Depending on the issues that need to be resolved in your divorce, you may need to rely on the services of an expert to protect your rights and assets.  Disputes frequently occur between spouses over issues such as alimony, child custody, parenting time and distribution of marital property.  The main expert in any divorce case is the divorce attorney, who will act as the client's advocate by giving advice, assisting with legal procedures and providing legal representation in court.  Although individuals can choose to represent themselves in a divorce, obtaining legal representation is highly recommended, especially if you are facing a court hearing.  Even if you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement without going to court, you should have an attorney review any proposed settlement to ensure that your rights are protected.  You may also need the services of a Monmouth County divorce mediator or Monmouth County collaborative divorce attorney in order to dissolve your marriage without the court's intervention.   These experts work privately with the couple, facilitating communication and offering ideas as needed.  In addition to helping you take control over the terms of your divorce, a Monmouth County mediator or Monmouth County collaborative divorce lawyer can save you considerable time and money compared to traditional litigation.

If traditional litigation is your best option, there are experts that your attorney will recommend in order to establish evidence and strengthen your case.  For instance, if you and your spouse cannot agree on a child custody agreement, a child custody expert, such as a family therapist may be needed to determine the most appropriate arrangement, given your child's needs and preferences.  Testimony from a child custody expert may also be used when a parent seeks sole physical and legal custody, due to extreme circumstances that may put the child in danger.  Aside from child custody, experts are frequently hired to help spouses work out their finances, mainly in the form of dividing marital assets and negotiating domestic support payments.  Alimony, for example, is often settled by the court since many couples are unable to agree on a fair amount or duration of payments.  Each party may need to refer to an accountant to calculate their income, assets and monthly expenditures, as well as put together any financial documents needed by the court.  In terms of property division, New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, meaning that all martial assets are divided as fairly as possible between the spouses.  However, there may be disputes over which assets are marital versus separate, especially when it comes to commingled assets, such as joint bank accounts and retirement plans.  Retirement accounts are incredibly complicated to divide, since they generally consist of contributions before and during the marriage.  Expert knowledge is needed for calculating figures such as the non- participating spouse's equity, the current fair market value of the account, and the account's projected future value in the case of pension plans.  These figures need to be determined by an actuary, who is an expert on statistics and financial theory.

Monmouth County Divorce Attorney

To find out all the available expert services that can help you in your Monmouth County divorce, please speak with Partner Vincent C. DeLuca, Esq. of Villani & DeLuca.  Mr. DeLuca is a family law attorney and state certified economic mediator, and has been certified as a Matrimonial Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  He has the knowledge and experience to advise you on any aspect of your Monmouth County divorce, including the use of child custody and financial experts.  Please call (732) 965-3525 to schedule a free initial consultation!