Top Jersey City, NJ Family Law Lawyers Near You

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Jersey City, NJ Lawyers in Related Practice Areas

Adoption, Divorce, Father's Rights

Jersey City Family Law Information

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Lead Counsel independently verifies Family Law attorneys in Jersey City and checks their standing with New Jersey bar associations.

Our Verification Process and Criteria
  • Ample Experience Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
  • Good Standing Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
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What Are Family Law Issues?

There are many legal matters that are handled in family courts, such as child custody, child support, divorce, domestic violence, legal separation, marital agreements, domestic partnerships, alimony or spousal support, and adoption. Family law issues can be more complicated than other legal issues because the people may have to continue communicating or living with each other after the dispute is settled.

How Long Do I Have To Wait To Get a Divorce?

Different states have different waiting periods for divorce cases. The divorcing couple may have to be living separately for enough time before the court will enter an order of dissolution of marriage. Other states have no waiting period and either spouse can seek a divorce. There are other requirements for a divorce, including residency requirements. Talk to a divorce attorney for legal advice about how to get a divorce.

Will I Get Shared Custody?

Custody matters can include legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody involves making legal decisions for the child and how the child is raised. This includes decisions about the child’s education, health care, and religion. Physical custody is where the child lives. In many New Jersey divorces, one parent will get physical custody and the other will have visitation rights.

How Much Will Child Support Cost in New Jersey?

Child support is generally determined by New Jersey child support guidelines. The amount of support and which parent pays support can be based on parenting time, parent’s income, additional support obligations, and the needs of the child.

Can a Lawyer Help With an Adoption?

An adoption attorney can help a family through the adoption process. For private adoptions or international adoptions, an adoption lawyer can help the prospective parents understand the process, the costs involved, options, and help avoid problems that may come up during adoption.

Should I Sign a Prenuptial Agreement?

Prenuptial agreements can be a very sensitive topic in marriage. Many couples do not like to discuss financial matters, which can later cause problems in the relationship. In some cases, a prenuptial agreement can help both spouses understand how their individual property will be treated if they separate. However, you should consult a family law attorney individually before signing a prenuptial agreement.

What Is Contempt of Court in Family Law Cases?

In family court, a judge can hold you in contempt of court if you fail to comply with any court orders. This could include refusing to follow your custody plan, failing to pay child support, or contacting a former spouse against court orders. If a family law judge finds you in contempt of court, it could mean fines, jail time, or even garnishing your wages to pay back child support.

How Does Family Court Resolve Disputes?

Family disputes can get complicated. In many cases, the best person to resolve a family dispute is the family members themselves, with the help of a mediator. Many family court issues are referred to a mediator, including child custody disputes. A mediator can help the people involved come up with their own plan. If the family cannot resolve their dispute, it may be left to the court to decide the legal issues.

How Can a Jersey City Family Law Attorney Help?

An attorney can often resolve your individual legal issue more quickly and efficiently than trying to do it alone. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal system, while avoiding costly mistakes or procedural errors. When talking to a lawyer, you should seek out an attorney in a practice area most relevant to your issue and in your area.

What does family law mean?

Family law covers a broad spectrum of legal matters that have to do with families, and not all of them mean something terrible has happened. The term family law can refer to adoptions, divorce, child custody, paternity, child support, guardianships, prenuptial agreements, property division, and many other issues.

What does contempt of court mean in family law cases?

In family court, a judge can hold you in contempt of court if you fail to comply with any court orders. This could include refusing to follow your custody plan, failing to pay child support, or disparaging your ex when a judge orders you not to. Being in contempt of court could mean spending time behind bars or other penalties, such as garnishing your wages to pay back child support.

How do courts resolve family law disputes?

Courts generally like to resolve family law disputes by helping people like you and your ex find an amicable compromise. This allows people to continue to work together in the future, such as when it comes to making parenting decisions. If necessary, a judge may order you and your ex to meet with a mediator to find a solution. If you cannot agree, the judge may schedule a hearing to decide the matter, at which point you will have to comply with whatever the ruling is.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

  • How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
  • How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
  • What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer

  • What is the usual process to resolve my case? How long will it take to resolve this?
  • What are likely outcomes of a case like mine? What should I expect?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic “road map” on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, he/she should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

Types of legal fees:

Bill by the hour: Many attorneys bill by the hour. How much an attorney bills you per hour will vary based on a number of factors. For instance, an attorney’s hourly fee may fluctuate based on whether that hour is spent representing you in court or doing research on your case. Attorneys in one practice area may bill you more than attorneys in a different practice area.

Contingent fee: Some lawyers will accept payment via contingent fee. In this arrangement, the lawyer receives a percentage of the total monetary recovery if you win your lawsuit. In sum, the lawyer only gets paid if you win. Contingent fee agreements are limited to specific practice areas in civil law.

Flat fee: For “routine” legal work where the attorney generally knows the amount of time and resources necessary to complete the task, he/she may be willing to bill you a flat fee for services performed.

Common legal terms explained

Affidavit – A sworn written statement made under oath. An affidavit is meant to be a supporting document to the court assisting in the verification of certain facts. An affidavit may or may not require notarization.

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