When people get married they do so with the hope that it will last forever, but the reality is that over 50% of marriages end up in Divorce. With divorce rates being so high these days, a competent attorney must be familiar with family law issues such as separation, custody, support and visitation. Many couples, first timers as well as those already having been divorced, are now entering into Prenuptial Agreements, which can settle issues before they even come up. We have experience in negotiating and preparing such documents.

• Divorce and Annulment
  There are several grounds, or reasons, for which a Court may grant a divorce. At our first meeting with a new family law client we explain the available grounds and see which one(s) best fit the particular situation. The most common ground, No-Fault divorce, requires that the spouses live "separate and apart" for 18 months. Other grounds have shorter periods of separation but more strict requirements of proof. Also considered, where appropriate, is the less frequently used Annulment of the marriage.
  

• Spousal Support (Alimony)
  In many marriages today, out of necessity, both parties work out of the household. However, where one spouse gives up a career to take care of the family or earns substantially less than the other, he or she can receive Alimony permanently or for a limited duration, to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage. There are no firm rules that apply when it will be awarded, but usually the longer the marriage the more likely alimony will be granted.
  

• Custody, Visitation & Support
  When there are children involved they must be handled in special and sensitive ways making sure that their needs are met. In situations where the parents cannot agree on basic issues the Court will conduct a Best Interest investigation to decide with which parent the child/children should live and how visitation should be handled. It is usually best for the parties to come to an agreement between themselves, with the help of experienced attorneys. We have handle a number of Custody dispute cases and successfully worked out agreements with and without the court's assistance.
  

• Domestic Violence Act
  In extremely volatile family situations, when the health and well-being of family members are at stake, the police should be summoned immediately. Usually that will result in the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). Such cases will be brought to the attention of a Superior Court Judge, usually within 10 days, who will decide if a Permanent Restraint is necessary to protect either party. Often times, this is the first step in the process of separating and getting divorced.

At David M. Cohen, LLC we have many years of experience in handling Divorce and Family Law matters. Our goal is to quickly identify the issues, attempt to reach a resolution as soon as possible, reduce the agreement to writing in a Property Settlement Agreement and obtain the legal divorce with a minimal amount of time, expense and anxiety.