DISCLAIMER The comments on this blog are the opinions of the blogger based on personal experience as a defendant in a divorce case. Please note that the information here does not constitute legal advice. I am not a lawyer. It is strongly recommended that you hire a family law attorney, licensed to practice in your state, to represent you and to help guide you through the complicated process of divorce.
Option #4 - Free Consultations, Workshops, and Seminars
Free Consultations
Many attorneys offer free initial consultations which allow you to meet once with them to discuss your case. The meeting might be very brief, but it's a great way to get answers to some of your legal questions. Also, you can talk with the lawyer about his or her fees for "unbundled" services, such as ghostwriting or consulting. The free initial consultations enable you to shop around for the attorney who is right for you.
Then again, you don't necessarily have to go looking for a lawyer. Some lawyers are busy looking for you by offering free workshops and seminars at different venues. In this way, they reach more people, and you can learn more about divorce in New Jersey by asking questions. They also may give you written information on New Jersey divorce law, and you can ask them what kind of services they offer.
To find an event near you, do an internet search on divorce seminars or workshops in your area. Remember, you might need to register in advance.
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation keeps a list of events held at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. As of the date of this post, however, I don't see any divorce workshops listed there, but maybe one will be added later.
Free Seminars at Courthouses
In an effort to keep the court system running as smoothly as possible, some courthouses periodically offer divorce seminars to the public. These events are intended to help familiarize you with divorce procedures. To find out whether a seminar is offered at the courthouse where your divorce was filed, you might want to check with the Family Division office there. Also check the New Jersey Judiciary - Court Seminars and Public Events webpage.
Free Programs for Displaced Homemakers
Women in particular sometimes leave the workforce for a long period of time in order to become full-time "homemakers." Just as people who lose their jobs are considered "displaced workers," these women become known as "displaced homemakers" in the event of a divorce. So, there are programs throughout New Jersey that offer these women free advice on issues such as divorce law, real estate sales, employment, and child custody.
For information about a Displaced Homemaker Program near you, see the Displaced Homemakers Network of New Jersey website for a list of centers. I've been told that the programs are open to both women and men.
Where I live in southern New Jersey, Gloucester County College (now known as Rowan College at Gloucester County) offers free divorce workshops for women through its People in Transition program. For example, in Laws of Separation and Divorce, attorneys from the American Bar Association explain alimony, child custody, equitable distribution, and other issues. In Financial Aspects of Divorce, a financial adviser gives advice on money matters; and in Navigating Child Support, someone explains the child support process, your rights, and what to expect in court. Those are only a few of the many free workshops offered through RCGC. I've attended multiple workshops, and they've been very informative.
If you go to the RCGC program, be sure to register in advance on the website. Please note that most of the workshops are free, whereas a few others require a small fee. For more information, check the description for each event. Also, be aware that not all of the events are held on the RCGC campus.
Help for Men
There are many organizations and group meetups (too many to list here) that cater specifically to men who are divorcing. A quick search online using the words help for men divorce nj returns a ton of resources. Some of the groups might involve a fee. If you also search for men's divorce seminar nj, you'll find some free programs for men conducted by attorneys.
However, if you're looking for free programs similar to those for the "displaced homemakers" (women) in your county, most of the county programs for men tend to cater to fathers specifically. For example, the Father's Care Network in Atlantic County focuses on helping men in their relationships with their children. I'm not familiar with these programs, but checking into them might be worth your time.
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