Vineland Divorce Attorney

Successfully Navigate the Divorce Process in Vineland with the Help of an Experienced Attorney

We help spouses in Vineland, NJ successfully navigate the divorce process. If you are preparing to go through a divorce, it will be important to have an experienced attorney by your side. Even in the most straightforward of circumstances, going through a divorce is a complicated process. A Vineland divorce attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. can help you make informed and confident decisions every step of the way.

Of course, while some divorces are relatively straightforward, others are much more complicated. Most fall somewhere in between. From developing mutually agreeable parenting plans to resolving disagreements about property division and alimony, we work closely with our clients to help ensure that the process is as smooth, efficient, and non-confrontational as possible regardless of the circumstances involved.

Personalized Legal Advice and Representation for Your Divorce in Vineland

While the divorce process might technically begin when one spouse files a divorce petition in court, there are some important steps that divorcing spouses should take before this stage. Devoting time and effort to preparing in advance can not only make the process go more smoothly, but it can also help reduce the costs involved.

Our services for divorcing spouses in Vineland include:

1. Considering the Grounds for Divorce

New Jersey allows spouses to file for divorce on “no fault” grounds, and most spouses choose this option. But, it can make sense to pursue a fault-based divorce in some cases. A Vineland divorce attorney at our firm can help you understand what makes sense in your specific circumstances.

2. Identifying Relevant Financial and Property Records

You will need to collect several types of records for purposes of your divorce. Your attorney can provide a list of the records you need to collect and assist with locating them if necessary.

3. Identifying “Separate” and “Marital” Property

You and your spouse will need to equitably divide your “marital” property during the divorce process. However, your “separate” property is yours to keep. Your attorney can assist with identifying your (and your spouse’s) separate property so that you know what is on the table in your divorce.

4. Beginning to Prioritize

Getting divorced inherently involves compromise. This means that you will need to think carefully about what matters most. Your attorney can help you understand where you will need to prioritize and guide you through the relevant considerations.

5. Anticipating (and Preparing to Overcome) Potential Conflicts

Anywhere your priorities and your spouse’s priorities overlap presents an area of potential conflict. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your divorce will devolve into a contentious dispute, but it does mean that you need to think ahead. Your attorney can help you anticipate (and prepare to overcome) potential conflicts.

6. Making Preliminary Calculations to Assist with Informed Decision-Making

If you have minor children from your marriage, you will need to address child support during the divorce process. Many divorces involve spousal support (alimony) as well. Your attorney can help you understand how much you may be entitled to receive (or how much you might have to pay) so that you can factor this into your decision-making about the future.

7. Developing a Plan to Achieve a Favorable Resolution

After guiding you through each of these steps, your Vineland divorce attorney can help you develop a plan to achieve a favorable resolution. While the outcome of your divorce is not solely up to you, by preparing in advance and having a plan in place, you can help make sure that unexpected issues do not derail the process.

Getting Through Your Divorce in Vineland

By guiding our clients through these steps, we are able to help them feel confident about the divorce process and ensure that they are prepared to overcome any challenges that may arise. During the divorce process itself, we provide additional services including:

Uncontested Divorce – An uncontested divorce involves working together to achieve an amicable resolution as efficiently as possible. This is a good option for many spouses—even those who may not fully be on the same page—as it minimizes the time and costs involved in the divorce process while also maintaining an amicable relationship for the future.
Contested Divorce – The alternative to an uncontested divorce is a contested divorce. If you and your spouse have fundamental differences that you simply cannot resolve, then a contested divorce may be the best (and only) path forward.
Divorce Settlement Negotiations – In both uncontested and contested divorces, guided settlement negotiations can be an efficient means of coming to terms—or at least narrowing the issues in dispute. All of our divorce attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in divorce settlement negotiations.
Collaborative Divorce – Collaborative divorce is a unique process that is particularly well-suited to complex and high-net-worth divorces. Our attorneys can explain whether this is a good option in your case.
Divorce Mediation – When guided settlement negotiations aren’t enough, divorce mediation is usually the next step. In mediation, the spouses (and their respective attorneys) work with a neutral third-party mediator who helps them work toward an amicable resolution.

