NJ Family Law Divorce & Legal Separation Lawyer How to Choose Morris Essex Somerset Union County
Once you have made the difficult decision to divorce or separate, the next step is to find a divorce attorney you feel comfortable with and one that you trust will look out for your best interests. Since the laws regarding a NJ divorce and legal separation are the same whether you are in Morris, Essex, Somerset, Union or any other county in the state, your process for selecting an attorney should be the same. The following are some helpful hints for you to consider when making this important decision.
Experience and Practice Exclusive to Divorce and Family Law
First and foremost, make sure that the attorney you hire has extensive experience in the field of divorce and family law. Your matter will likely contain intricate elements that must be recognized by your attorney, including potential tax ramifications and the necessity to secure support payments through life insurance coverage. An experienced New Jersey (NJ) divorce and family law attorney will instinctively know the ins and outs of the divorce process and understand how to include necessary protective legal language in your settlement agreement. The reason you should only consider an attorney who specializes in family law is the same reason you would not consider hiring a dermatologist to treat your heart condition. It is not a worthwhile risk to retain a lawyer who does not specialize because the outcome of your divorce is something you will have to live with for the rest of your life.
Certifications Count
You should strongly consider retaining the services of a lawyer who is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, a designation attained by only 2% of the matrimonial lawyers in NJ. Becoming an attorney requires education and training, but becoming a Certified Attorney requires additional training, education and superior State-mandated credentials.
Personal Comfort
Choosing the right New Jersey (NJ) divorce and legal separation lawyer does not stop with the attorneys accomplishments as a practitioner. Another critical factor is your comfort level with your lawyer. You should make sure that you retain the services of an attorney who will listen to what you want and will work diligently to accomplish a settlement that is in your best interest and those of your children. You should never have to worry if your lawyers loyalty is to you or if they are more interested in creating litigation, thus driving up your bill. In that regard, be extremely cautious about lawyers who appear to be a “shark” or “pit bull” as this characteristic generally translates into higher legal fees. Most people like to choose an overly aggressive attorney, thinking it will help them, but in the end they wind up paying dramatically greater fees for no better result.
Free Consultation
Take advantage of a free consultation provided by an attorney you are considering retaining. This will help you determine if you feel comfortable with them and the law firm. Moreover, during the meeting you will become better educated about your legal options. Be suspicious of attorneys who make guarantees or provide assurances regarding the outcome of your contested case because these are often false promises.
For more information about New Jersey divorce and legal separation or to download a free copy of my divorce guide, please visit my web-site at
Attorney Bari Weinberger is the Associate Author of the book New Jersey Family Law Practice, utilized by virtually every NJ family law attorney. She also served as child custody new jersey lawyer for domestic violence nj, nj restraining order