ZEIGLER LAW GROUP, LLC

PROVIDING ELITE DIVORCE SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY

Surf City Divorce Lawyer

Divorce is a life-changing decision that can be emotionally and legally challenging. Understanding your rights and options is essential to protecting your future if you are considering divorce. Whether your case involves child custody, asset division, alimony, or other family law matters, having an experienced Surf City divorce lawyer by your side can make all the difference.

Zeigler Law Group, LLC provides compassionate and strategic legal representation to help you navigate the complex process. Sonya K. Zeigler, Esq. aims to secure the best possible outcome for you and your family while minimizing the stress and uncertainty often accompanying divorce.

Why Choose Zeigler Law Group, LLC for Help with Divorce

Zeigler Law Group, LLC offers comprehensive divorce services and the support and guidance you need to protect your rights and your family’s future. Some of our most common services and how we can assist with your divorce include:

Divorce: Divorce is often stressful and impacts every aspect of your life. At Zeigler Law Group, LLC, we understand your challenges and strive to help you navigate each stage of the proceedings as smoothly as possible, protect your rights, and ensure your voice is heard and acknowledged.
Alimony: Alimony, or spousal support, is intended to provide financial stability to the lesser-earning spouse based on factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse’s financial circumstances, and future earning capacity. Sonya is a skilled negotiator who will ensure that alimony arrangements are reasonable and support your post-divorce life.
Child Custody and Support: The primary focus in disputes over child custody is always the children’s best interests. Sonya develops custody arrangements that meet your children’s needs while respecting your parental rights and responsibilities and can assist with modifications of existing child support orders.
Equitable Distribution: Dividing marital property can be one of the most contentious aspects of a divorce. Sonya has extensive experience handling complex asset divisions, including real estate, investments, and retirement accounts. She will fight to retain assets rightfully yours and manage the fair division of debt to protect your financial interests.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: Prenuptial agreements are a wise precaution, and Sonya routinely assists clients in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating prenuptial agreements to safeguard financial interests and property rights before and after marriage. In divorce, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements can significantly streamline divorce proceedings.

What Is the Divorce Process in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, the process of obtaining a divorce involves several steps and legal requirements, including but not limited to:

Residency: At least one spouse must have been a resident of New Jersey for at least one year before filing unless the divorce is based on adultery.
Grounds: New Jersey recognizes both no-fault and fault grounds for divorce. No-fault divorce based on grounds of irreconcilable differences is most common. New Jersey’s legally recognized fault grounds for divorce include adultery, desertion, extreme cruelty, addiction, institutionalization, and imprisonment. In fault-based divorces, the petitioner is required to provide proof supporting their claims.
Filing the Complaint: One spouse files the Complaint for Divorce in the family division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. The complaint outlines the grounds for divorce and any requests for relief, such as child custody, support, alimony, and division of property.
Serving the Complaint: The filing spouse must serve the Complaint for Divorce to the other spouse within 10 days. The served spouse then has 35 days to respond.
Discovery: Both parties exchange all relevant information and documents, including financial records, property valuations, and any other pertinent information, to provide a clear picture of the marital assets and liabilities.
Settlement Negotiations and Trial: Attempts to settle the divorce through negotiations or alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation or collaborative divorce in lieu of trial. If an agreement cannot be reached, the case may proceed to trial, where a judge will make the final decisions on contested issues.
Final Judgment of Divorce: Once all issues are resolved, the court will issue a Final Judgment of Divorce., finalizing the divorce terms, division of assets, custody arrangements, and support obligations.

Understanding the process and requirements for divorce in New Jersey is essential for navigating this challenging time and protecting your rights and interests.

Will I Need to Go to Court?

While some divorces proceed to court, there are numerous other paths to a resolution that do not require court intervention or trial, such as:

Mediation: A neutral third party helps both spouses communicate and negotiate to reach a mutual agreement. Mediation is typically less adversarial and allows both parties to maintain control over the outcome.
Collaborative Divorce: Both parties hire specially trained collaborative lawyers and agree to resolve their issues outside of court. This process focuses on teamwork and problem-solving, preserves relationships, and is often less expensive.
Arbitration: An arbitrator acts like a private judge and makes binding decisions on disputed issues. Arbitration provides a quicker resolution than a trial and more privacy as the proceedings are not part of the public record.
Negotiation: Direct discussions between the spouses and both lawyers to settle disputes to potentially reach a quicker and less costly settlement.

Do I Need a Surf City Divorce Lawyer?

In most cases, making the divorce process most beneficial for you is with the help of experienced legal representation. Hiring Zeigler Law Group, LLC provides the following advantages:

Personalized guidance and legal advice.
Understanding of the legal processes.
Assistance in gathering necessary documents and information.
Identifying available processes for dispute resolution.
Strategic development of solutions tailored to your goals.
Representation in both informal and formal proceedings.