Ocean County Divorce Lawyer
There are a variety of factors involved in the divorce process that can significantly impact the outcome of a case. You will be required to negotiate many difficult decisions with your spouse and may need to bring these issues to court if you cannot come to an agreement on your own.
An Ocean County divorce lawyer can serve as your representative and advocate for you throughout the entire divorce process. Having a skilled family attorney at your side can help you understand your legal rights and options and reach a resolution that best serves your particular needs.
What Issues Will the Court Decide?
When parties choose to end their marriage, they must divide their property and any debts they may have. This process can be challenging, especially if the individuals jointly own many significant assets. For example, determining who gets the family home can be an emotional and complicated decision.
Courts will also have to decide whether one spouse will pay alimony or spousal support to the other individual. Child custody, parenting plans, and child support are other frequently disputed aspects of divorce cases. An Ocean County family lawyer can help advocate for a spouse’s best interests in any of these situations.
The Steps of an Ocean County Divorce
Divorces can vary widely in length. Individuals who can negotiate and agree to many of the terms will be able to complete the process more quickly and save significant resources. In general, divorces in Ocean County will include the following steps.
File a Complaint
Each divorce case will begin with a complaint. One of the parties will file this document with the court. The complaint will include general information about the parties and the grounds for the divorce, which may involve a fault-based or no-fault-based explanation.
Respond with an Answer and/or Counterclaim
The party who did not file the complaint will receive notification of the pending divorce and will need to file a response. The response will include either an answer or a counterclaim for divorce.
The Case Information Statement
A case information statements (CIS) provides significant financial information that the court will need when determining how to divide property and whether to award financial support. Each individual will need to file one of these documents with the court and provide it to the other party’s attorney.
Early Settlement Panel
Parties might agree on how best to settle many of their issues. In these cases, each party’s attorney can negotiate on their behalf to settle the divorce. If the parties cannot reach a settlement, they will attend an early settlement panel to hear recommendations for how they should resolve their disputes.
Mediation
The parties do not have to accept the recommendations provided by the early settlement panel. However, if they do not agree to the recommendations, they will then have to attend court mandated economic mediation in another attempt to resolve their issues, as well as custody mediation . The parties may also elect to engage in mediation with a private, third-party mediator.
Intensive Settlement Conference
When individuals struggle to reach an agreement after the early settlement panel and economic mediation, the court will attempt to resolve matters through an intensive settlement conference. Most cases will not go to trial.
Trial
If the individuals cannot agree on how to settle their case, they will eventually go to trial. At trial, each party will have their ability to present their case to the court, and the judge will enter a final judgment that includes the court’s specific decisions regarding each issue in the case.
Set up a Consultation with an Ocean County Divorce Attorney Today
Divorces are extremely stressful and overwhelming, and it is often challenging for the parties involved to work with one another to resolve their disputes. Matters such as property division and custody are highly personal and emotional, and conflict may arise during these important discussions.
A skilled legal professional can address these conflicts and help foster productive negotiation to avoid extensive litigation. Call an Ocean County divorce lawyer right away to discuss your situation and get started on your case.
