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.
These days, many people who hire family law attorneys pay very close attention to detail, study the law themselves, and read every document their lawyers put together. In this way, they're able to communicate more effectively with their lawyers. Sometimes, to lower their legal fees, they'll even do some of the work for their lawyers.
My guess is that very few people sit back, become complacent, and let their lawyers make all the decisions.
Either way, self-represented litigants don't have a choice; we must pay very close attention to every detail.
Again, I cannot give you legal advice. I'm merely sharing what I've learned. And one thing I've learned is that the Family Division staff members at the courthouse are very informative. They can't offer legal advice, but they can tell you where to go, what to do, and which documents you'll need to file. However, I had to be bold enough to ask questions and, at times, pester them for the answers because they're very busy.
Click here for direct links to Family Division Offices at each county courthouse in New Jersey.
Another thing I've learned is that many of the legal forms and instructions are available online to print or use as examples. Some of the people who work in the Family Division might not know that these forms are available online to be printed and used. I was told to come to the courthouse for almost everything. In my opinion, visiting the Family Division at the courthouse is the best idea, but knowing where to find the documents online is important, too.
The problem is that all of the instructions and legal forms aren't contained on one website. Instead, to find information, I had to search various websites and travel back and forth to the courthouse. So, the purpose of this blog is to put most of the information into one convenient spot.
Feel free to use this blog as your starting point so that you'll have an idea of what you might be required to do. But, remember, the divorce procedure you'll have to follow might differ from the one I'm following. So, before you file any papers, check with an attorney or contact the Family Division at the courthouse where your spouse filed for divorce.
Also, please note that my experience is based on a divorce filed for irreconcilable differences. Other reasons for divorce might require you to follow a slightly different process. Furthermore, if domestic violence is involved in any way, Legal Services of New Jersey strongly recommends that you hire a lawyer.
Below is the step-by-step process that I've had to take and what I've learned so far (your experience might differ). I've been learning the divorce procedure as I go along, and I've made a few mistakes. My case is further along than the steps below suggest, but I'm working on each post carefully before I make any information available to you:
New Jersey Divorce Process
Click on each link for more information:
Step #1 - Plaintiff Files Complaint for Divorce
Step #2 - Defendant Files Answer & Counterclaim
Parents' Education Program
More steps to follow...
The following posts are under construction. Check back again soon.
Family Case Information Statement
Notice of Motion for Pendente Lite Relief
Cross Motion / CIS
Objection to Cross Motion
Pendente Lite Relief Hearing
Case Management Conference
Interrogatories
Keep checking for updates.
