New Jersey Divorce Litigation

By: Carl A. Taylor III, Esq.

I recently discussed uncontested divorces in New Jersey.  This post will discuss New Jersey divorce litigation.

Litigation

New Jersey divorce litigation begins with one of the parties filing a Complaint for divorce.  The litigation process means utilizing the Court system to a much greater extent than one would if they attempted to mediate their divorce.

Although negotiations will be ongoing, the New Jersey divorce litigation process is in opposite to the uncontested divorce process, which continues to grow in popularity.  Once one of the parties files a Complaint for divorce, there are certain steps that must be followed.  If the parties cannot resolve their matter, eventually a trial will be scheduled.  Although the vast majority of New Jersey divorce cases are resolved prior to trial, the trial is the ultimate destination of a litigation track divorce.

The New Jersey litigation track often provides far less freedom than if the parties attempted to mediate their divorce dispute.  The parties are now part of a formal process–one that can at times seem institutional and unmoving.  There are various steps in a divorce litigation, and a qualified New Jersey divorce attorney can assist you in this process.  Some of the major steps include:

• Pleadings
• Discovery
• Negotiation Attempts
• Trial