What issues are involved in a divorce?

A divorce usually deals with some or all of the following: child custody, child support, alimony, and equitable distribution of property.

In resolving child custody disputes, the Court has a preference for joint legal custody, which allows both parents to have a say in the health, education, and welfare of the child or children. If the parties cannot get along or cannot set aside their differences so that they can successfully co-parent their child, the Court will be forced to decide who will get sole legal custody.

Child support is based upon the income of both parties and the amount of time each parent spends with the child. There are Child Support Guidelines which the Court uses to arrive at a figure. These guidelines are based upon what an intact family, making a particular income, would spend on a child.

In establishing alimony, the Court considers many factors, including the length of the marriage, the employment history of the parties, and their marital lifestyle.

In general, when it comes to distributing marital property, New Jersey law views a marriage as a partnership, and seeks to equitably allocate the property's value between the two former spouses. “Equitable” is not always synonymous with “equal”. There are many individual factors that influence how property is awarded.

Karen Meislik, a Matrimonial Law attorney located
in Montclair, New Jersey, serves clients in Essex, Morris, Union,
and Bergen counties, and throughout the state.

1-888 MEISLIK, ext. 111 • 973 783-3000, ext. 111 • familylaw@meislik.com