Mount Laurel Family Law Attorney

Family law cases are often some of the hardest.  Emotions run high, and everyone is better served by taking a breath and having lawyers negotiate for them.

Carl Taylor has over 15 years of experience helping people with divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, and other cases.  Never go it alone; rely on our experience and years of dedicated service, training, and education in family law to fight your case, no matter how complex.

For a flat-rate consultation with a family law attorney, contact Carl Taylor Law Firm LLC today at (609) 359-3345.

What Cases Do I Need a Family Lawyer for in Mount Laurel?

Family law is a broad area of law that covers not only the obvious things like divorce and child custody but also problems and issues you might not expect.  Related cases like child support and alimony are important to get legal advice on, as are cases involving prenuptial agreements, domestic violence, and so many more.

You should never resort to self-help in a family law matter.  Often, this can put you in violation of existing court orders or potentially jeopardize your case.  Especially in child custody cases, any misconduct can hurt your image in the judge's analysis and potentially hurt your claim for custody.

When you work with a lawyer on your case, you can rest assured that a professional with experience before the court is standing up for you.  We can guide you through what works and what does not and advocate for you.

This is always a better strategy than extra-legal attempts to stop child support payments or refuse an ex their court-ordered parenting time.

Do I Need a Lawyer for My Divorce Case?

You should never attempt to go through with a divorce without help from a lawyer.  Many couples try to file for divorce by using fillable forms they can find online, or they do not contest a divorce and hope everything will go their way.  These strategies have huge pitfalls that can ruin your finances or even lose you access to your children.

Using divorce forms from a website can leave you in a bind when it comes time to divide assets, split child custody, or assess spousal support.  These forms are not indicative of your individual situation, and it is important to have a lawyer go over your case and protect your rights during a divorce.

The same is true with uncontested divorces: even if you do not want to fight the divorce, there are issues where you should have an attorney protecting your rights:

• Asset division
• Child custody
• Child support
• Alimony
• Etc.

Additionally, if your spouse has a lawyer, then you should have one, too.  Never go into a divorce with unequal representation.

Can I Get Child Support Modified?

If you are already under a child support order or agreement, you can seek modification if the costs are too high or you believe you are being taken advantage of.  On the other side, you can also seek modification if you are not getting enough support and your children need more funding.

Child support can be modified by agreement if both parents sign off.  Your attorney can reach out to the other parent and their lawyers and negotiate terms to achieve the modification.  If they refuse to agree or negotiate, you can go to court for a modification.

When you file in court for a modification, you need to show a substantial change in circumstances that warrants a change in amounts.  For example, if you lost your job, came down with a serious health condition, or your rent went up drastically, you might prove you need a reduction.

Similar factors from the recipient can show a need for an increase.

Who Can Get Spousal Support in Mount Laurel, NJ?

It is a common stereotype that women get alimony/spousal support/spousal maintenance after a divorce and men cannot.  In reality, the law allows either spouse to get alimony, but the circumstances where it can be issued are important.

Alimony Pendente Lite

First, you can actually get alimony before the divorce is over.  This can help you afford to live separately, afford an attorney, and cover expenses while the divorce is pending.

Purposes of Alimony

Alimony can be issued on an open-ended basis to provide ongoing support, on a limited "rehabilitative" basis to support the spouse while they get on their own two feet, or for a limited time based on expected future finances.

Gender-Neutral Rules

There is no gender-based rule in New Jersey.  The factors used to determine whether and how much to pay in spousal support use gender-neutral language and can apply to either party.

Factors

There are factors to look at, including an open-ended factor that allows the judge to consider unlisted factors as well.  These primarily cover things like the parties' ages, health, potential job opportunities, and general financial situation, as well as the length of the marriage.

Where Do I File for Divorce?

If you recently moved to Mount Laurel, you may be able to file for divorce here rather than where the other party lives, even if they live out of state.

There are jurisdictional rules requiring you to be a New Jersey resident before filing.  However, these cases can be complicated when it comes to enforcing orders against an out-of-state resident, and you should always work with a lawyer.

How Do I Adopt My Stepchild?

One of the happiest cases we deal with is when a stepparent becomes a legal parent.  Adopting your spouse's child is often a simpler process than adopting from outside the family, but these cases are not always smooth.

If the child's other parent is still alive and still has custody, adopting a stepchild can be a drawn-out process that you should certainly have a lawyer help with.

Call for Help with Your Family Law Case Today

For a flat-rate case consultation with an experienced family law attorney, call Carl Taylor at (609) 359-3345.

Take the First Step?

Schedule a Flat Rate $250.00 Consultation with the firm and receive a 1-2 hour strategy session with Carl and a complementary copy of his book "Happily Even After: the Guide to Divorce in New Jersey.