Morris County Divorce Lawyer
According to Bowling Green State University’s National Center for Marriage and Family Research, New Jersey has the fourth-lowest rate of divorce in the nation. However, divorce is still a common issue for the state and for Morris County, as about 13 out of every 1000 marriages in New Jersey end in divorce.
If you are considering or seeking a divorce, it could be helpful to enlist a Morris County divorce lawyer to go over your options with you and work to secure the best outcome for your needs. Reach out to an experienced family attorney today to learn more about how a legal professional could help you with the process.
Types of Divorce in Morris County
Divorces in New Jersey can be either contested or uncontested. Contested divorces involve disagreements between the separating spouse on at least one issue in the divorce. These disagreements can be regarding the child custody arrangement, the division of assets, alimony or spousal support payments, or anything else related to the divorce.
Generally, a contested divorce will take a much longer time—and cost more—than an uncontested divorce. Divorces that are uncontested are generally more amicable and involve the couple coming to terms that each spouse can accept. For more information about the different types of divorces, reach out to a seasoned local divorce lawyer.
What is the Difference Between a Divorce and an Annulment?
Some couples may want to have their marriage annulled rather than go through a divorce. A common reason for doing this is to uphold religious ideals that frown upon divorce, but couples may seek an annulment for social reasons as well. It is also important to note that, in an annulment, alimony or spousal support is not awarded, as a Morris County divorce attorney could explain.
However, annulments are generally approved by the state for only a handful of specific reasons. These include marriages that are the result of bigamy (meaning that one spouse was already legally married when this marriage began), marriages involving parties under the age of 18, marriages that involve one or the other spouse committing fraud against the other, and marriages that were formed under duress—in other words, under the threat of harm. For most couples, annulments are not available, and they must undergo either separation or divorce.
Methods of Divorce
For couples seeking a less stressful way to go about getting a divorce, there are alternative dispute resolution methods available in Morris County with the help of a seasoned divorce attorney. These include mediation, in which a qualified mediator acts as a liaison between the parties; negotiation, in which the parties settle their differences by themselves; and arbitration, which is basically a simplified version of going to court.
In arbitration, the court hears testimonies from the two spouses and an arbitrator sifts through all relevant information in order to make a legally binding decision. Arbitration typically occurs when divorcing spouses do not wish to have a long, drawn-out court drama but cannot reach an acceptable agreement through negotiation. That being said, negotiation is the most common form of alternative dispute resolution in New Jersey.
Contacting a Morris County Divorce Attorney
No matter which method of divorce you choose, a Morris County divorce lawyer could help represent your interests and achieve a resolution that is right for your needs. If you are divorcing from your spouse, contact a local divorce attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin collecting evidence to argue for your best interests. A skilled lawyer may be able to help with negotiation and mediation, as well as with full-length courtroom scenarios.
