Somerset County Asset Division Lawyers
Experienced Legal Assistance with Equitable Distribution in New Jersey
What is Equitable Distribution in New Jersey?
New Jersey is an "equitable distribution" state, meaning that New Jersey family courts distribute marital property fairly but not equally. New Jersey is not a 50-50 divorce state.
This does not mean it will be a 50/50 split; the court will examine many factors that help influence the decision, including:
- The length of the marriage
- The contributions of each spouse during the marriage
- The income of each spouse
- The age, health, and well-being of each spouse
Often mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, charge accounts/credit cards, and other liabilities need to be addressed and allocated. Here at Lane & Lane, LLC, we focus on a fair and equitable allocation of all such liabilities.
Principles of Equitable Distribution in New Jersey Divorces
When a married couple acquires property, they essentially share ownership rights to such property. Sharing ownership is not problematic for the couple when they live together. However, when a couple decides to get divorced and live separately and apart, it is not feasible for them to continue sharing their marital property as they did when they were married.
As a result, the couple must decide how to divide marital assets between themselves upon divorce. If the couple cannot agree on how to divide these assets, the court must equitably distribute their marital assets.
However, an “equitable” distribution of marital assets does not always mean that the court will “equally” divide marital assets between the parties. Instead, a court must consider the specifics of each case to determine a split that is fair and “equitable” under the circumstances.
Among the factors that courts will consider for purposes of equitable distribution include the marital debts that the marriage incurred.
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“Daniel Lane helped me execute my divorce after an independent mediation. He was very professional, easy to deal with and sensitive to the procedure. That was the most unexpected and pleasantly surprising part of our relationship during the process. During his consultations, he dealt with me as a person first and foremost, not just a client on a retainer. I highly recommend him and his practice.”- Joe P.
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“Thank you so much Steve Lane and Lane & Lane firm for the outstanding representation you have given me! I was very impressed with how knowledgeable Steve is and how welcoming and friendly he and his staff is. Steve made me feel comfortable and confident and always exhibited dedication and concern for my situation. Always professional and compassionate! I would recommend Lane & Lane to anyone. Again, thank you so much Steve for you amazing help!”- Anastasios B.
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“Dan's patience and understanding allowed me to put trust in someone at a time when that was most difficult for me.”- Dominic
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“I would highly recommend relying on Daniel should you need his service.”- Eric
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“Dan & his staff are professional, courteous & knowledgeable. Dan returned my phone calls & emails in a timely manner & made me feel like I was his most important client. He went above & beyond for me. I highly recommend Lane & Lane.”- Jim J.
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“Excellent Experience. Daniel Lane was very helpful and readily available. He was able to explain everything in detail and always put us at ease. He made us feel like family and handled our case as if it was his own personal family matter. Awesome lawyer. Highly recommended.”- Kaajal R.
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“Thank you so much Steve Lane and Lane & Lane firm for the outstanding representation you have given me! I was very impressed with how knowledgeable Steve is and how welcoming and friendly he and his staff is.”- Anastasios
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“Eric definitely had my best interests at heart.”- Austin