Warren County Divorce Lawyers
New Jersey recognizes fault-based and no-fault divorces. However, many couples pursue a no-fault divorce since it is often less time-consuming, contentious, and expensive.
Regardless of the type of divorce, the Warren County divorce lawyers at Lepp, Mayrides & Eaton, LLC, work to protect their client’s rights and reach the best possible outcome.
What Are Considered Grounds for Divorce in New Jersey?
To pursue a no-fault divorce, “irreconcilable differences” can be alleged as the grounds in the Complaint for Divorce. This generally means that you and your spouse have grown apart. However, you are not required to provide specific details about what led to the dissolution of your marriage. You must allege that the irreconcilable differences have existed for more than 6 consecutive months before the filing of the Complaint for Divorce and that there is no prospect for reconciliation.
If you are filing for a fault-based divorce, you must provide a legally recognized reason for dissolving your marriage. Recognized grounds for fault-based divorce in New Jersey include:
- Adultery
- History of drug or alcohol abuse
- Extreme cruelty
- Sexual deviance
- Desertion
- Spouse has been imprisoned or committed to a psychiatric institution
What Is Alternative Dispute Resolution?
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) allows you and your spouse to work through your key issues with a neutral third party. We employ a range of ADR methods, including the following:
- Collaborative divorce: This is a team-based approach to encourage couples to work together to negotiate the terms of their divorce and reach an agreement on several key issues, including spousal support, child support, custody, parenting time, and the equitable distribution of marital property. Ultimately, a collaborative divorce aims to reach a divorce agreement with as little conflict as possible and avoid litigation.
- Mediation: This involves using a qualified neutral mediator who will help the couple by negotiating possible conflict resolution options to reach a mutually acceptable settlement. The mediator will assist the couple in resolving their issues outside of the courtroom, but they do not make decisions for the couple.
- Arbitration: Unlike mediation and collaborative divorce, an arbitrator can determine the case’s outcome, like a Judge. Once the arbitrator has made the final decision, both parties are bound by that decision, unless they agree otherwise in advance.
How Is Marital Property Divided in New Jersey?
New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, which means that assets are divided in a manner that the Court deems fair rather than an automatic 50/50 split. The Court will consider the following factors when determining how marital property and debts will be divided, including:
- The duration of the marriage
- The age and health of both spouses
- The standard of living enjoyed during the marriage
- Each spouse’s economic circumstances
- Other factors that are considered relevant
What Is the Difference Between Marital Property and Separate Property?
Marital property includes assets and debts that both spouses accumulated during the marriage. Some of the most common examples of marital property include the marital home and other real estate that the couple acquired, automobiles, bank accounts, pensions, retirement accounts, businesses, stock options, loans, and credit card debt. Equitable distribution only applies to marital property.
Separate property includes any inheritances, gifts from third parties to one of the spouses, or other assets acquired prior to the marriage. Keep in mind, however, that if any type of separate property is ultimately commingled with marital assets, it may be subject to the equitable division of property, depending on the particular circumstances of the case.
How Expensive Is a New Jersey Divorce?
The cost of a divorce depends on several factors, including whether it is a collaborative divorce that can be resolved outside of Court, or whether traditional litigation is necessary to reach a settlement. The more contentious the divorce, the more costly it is likely to be, particularly if the couple cannot agree on key issues.
Whether you employ ADR or your case is litigated in Court, our Warren County divorce lawyers at Lepp, Mayrides & Eaton, LLC, can help. We have a proven track record of negotiating client settlement outcomes. We can handle any aspect of your divorce case.
Warren County Divorce Lawyers at Lepp, Mayrides & Eaton, LLC, Help Clients Navigate the Divorce Process from Start to Finish
The experienced Warren County divorce lawyers at Lepp, Mayrides & Eaton, LLC, ensure clients’ rights are protected by way of settlement or litigation, if necessary. Call us at 908-800-7676 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Located in Somerville, New Jersey, our attorneys serve clients throughout Central New Jersey, including those in Somerset County, Hunterdon County, Warren County, Morris County, Mercer County, Monmouth County, Union County, and Middlesex County.