Sussex County Divorce Lawyer
When a couple divorces, they must consider a wide range of issues that will be incorporated into formal agreements. If the parties cannot negotiate these matters and come to an agreement on them, the court will have to address them, and their rulings could impact the couples and their children for years, so it is important that they enlist an experienced attorney to protect their best interests. Fortunately, a Sussex County divorce lawyer can answer all of your questions regarding the divorce process and advocate on your behalf so that you can achieve the best possible resolution.
Divorce Grounds in Sussex County
In Sussex County, either party may file for divorce if they have resided in the state for one year or longer before the filing date. If the case involved adultery, one party must have resided in the state for any amount of time.
New Jersey has no-fault divorce laws, so a party may file stating “irreconcilable differences.” There are also several other fault-based grounds under which a person may file, including:
- Abandonment
- Adultery
- Drug addiction or habitual drunkenness
- Imprisonment
- Extreme cruelty
- Abandonment
- Deviant sexual conduct
Most couples will file no-fault divorce cases, but a person may also experience circumstances that warrant a fault-based claim. A Sussex County divorce attorney can help someone understand their legal options, regardless of the exact grounds for their divorce.
Division of Property
State law dictates that courts must equitably distribute marital property at the time of a divorce. Equitable means fair, not equal, and the splitting of the property will not always be 50/50. The following factors can influence property division:
- Length of the marriage
- Standard of living during the marriage
- The parties’ economic circumstances
- Age of the parties
- Health of the parties
- Contribution of either party to the preservation of marital assets
- A party’s actions that result in the dissipation or loss of value of marital assets
- Other factors the court finds relevant
Before the court can begin dividing property, it must determine which assets are marital and which are non-marital. Non-marital assets may include inheritance, gifts, and property acquired before the date of marriage, and these may not be subject to distribution.
Support Payments
Sussex County courts will award alimony in some cases, depending on each spouse’s financial situation and other factors. Alimony is different from child support and is meant to help a dependent spouse pay for their costs of living after the end of the marriage.
Not every case will result in an alimony award. If the dependent spouse is young, healthy, and capable of working and supporting themselves, the court is less likely to order the other party to pay support. The court is also less likely to award alimony if the parties have only been married for a short time. In some cases, a court may order alimony for a limited period of time so that the dependent spouse has the opportunity to find work and become self-sufficient. A divorce lawyer in Sussex County can further explain the various alimony options available under state law.
A Sussex County Divorce Attorney Can Help You Navigate Your Case
Divorces involve complicated family and financial decisions that can be difficult to settle without the assistance of an experienced legal professional. A Sussex County divorce lawyer can help you attempt to negotiate favorable terms and litigate your case in court, if necessary. Having a legal advocate can remove some of the stress involved in a divorce, so schedule a consultation right away to learn more about your options.
