Hackensack Divorce Lawyer: Experience On Your Side

Our Hackensack Family Law Attorneys Are Ready to Assist You

Cowen & Jacobs are divorce lawyers based in Hackensack serving families throughout New Jersey. Our family law practice is tailored to meet the needs and objectives of our clients, whether we are assisting them in seeking a negotiated settlement or aggressively representing their rights throughout the divorce process.

For over 35 years, our divorce attorneys have provided each of our clients with experienced and personalized legal representation and guidance through the often complex divorce process. We can help you, too.

Call Us Today to Discuss Your Case

Our clients feel secure when represented by our dedicated Hackensak divorce lawyers. We provide timely communications with each client with regard to all aspects of his or her case and to assure access to us after regular business hours, especially when an emergency arises.

Call us today for your free, no-obligation consultation to discover how our comprehensive, personalized approach to New Jersey divorce law can get you the settlement or judgment you deserve.

How The Hackensack Divorce Lawyers at Cowen & Jacobs Can Help You

Even a seemingly simple divorce can become complex and contentious, especially around issues such as child custody, parenting time, child support, alimony, closely-held family businesses, deferred compensation, and other family law matters.

Throughout our many years of experience representing divorce clients in Hackensack, we have found that agreements reached between the parties (rather than imposed by a judge) are more lasting and less likely to generate post-judgment litigation.

However, when agreement between the parties is not possible, we zealously litigate on your behalf at the trial and appellate levels, if required.

At Cowen & Jacobs, we always take the time to explain the legal framework of your case and encourage questions about the procedures and law governing the issues arising from your divorce.

Knowledge is power. Armed with knowledge and secure in our legal skills, our divorce clients feel safe and confident in pursuing all issues that may arise in their case.

What a Hackensack Divorce Lawyer Does to Help High Income/High Net Worth Clients

In a divorce where one or both spouses have a high income and have a substantial net worth, the complex financial issues that arise are less likely to be resolved entirely through alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation.

While we guide our divorce clients through the settlement process favored by the Family Part of the Superior Court, we are always prepared to skillfully and tenaciously litigate all issues not resolved through mediation.

Throughout our 35 years of legal experience, our family law attorneys have acquired extensive legal experience in highly sophisticated financial matters related to family law.

We explore the tax consequences of all financial decisions made within the context of a complex divorce and work with forensic accountants, financial advisors, tax attorneys, and other experts to ensure that all financial issues are fully identified and thoroughly examined.

Since New Jersey is an equitable distribution state and not a community property state, your equitable share of the marital estate may not be 50% — it could be more, or less. Our goal is always to ensure that you receive your equitable share of the marital estate.

We have a proven track record of success with simple and complex divorce cases in Hackensack, NJ, as well as cases throughout New Jersey, including Passaic County, Hudson County, and Essex County. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.

Why Clients Choose Us to Guide Them Through Their Divorce

You need a winning divorce attorney in Hackensack with the resources, knowledge, and experience required to help structure a comprehensive settlement or to litigate on your behalf in divorce court.

Cowen & Jacobs are those attorneys. Our clients choose us and refer their family and friends to us because we have the capabilities, experience, resources, and personal touch to ensure you feel supported and confident that we’ll fight tenaciously to get you the best possible legal outcome.

Family law is one of the most complex and emotionally challenging legal practices. Each divorce presents a unique combination of facts and circumstances that are addressed through Cowen & Jacobs’s specialized knowledge of the law and court procedures.

Additionally, though the parties getting divorced are often emotionally fragile and under stress, we understand that divorce affects more than just the couple; it may also negatively affect their children. We therefore try to avoid protracted litigation which is contrary to the children’s psychological best interests as well as being an emotional and financial drain on the parties.

Our primary focus at Cowen & Jacobs is representing your interests and helping you move forward with your life as financially sound a state as possible while trying to mitigate the stress on you and your children. We achieve both goals by keeping you informed of your case’s progress and provide you with prompt access to us during both business and after-business hours via telephone, email, and text messages.

Choose Cowen & Jacobs as your family law attorney for our experience, our ability and drive to get the best result for your family, and our concern for the well-being of our clients and their families.

Divorce FAQs

How is the Amount of Alimony Determined?

The amount and duration of alimony is governed by the guidelines set forth in the law N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23, as amended in 2014.

