Most people looking for a divorce lawyer in Allendale are not sure yet whether they want one. They want to know what would happen if they did. A family law attorney should be able to tell you that before you commit to anything.
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.
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“I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by Barbara Cowen during my divorce settlement.”
Contested and uncontested divorce handled through mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, or litigation. New Jersey is no-fault, so you do not need grounds beyond irreconcilable differences.
Legal and residential custody, parenting time, and relocation, decided under N.J.S.A. 9:2-4. We build parenting plans around the schedules families actually keep, not the ones that look tidy on paper.
We represent payors and recipients in 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 and modifications driven by income changes, retirement, or cohabitation. Marriages built on a single Manhattan salary raise different questions than two-earner households, and the analysis differs accordingly.
Orders are not permanent. A job loss, a relocation, a remarriage, or a child’s changing needs can all justify reopening custody, support, or alimony. We file these motions and defend against them.
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.
Past a house and two retirement accounts, divorce stops being about the law and starts being about valuation.
Patterns that come up often with clients here in 07401:
Sometimes, but it depends on whether you can buy out your spouse’s share and carry the mortgage and taxes alone. In 07401, where property taxes run high and equity is often the largest marital asset, that math decides more divorces than people expect.
One attorney cannot represent both spouses, and an agreement drafted by your spouse’s lawyer was written to protect your spouse. Even in a genuinely amicable split, having your own review before signing is worth it.
No. Support is calculated under New Jersey law wherever the income is earned. What does matter is how that income is structured, since bonuses, deferred compensation, and restricted stock are treated differently than base salary.
Not usually. Many case management conferences and motion hearings are handled virtually or by your attorney alone. You will typically appear in person for the Early Settlement Panel, any trial, and a Final Restraining Order hearing.
Not without the other parent’s consent or court approval. Courts weigh the reason for the move, the effect on the child, and the parenting time you propose in exchange. Pulling a child out of the Northern Highlands district is the kind of change a judge will scrutinize.
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"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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