Don’t be scared of the courtroom when going through a divorce
Posted September 8th, 2014 by Anthony Carbone, PC.
Categories: Family Law.
Divorce is a stressful time in anyone’s life, especially if you never dealt with the legal system before. You may be a little intimidated dealing with lawyers and the courts. You may not be too sure what you’re getting yourself into. And this may prevent you from getting what you really want or need.
We understand how scary the situation may be. But here at the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, PC, we want to make sure that you know what you are facing when getting a divorce in New Jersey. Here are the five easy steps you will go through when getting a divorce:
Step 1: You or your spouse will file a complaint through the court. The complaint will be given to the other party through the sheriff’s department.
Step 2: The person who received the complaint will have 35 days to answer the claim. So if your spouse served you the complaint, then you have the right to answer either with a counterclaim or file for an appearance if you don’t want to contest it.
Step 3: This is when mediation comes to play. You and your spouse will have a chance to settle your differences outside the courtroom so you don’t have to go to trial. This is when you start discussing child support and custody, division of property and assets, and alimony, if there is any. This can take some time so don’t expect this to be done within a week.
Step 4: If you and your spouse are able to settle your case, then your divorce will granted. This will be the only time you will have to worry about being in court.
Step 5: However, if you and your spouse cannot reach a settlement, then a trial date will be assigned to your case. You will then have a chance to testify before the judge over your disagreements and the court will be the one who makes the decision on who gets what. Once the matters are decided, the divorce is then finalized and you’re free.
Now these are just the basic steps you will go through in a divorce. They can become more complicated if there are more factors about your divorce, such as domestic violence. The important thing to keep in mind is to have all your information available. This will help your case immensely and you will be able to walk away from your marriage with peace of mind that you got what you wanted.
The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone has spent the last 26 years fighting for its clients in the courtroom and we are ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free consultation. For more information about divorce in New Jersey, download our free ebook today.