We also represent our clients in divorce litigation when necessary, though this is absolutely the exception to the norm. Even when divorcing spouses are at odds on most of the issues involved in their divorce, it will usually be possible to avoid litigation—with the right approach. If you are concerned that your divorce may end up in court in Vineland, our attorneys can help you understand the options you have available.

Child Custody: Developing a Parenting Plan During Your Divorce in Vineland

For divorcing parents in Cumberland County, establishing child custody rights is among the most important aspects of the divorce process. New Jersey law does not inherently favor either parent, but instead focuses on serving the best interests of the child (or children) involved.

In most cases, this involves developing a parenting plan under which the parents will share both physical custody and legal custody after their divorce. Physical custody refers to time spent with the couple’s children at one parent’s home, while legal custody refers to the right to make important child-related decisions (i.e., decisions regarding education and healthcare).

If you are preparing to go through a divorce with a minor child (or minor children), a Vineland divorce lawyer at our firm can assist you with developing a comprehensive parenting plan. While every family’s circumstances are unique, a comprehensive parenting plan will typically address matters such as:

Routine weekly or bi-weekly parenting time schedules
Parenting time during birthdays and holidays
Transportation between the parents’ homes
Communication between the parents and with the couple’s children
Curfews, screen time, driving privileges, and other similar types of issues

Even these are just examples. The decisions you make during your divorce could impact your life (and your children’s lives) for years to come, and overlooking important considerations could lead to confusion and disputes after your divorce. As a result, a comprehensive approach is key, which makes it important to work closely with an experienced Vineland divorce lawyer who can help ensure you are not overlooking any pertinent considerations.

Importantly, while the children’s best interests come first in all child custody matters, the parents’ needs and preferences factor into this analysis. For example, if your work schedule limits the days on which you are available to have custody of your children, this can (and should) factor into your decision-making during the divorce process. Here too, an experienced Vineland divorce lawyer can help ensure that you are making sound decisions—not assumptions—based on how New Jersey’s child custody laws apply to your individual circumstances.

How Common Is It to Get Divorced in New Jersey?

If you are contemplating a divorce in New Jersey, you are not alone. While statistics from different sources vary, figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. News & World Report put New Jersey’s divorce rate somewhere in the range of five to six out of every 1,000 women living in the state.

Of course, not all women are (or have been) married, so New Jersey’s actual divorce rate is almost certainly significantly higher. According to the latest data from the Institute of Family Studies, nationwide, about 40 percent of all marriages end in divorce.

Speak with a Vineland Divorce Attorney in Confidence

Are you preparing to go through a divorce in Vineland, NJ? Do you have questions that you need answered so that you can start making informed decisions about the future? If so, we can help, and we invite you to get in touch. To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Vineland divorce attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., please call 877-435-6371 or tell us how we can get in touch online today.

FAQs: Filing for Divorce in Vineland

Do My Spouse and I Need a Lawyer for an Uncontested Divorce in Vineland?

Yes, even if you and your spouse are largely on the same page regarding the terms of your divorce, it is still important to hire a lawyer to guide you through the divorce process. Among other things, an experienced Vineland divorce lawyer will be able to help ensure that you and your spouse are not overlooking any issues, and your lawyer will also be able to help ensure that the terms of your divorce settlement are enforceable under New Jersey law.

Are My Spouse and I Each Entitled to Half of Our Assets in Our Divorce?

Not necessarily. In New Jersey, divorcing spouses must divide their marital assets equitably—and equitable does not necessarily mean equal. Determining what is appropriate under the circumstances of your divorce will involve examining various factors—and, here too, it is important to work with an experienced Vineland divorce lawyer who can help ensure that you are making informed decisions.

At What Stage in the Divorce Process Should I Hire a Lawyer?

We recommend hiring a lawyer to assist you before you file for divorce (or before your spouse files for divorce, if possible). There are several benefits to planning ahead, and working with an experienced divorce lawyer from the outset of the process can help ensure that the process is as smooth, efficient, and non-confrontational as possible.

What Are the Options for Splitting Parenting Time After a Divorce in Vineland?

Divorcing parents have several options for splitting parenting time after a divorce in Vineland, NJ. Along with equal (or near-equal) parenting time, parents in Vineland can also consider options such as staggered custody and visitation schedules, co-parenting, and bird’s nest custody, among others. A Vineland divorce lawyer at our firm can walk you through all of the options you have available.