Morris Plains Divorce Lawyers

Compassionate and Family-Oriented Divorce Services

It is never easy to go through a divorce; however, you can prepare yourself for success by hiring the right divorce attorney. At Lane & Lane, LLC, we have over 60 years of combined experience helping our clients secure a favorable divorce outcome. Whether you wish to pursue a more amicable form of divorce, want to try out divorce mediation, or need an attorney to advocate on your behalf in a contentious, litigated divorce, our Morris Plains divorce lawyers can provide you with the tailored legal services you require.

We pride ourselves on our knowledge, experience, and compassionate approach. While navigating a divorce may seem overwhelming, it does not have to be. As seasoned divorce lawyers, we genuinely care about our clients and their success.

Focused Exclusively on Family Law

We focus exclusively on family law to be able to provide our clients with the communication, attention to detail, and care that they deserve. These services cover all areas of divorce and family law, including but not limited to the following:

• Divorce
• Mediation
• Prenuptial agreements
• Child custody and child support
• Spousal support
• Modifications
• High-net-worth divorce

What Is Equitable Distribution in Divorce?

New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, meaning that in the event of a divorce, marital property is not automatically divided 50-50. Instead, marital assets will be divided in a manner that is considered fair but not necessarily equal.

New Jersey Divorce Residency Requirements

At least one spouse must have been a resident of the state of New Jersey for 1 year prior to filing for divorce. Unless you meet this requirement, you cannot get divorced in the state.

New Jersey Divorce Process Explained

Here are the steps to get a divorce in New Jersey:

File for divorce

To begin the divorce process, one spouse will need to file a divorce complaint with the court. This complaint must include the names and addresses of both parties, the place and date of the marriage, and the grounds for the divorce.

You will also need to file the following forms: a certification verification and non-collusion, a certification of no pending proceedings, a certification of insurance coverage, a certification of self-represented litigant and dispute resolution alternatives, and a certification regarding redaction of personal identifiers.

You should file all your divorce forms in the county where you lived when you and your spouse separated. If you do not live in New Jersey, you should file your forms in the New Jersey county where your spouse lives.

You will need to pay a $300 filing fee or make a request to have this fee waived.

Serve your spouse

You will hire someone to serve your spouse the summons and divorce complaint. You must serve the divorce papers within 30 days of filing for divorce. Your spouse will respond to this complaint and could make a counterclaim. Your spouse may also choose not to respond, which means the court could grant you the divorce you requested on your terms. Your spouse has 35 days to respond to the summons and divorce complaint.

File a Case Information Statement (CIS)

Each spouse will file a CIS, which includes financial information that is pertinent to the divorce, including financial support and equitable distribution.

See if you can reach a settlement agreement with your attorneys

You and your spouse may try to reach a settlement agreement with the assistance of your attorneys. If this is not possible, mediation may be attempted. If mediation does not result in an agreement, the parties will be required to go to court.

Go to trial

The case will go to trial if the parties cannot come to a resolution themselves or with the assistance of a meditator or attorney. At trial, the court will resolve the couple’s issues and a Final Judgement of Divorce will be issued.

If you need assistance with your divorce, call our office at (908) 259-6673 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve clients across Central New Jersey.

Morris Plains Office
101 Gibraltar Drive, Suite 2F
Morris Plains, NJ 07950