Finding a family law attorney in Allendale usually starts the same way: something has changed at home, and you need to know where you stand.
Your case will be heard at the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack, where economic issues route through an Early Settlement Panel and custody disputes go to mediation first. Our office sits ten minutes from those doors.
Schedule a free consultation to talk through your situation.
I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by Barbara Cowen during my divorce settlement.
Whether your case is contentious or amicable, we can help. Our attorneys handle cases involving the following family law matters for clients in Allendale, Hackensack, Teaneck, and other surrounding communities:
Our divorce attorneys handle contested and uncontested matters through mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, or litigation, covering equitable distribution, custody, support, and alimony.
We handle legal and residential custody disputes, parenting time, and relocation matters under N.J.S.A. 9:2-4, with parenting plans built to work for real-life school and commuting schedules.
We represent payors and recipients in+9 support orders and modifications under the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines (Rule 5:6A), which use both parents’ incomes, overnights, and childcare costs.
We advise on spousal support under N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23, covering all four alimony types (open durational, limited duration, rehabilitative, reimbursement) and modifications driven by income changes, retirement, or cohabitation.
We file and defend motions to modify custody, support, or alimony when a substantial change in circumstances (job loss, relocation, remarriage, or a child’s changing needs) justifies revisiting the order.
When a trial court ruling rests on an error of law or misapplication of the record, we handle appeals to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.
We represent victims and accused individuals at restraining order hearings under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 et seq.), where a final order carries lifelong consequences.
We draft and review prenuptial agreements under New Jersey’s Uniform Premarital and Pre-Civil Union Agreement Act (N.J.S.A. 37:2-31 et seq.), best handled well before the wedding to support enforceability.
Patterns that come up often with clients here in 07401:
The Bergen County Justice Center, 10 Main Street in Hackensack. Divorce is filed in the county where either spouse lived when the cause of action arose, so Allendale residents file in Bergen. You cannot choose a different county’s judges.
Not without the other parent’s consent or court approval. New Jersey courts apply the best-interests-of-the-child standard to relocation requests, weighing the reason for the move, the impact on the child, and the parenting time alternative offered.
Both spouses are required to complete a Case Information Statement under oath. When disclosure is incomplete or inaccurate, we use formal discovery, subpoenas, and where needed, forensic accountants to surface what’s missing. Courts can impose sanctions for nondisclosure.
Yes. NJ courts can award attorney’s fees during the case (pendente lite) when there is a disparity in income or resources, or when one spouse is acting in bad faith. Limited finances should not dictate outcome.
The Early Settlement Panel (ESP) is a court program where volunteer matrimonial attorneys review your case and recommend a financial settlement. Bergen County requires economic issues to go through ESP before a trial date is set, and most cases settle at or shortly after the panel.
Contact Our Legal Team Today
"When I was let go unfairly, Cowen & Jacobs not only explained my rights but made me feel like someone finally had my back."
Are you ready to get started on your case with a consultation? With over 35 years of experience, our child custody attorneys are ready to fight for you. Reach out to us today to see what Cowen & Jacobs can do to assist you in your journey through the legal system, which can be very stressful, particularly with regard to child related issues.
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At our women-owned Hackensack firm, every client works directly with Barbara or Sara, never a rotating cast of associates.
Licensed in New Jersey since 1981, Barbara graduated cum laude from Pace University School of Law and clerked for the Hon. Arthur Minuskin in the Bergen County Superior Court. She serves on the Bergen County Ethics Committee and focuses on divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence.
Admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1984, Sara earned her J.D. from Touro Law Center and her LL.M. from NYU. She co-chaired the Bergen County ADR Committee and spent fourteen years as a Superior Court arbitrator, informing a mediation-first approach to family law.
The hardest part is rarely the legal process itself, it’s the uncertainty before you understand it. A free consultation is space to ask the questions on your mind, hear how the law applies to your specific situation, and decide your next move with clarity. No commitment required. Just answers.
We are here for you and ready to help you resolve your legal issue. For a consultation discussing your case, call Cowen & Jacobs today.
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