Beginning The Process Of Divorce In New Jersey

In this article, you can discover:

• How to know it’s time to hire a lawyer
• How to prepare for divorce
• The danger of using a financial advisor for divorce

When Do I Know It’s The Right Time For A Divorce Lawyer?

Consulting with a divorce attorney as soon as possible is a wise decision if you are considering a divorce. When your marriage has reached a point where it seems reconciliation is no longer a viable option, or if you believe your spouse is planning to file, you should seek professional advice. Additionally, be aware of any changes in your spouse’s behavior that could indicate their intent to separate, such as secret phone calls, leaving the home for unexplained periods of time, or making purchases outside of the normal lifestyle. Unexpected withdrawals from your checking, savings, or 401(k) accounts could also be warning signs that you should take seriously. For anyone considering a divorce, it is important to remember that speaking to a professional divorce attorney sooner rather than later is your best course of action. Taking the time to discuss your legal rights and options before you receive a Complaint in Divorce could help you sleep better at night, especially when you know what to expect in the future.

How Can I Prepare For My Spouse Filing A Divorce?

Start exploring the finances that you share with your spouse, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities, pensions, and other investments. Document or photograph the account statements in case your spouse attempts to hide assets. For example, while my client was starting her divorce process, she came across an annuity statement more than ten years old in her closet for an account that she knew nothing about. It turned out the statement was for an employment based annuity with over a quarter million dollars in in it that he conveniently failed to disclose on his Case Information Statement. As you can imagine, it is important to go through each room of your home or apartment and photograph any marital property to ensure nothing goes missing and this includes bank and retirement account information as well. Planning is key to addressing any potential issues that could be happening in down the road in your divorce.

Should I See A Financial Advisor Before Filing For A Divorce?

At the start of the divorce, I would advise against consulting a financial advisor. You could be wasting valuable time and resources. Instead, focus on understanding the accounts and holdings that you and your spouse share. This can be done through discovery, interrogatories, and notices to produce. Once you have a full understanding of your holdings, and what is going to be subject to equitable distribution, then it can be beneficial to seek the advice of a financial advisor. Unbeknownst to one spouse, there may be hidden accounts accumulating an estate. All of a sudden, they can be revealed with a large sum of money such as $50,000. So before filing, it is important to identify all savings and checking accounts and any annuities, pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, etc. that you and your spouse own. With the guidance of a skilled attorney for Family Law Cases, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we’ll make it look easy. For more information on Family Law in New Jersey, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (732) 365-3299 today.