If you are someone who is either going through a divorce or are ready to begin the process, you most likely have several concerns, including how to save on legal fees while keeping the details of your divorce private. Fortunately, there are several actions you may take, along with our firm’s assistance, that can help you save time, money, and protect your privacy. Below, our Bergen County divorce attorneys have compiled a short list of tips to help you do just that.
- One of the best routes a divorcing couple may take to keep their costs down and their divorce private is choosing mediation over litigation, primarily because mediation allows you and your spouse to settle your divorces without having to step into a courtroom. Additionally, litigation is notoriously costly, which is why hiring one of our experienced divorce mediators may automatically save you drastically in the long run.
- If you and your spouse are in a contested divorce and enter the litigation process, it is important that you understand New Jersey is a no-fault state, meaning you do not have to cite specific fault grounds in your divorce, such as adultery. Though an act such as adultery, in the eyes of many, should influence the outcome of a divorce, the truth is, citing such an act only gives your spouse the opportunity to respond, which can drastically prolong the process, costing you time and money. Additionally, fault grounds are part of the public record, which is why citing them is not your best option if you wish to keep your divorce private. Finally, you should understand that citing fault grounds rarely, if ever benefits the person citing them, which is why we generally advise clients to cite irreconcilable differences instead. In New Jersey, this takes the blame off either spouse and simply that you and your spouse have been experiencing problems in your marriage for at least six months, and that you are unable to repair the marriage.
- Another fantastic way to save money in a divorce is by drafting a prenuptial agreement before your marriage. Prenuptial agreements allow you to clearly lay out how your assets will be divided, as well as other necessary details should divorce in the future. That being said, if you are already married, it is too late to draft a prenuptial agreement, however, you may draft a postnuptial agreement, which is an agreement drafted during your marriage that essentially serves the same purposes.
In terms of privacy, one of the most important things you can do is to simply refrain from posting about your divorce, or your former spouse, on social media. Furthermore, though many people use social media to blow off steam, you should know that anything you post on social media can, and most likely will, be used against you in court. It may also inflame your spouse’s emotions, which will likely make your divorce more contentious and potentially drag out the process. For any additional questions regarding how to best proceed with your divorce, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Bergen County family law attorneys today.
Contact our experienced New Jersey firm
We understand how confusing certain legal issues can be, which is why we are dedicated to providing individuals with the compassionate, knowledgeable legal representation they deserve. Aronsohn, Weiner, Salerno & Kaufman has helped clients with various difficult legal challenges for over 40 years, which is why we know we have the experience needed to do the same for you. For experienced legal counsel regarding family law, litigation, business law, real estate, and criminal law, you know where to turn–contact Aronsohn, Weiner, Salerno & Kaufman today to schedule a consultation.