Divorce

Divorce is painful and even the most congenial splits can be emotionally devastating. Life-changing decisions take place that can affect the family structure and each spouse’s finances. For this reason, it is absolutely critical that you hire an experienced lawyer to fight for your rights and protect your interests. Decisions made today will impact you – and your children – for a long time to come.

Having an attorney who can represent your interests can prove invaluable. The experienced and compassionate family lawyers at Graziano & Flynn provide a personal approach to give each case the attention it deserves. We know that no two families are the same and every divorce proceeding has its own special circumstances. We will use our extensive knowledge of New Jersey family laws regarding child support, child custody, asset division, alimony, etc., to negotiate a favorable outcome for you in your divorce case.

Located in Cherry Hill, N.J., Graziano & Flynn, P.C. handles divorce cases for clients in Mt. Laurel, Moorestown and all of Camden County. We can explain how the law relates to your case, and we will develop a plan of action that reduces emotional distress, saves time and, ultimately, minimizes expenses. To schedule a free consultation, contact our offices today. You can rely on our confidentiality, compassion and experience.

In New Jersey, there are two types of divorce: contested and uncontested. If you and your soon-to-be ex agree to divorce terms, it’s considered an uncontested divorce. In most uncontested divorce cases, couples do not have children or have not been married for very long. Generally speaking, there are not many assets to divide, as well.

However, if the two of you cannot come to terms with the issues involved in your divorce case, it will be considered a contested divorce. Especially in high net worth divorces, divorce for business owners, or when divorcing a business owner, conflict may arise from asset and debt division (including how marital property is defined), child support, child custody, spousal support arrangements and decisions about parenting schedules. Contested divorces are extremely stressful because the court will split assets, and a judge might make the final decision for child custody.

Regardless of the type of divorce you pursue, having an experienced NJ family lawyer on your side can reduce stress and eliminate confusion and frustration. Talk to a lawyer at Graziano & Flynn. We will be by your side every step of the way, whether you want to go through litigation or opt for collaborative law divorce or mediation.

A divorce will completely dissolve a marriage in New Jersey but you do not need to get a divorce in order to live separate lives. A property settlement can be negotiated and signed by a husband and a wife without the need to file for a divorce. This is the equivalent of a legal separation. Although there is no formal legal separation recognized by New Jersey, the Property Settlement Agreement, even without a divorce, will be recognized.

This agreement will allow each spouse to respect the other’s rights and to take on certain responsibilities, which may involve child support, visitation, child custody, division of debt and spousal support. This separation agreement can also deal with division of all assets, not just debts.

New Jersey divorce proceedings can become quite complex, but a divorce lawyer at Graziano & Flynn will help protect your rights. Uncontested divorces are far less complicated and usually require only one appearance in court. Contested divorces, however, may become lengthy and difficult. Here are a few steps you should expect to take when filing:

1. You must have a legally valid reason to end your marriage. (For exmaple, irreconcilable differences is a valid reason in New Jersey.)
2. You must file a divorce complaint and your spouse must receive copies of those divorce papers.
3. If uncontested, your spouse must sign the papers and send them to the court.
4. If your spouse contests the terms, he or she must file papers to dispute the terms.
5. Several court appearances may be necessary to negotiate the disputes.
6. If your spouse fails to file an Answer to the Complaint within 35 days, a default can be entered against that spouse and the divorce will proceed anyway. At some point in the proceedings, a document asking the Court for certain asset distributions, debt allocations and support payments will have to be filed. This will still be served on your spouse.
7. Disputes involving property division, alimony, child support and custody require negotiation—either in or out of court.

The decision to divorce a spouse is rarely easy. The end of a marriage is the end of a chapter in a person’s life, a chapter that had its share of positive things along with the difficulties. If you have reached the point where divorce is a reality for you, make sure you have an experienced, understanding lawyer on your side.

At Graziano & Flynn, P.C., in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we help people work through the myriad issues associated with divorce. Our attorneys have nearly 60 years of combined experience handling family law matters for clients in Camden County, Gloucester County, Burlington County and throughout the state. Our goal as Cherry Hill divorce lawyers is to help each client and his or her family move forward into a brighter future.

New Jersey recognizes two types of divorce actions, no-fault divorce and fault-based divorce. In order to qualify for a no-fault divorce, one of the spouses must have been a New Jersey resident for one year and the spouses must have lived separately for 18 months with no hope of reconciliation, or irreconcilable differences must have existed for six months, with or without separation, with no hope of reconcilliation.

There are several recognized reasons for seeking a fault-based divorce:

• Extreme cruelty
• Adultery
• Desertion
• Addiction
• Institutionalization for mental illness
• Imprisonment
• Deviant sexual conduct
• Domestic violence

We emphasize the importance of divorce planning to all of our clients. The end of a marriage can have large impacts on each party’s finances. The decision of when to file for divorce should be made with the advice of a lawyer who understands your family and your particular situation.

We work closely with our clients on all aspects of their divorce, from child custody and child support issues to issues involving simple or complex division of property and mediation. We understand that there are no simple divorce cases, and each family has a different background. Having represented clients in the military, those of high net worth, business owners, middle class clients and those struggling financially, we have the ability to relate to you and help you understand what steps to take given your situation.

If you are considering divorce in New Jersey, or if your spouse has filed, please contact Graziano & Flynn, P.C. We can be reached at 856-755-9800 or toll free 866-948-7496. You can also send us an email and we will respond promptly.

Family lawyers should have a track-record for helping clients achieve positive outcomes to their cases. They should participate in professional associations and be members of the New Jersey Bar. Additionally, attorneys should offer references upon request. At Graziano & Flynn, P.C., we are extremely involved in many organizations in South Jersey. We live here and we are proud of our community. We are passionate about offering the most skilled legal representation for couples seeking divorce and commonly help clients in Cinnaminson, Marlton, Medford, Haddonfield and Voorhees NJ.

Ask us your legal questions regarding divorce, alimony, child custody, child support and asset/ debt distribution. With compassion and understanding, we will support you every step of the way. Contact our Cherry Hill, NJ office today to schedule an appointment.