We emphasize compassionate and comprehensive services in trial advocacy, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, child custody and support, spousal maintenance and property division. We also represent parties seeking post-divorce modifications and enforcement. Because these matters often present rapidly changing circumstances, both emotional and financial, our firm prides itself on providing personal attention and prompt responses to inquiries and concerns.

Our firm has a particular sensitivity to those issues concerning families and children and seeks to minimize the stress of the circumstances. Being an experienced child advocate, I can help you determine the appropriate resources to resolve conflicts concerning child custody, support and visitation.

We have extensive expertise in working with experts such as financial evaluators, accountants, real estate appraisers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, psychiatrists and psychologists. Our goal is to use experts only when it is appropriate and cost effective.

You should feel comfortable with your representation. In our practice, there is no fee for an initial consultation. We want you to make sure you are hiring the appropriate representation for your needs.

There is no typical divorce. Each divorce presents a variety of complex issues upon which you and your spouse will have to reach agreement. An uncontested divorce can take as little as 60 days. The average divorce in our practice takes approximately a year.

Divorce becomes expensive when people fail to prioritize their needs and/or are unwilling to discuss all available options to come to a prompt resolution. Working cooperatively minimizes the costs of divorce. It greatly helps your case if you have all your financial information for the past three years. In addition, you can minimize your costs by promptly responding to your attorney’s inquiries and requests for documents.

The initial court filings require a great deal of financial information. You should bring copies of the following:

• Most recent state and federal tax returns
• Your last 3 pay stubs
• The Complaint and any other documentation from the opposing party

If your case is post judgment, in addition to the documents listed above, you should bring the following:

• Judgment of Divorce
• Settlement Agreement
• Any documentation from the opposing party
• Diary of visitation, if any

Our firm is delighted to help you complete your family through the adoption process. We provide comprehensive services in a variety of adoption circumstances; agency adoptions, step-parent adoptions, relative adoptions and adoptions with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P, formerly DYFS).

The time frame for completing an adoption varies with the type of adoption and whether it is a contested or uncontested adoption. Some of this will depend on the speed with which your family can complete a home study and the Court’s schedule. With adoptions of foster children, it can depend on the Division’s workload and the court schedule.

Adoption costs vary with the complexity of the adoption circumstances. My philosophy and goal is to provide high quality services at reasonable rates to help families through the adoption process. Like other legal services, adoption costs can be reduced significantly by cooperating with your attorney and providing prompt responses to their requests.

In our firm, the fee for a typical uncontested private adoption is approximately $2,000. Attorney fees for a foster care adoption are covered by the Division. There is no charge for an initial consultation.

You should bring all documentation from the placement agency or Division. In the case of a step-parent, relative or grandparent adoption, you should also bring the child’s birth certificate. In the event that it is necessary to obtain agreement from a birth parent, you should bring that birth parent’s contact information, if known.

Helpful Links

State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families

State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families (in Spanish)

National Council for Adoption

While Child Support is generally calculated pursuant to the Child Support Guidelines, there are circumstances that warrant changes to the amount of support ordered. Changes in economic situations, age of the children, children going to college or becoming emancipated can all impact the amount of child support that is appropriate. We can assist in reviewing those factors and helping you to determine what the appropriate amount of child support should be based on your circumstances.