Atlantic Highlands is a small Monmouth County town located along the Jersey Shore with breathtaking views of the lower New York Bay and Manhattan in the distance. Its hills include the highest point, Mount Mitchell, on the eastern seaboard south of Maine. The borough derives its name from its location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The borough is part of the Bayshore Regional Strategic Plan, which is comprised of nine towns seeking to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing traditional downtowns, and residential neighborhoods. As such, Atlantic Highlands is home to some of the area's finest restaurants and boutique hotels. The town offers a strong maritime presence. It offers pleasure, fishing and even ferry boats that take commuters to New York City. The population of the town has dwindled to 4,300 residents.
Planning for Divorce in Atlantic Highlands
Once you decide that you are ready to file for divorce, there are preliminary steps you should take prior to approaching your spouse. You should formulate a plan about where you will live, how much money you anticipate having, and creating an inventory of all assets and liabilities that you believe will be subject to distribution. Additionally, if you have children, thought must be given to the logistics of where they will live and what you envision the parenting schedule to look like. It is also advisable to start setting aside money to cover the costs of hiring an attorney. Once that foundation is set, you should contact a matrimonial attorney in your area to help facilitate those goals. The attorneys at Villani & DeLuca, P.C. have an aggregate of 60 years of experience navigating the nuances of a divorce. As a local Ocean County firm, the attorneys spend the majority of their time, handling all aspects of family law related matters for Ocean County and Monmouth County residents. If you live in Atlantic Highlands and are contemplating a divorce, contact Villani & DeLuca, P.C. to help you start the process.
Equitable Distribution in New Jersey
New Jersey is guided by the principles of equitable distribution which means that assets and liabilities are not automatically divided equally, but rather equitably. Property that is subject to distribution is often any property that has been acquired by either party from the date of the marriage until the date the Complaint for Divorce is filed. Pre-marital property, property acquired prior to the date of the marriage, is presumed not to be subject to distribution. Courts will often times identify those assets that are subject to distribution, such as real property, bank accounts, retirement accounts and value them. Once the assets are identified and valued the court is given wide discretion in determining the most equitable way to distribute the assets. Courts often look to various factors to determine what is fair and equitable. The most common factors reviewed by the Court are the duration of the marriage, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, the age and health of the parties. It is important to note that should you avail yourself of the mediation process, you will not be bound by the laws of equitable distribution. You and your spouse will be able to divide your assets and liabilities in any fashion that works for you both. If you are contemplating divorce, let the law firm of Villani & DeLuca, P.C. help you isolate any assets that may be subject to distribution.
Divorce Attorney in Atlantic Highlands
Managing partner, Vincent C. DeLuca, Esq., has over 23 years of experience handling all aspects of family law. He began his career as a law clerk in Monmouth County to the Honorable Raymond Hayser, J.S.C. (retired). He is now certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Attorney and as a certified divorce mediator. Furthermore, he is often times assigned complex and routine cases to mediate by judges in both Ocean and Monmouth counties.