different. The more cooperative and amicable the parties are, generally, the shorter the process will be. The more angry, complex, and contentious the parties are, the longer the divorce will take. The Administrative Office of the Courts has incorporated a 365-day timeframe into its best practices model. While not guaranteed, the Court strives to complete a divorce within one year of the filing of the Divorce Complaint.
To schedule a consultation with one of our family law attorneys, please call our office at (856) 845-0011 or contact us online.