Camden County Contested Divorce Lawyer Protects Your Future
Skilled attorney in Haddon Heights, New Jersey upholds your rights
Once you’ve decided to end your marriage, you want the divorce settled as quickly and easily as possible. However, there are other important considerations. First and foremost, you must protect your rights and interests. When the stakes are high and deeply personal, you need and a strong advocate in your corner. That’s what you’ll find at The Law Offices of Kelli M. Martone. As a Camden County contested divorce lawyer since 2007, I’ve guided many people through this difficult chapter of their lives.
Common reasons to contest a NJ divorce
A divorce becomes contested when spouses cannot agree on one or more key issues. These may include child custody or parenting time, alimony and division of property and debts. Sometimes, one party believes the other is hiding or manipulating marital assets. In others, the main disputes concern the couple’s children. Whatever the reason, contested divorces require careful and skilled handling.
Important issues in a contested divorce
The most common divorce disputes involve the areas that can impact your future stability:
- Child custody and parenting time — The court’s priority is awarding custody and parenting time is always the child’s best interests, but parents can differ sharply about the terms.
- Equitable distribution of property — New Jersey law calls for a fair but not necessarily equal division of marital property. That includes homes, pensions, investments and business interests.
- Alimony / spousal support — Whether spousal support is justified, and at what amount and duration, depends on numerous statutory factors.
- Hidden assets and financial disclosure — I work with forensic accountants and other professionals to ensure all marital assets are disclosed, identified and valued correctly.
Child support obligations are largely controlled by state guidelines, but deviations may be granted in view of children’s special needs, educational costs or preserving the quality of life during the marriage.
The legal process for New Jersey contested divorces
A contested divorce in New Jersey begins when one spouse files a complaint and serves the other. The responding spouse must then file an answer or counterclaim. After that, motions can be made by attorneys for both sides. The case then moves to discovery, which includes interrogatories, depositions and demands for documents that are germane to the contested issues in the case. If parties cannot reach a settlement through negotiation or mediation, the case proceeds to trial. Throughout each stage, I take all actions needed to protect my client’s interests while seeking an efficient, fair resolution.
How a Camden County contested divorce lawyer helps
When I take on a contested divorce case, my goals are to give the client confidence that I am handling every legal detail and to keep you informed and empowered at every step. I build each case meticulously: analyzing financial documents, interviewing witnesses and forming persuasive arguments. I also encourage settlement when it’s in your best interest and will save you time, stress and expense. My experience as a Haddon Heights uncontested divorce lawyer has taught me that many clients benefit from a less confrontational process without sacrificing protect of their rights.
Steps to take when preparing for a contested divorce
If you are contemplating a divorce, you should gather your key financial documents: tax returns, pay stubs, mortgage statements and account records. Avoid major financial moves and document all communication with your spouse about custody or finances. Most importantly, consult an experienced New Jersey family law attorney, who can advise you on actions to take prior to and during the case.
Speak with a dedicated New Jersey family law attorney
The Law Offices of Kelli M. Martone in Camden County represents clients in uncontested divorces throughout southern New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, please call 856-432-4587 or contact me online.