This statute addresses the many factors that determine whether spousal support is warranted, and if so, the amount and duration. In high income/high net worth cases, the amount of equitable distribution a spouse receives is often a significant factor in determining the amount of spousal support, or whether support is necessary.

If alimony is an issue, call our divorce lawyers for help. We have the expertise and experience to advocate for you with regard to your rights and obligations.

Are Prenuptial Agreements Enforceable in New Jersey?

The short answer is — yes as long as they comply with the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (NJ Rev Stat §§ 37:2-31 to 37:2-41) and are not deemed to be unconscionable. Prenuptial agreements used to be reserved for wealthy older people who, in anticipation of a second marriage, wanted to be assured that their assets would be inherited only by their children from the first marriage.

Today, regardless of a person’s age or marital history, it is common for prospective spouses to want to protect their hard-earned assets and business interests as well as set forth rights and obligations.

At Cowen & Jacobs, we provide you with a personalized, detailed explanation of the options available to you and explain the requirements under the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA) to which you must adhere for your agreement to be enforceable.

How Does the Divorce Process Work For Same-Sex Couples?

In New Jersey, the laws and procedures governing divorce proceedings for same-sex couples are exactly the same as for opposite-sex spouses. The issues of the case may vary to some degree from those found in spouses of the opposite sex.

Cowen & Jacobs has handled many same-sex divorces in New Jersey, including a high-profile celebrity divorce. Call us to discuss your divorce.

How Long Does a Divorce Take in New Jersey?

The goal of New Jersey Family Part judges is to enter a divorce decree within one year of the date of the filing of the Complaint. That goal is not always met.

Judges set discovery deadlines for the parties to identify and evaluate marital assets for the purposes of equitable distribution, to obtain experts’ reports, and to take depositions of the parties and their respective experts. However, discovery deadlines are often extended and the timeline is extended accordingly.

If you are unable to reach a settlement with your spouse on any or all issues, the judges in the Family Part will set a trial date. Trials in the Family Part are usually stretched out over weeks or even months, depending on a judge’s calendar, the availability of expert witnesses, and unforeseen interruptions. In that case, you can expect that your case will not be resolved for two years or more.

Is New Jersey a 50/50 State?

No — New Jersey is an “equitable distribution” state, meaning marital assets are not automatically split 50-50 between the parties but split “equitably” or fairly, considering all aspects of the marital estate.

To begin determining how marital property will be distributed, it is necessary to identify all assets acquired by the parties during the marriage held either in one or both parties’ names, as opposed to assets which are exempt from equitable distribution.

Exempt assets include assets acquired by each party before the marriage, and inheritances and gifts from third parties to only one spouse, kept in the recipient’s name and not commingled with marital assets. Next, if the parties are unable to agree, we engage the services of experts to give their opinion on the value of each marital asset.

In most cases, the main marital assets that have to be evaluated are the marital residence and all forms of retirement benefits including but not limited to pensions and 401(k)s. The latter does not require an expert evaluation, while the former may.

The value of a closely-held business or professional practices are most often determined by a forensic accountant as are the value of a spouse’s individual stock options and other deferred compensation.

There are times that a spouse has reason to suspect that the other spouse has hidden assets acquired during the marriage. In that instance, we use all available tools with which to uncover those assets, including issuing subpoenas and when financially warranted, engaging the services of a private detective

The equitable distribution of marital assets is often highly disputed. Call the Hackensack divorce lawyers at Cowen & Jacobs for our expertise in identifying, valuing, uncovering marital assets and for making sure that you receive your fair share.

How Does No-Fault Affect My Hackensack Divorce Proceedings?

The State of New Jersey allows both fault and no-fault divorces.

In a no-fault divorce, both parties list “irreconcilable differences” as grounds for the proceeding.

Fault divorces usually take much longer due to the fact that to be granted a divorce, one party, in addition to addressing all the issues in a divorce, must also prove by the preponderance of credible evidence one of the following occurred during the marriage:

• Mental or physical cruelty
• Substance abuse for at least 12 consecutive months during the marriage
• Adultery
Institutionalized for mental illness for at least 24 consecutive months
• Imprisonment for at least 18 consecutive months
• Abandonment for at least 12 months

The divorce lawyers at Cowen & Jacobs can explain to you in detail the best route to take in your particular case.

How Much Does A Hackensack Divorce Lawyer Cost?

The cost of a divorce lawyer varies based on whether you are navigating a contested or uncontested divorce. Contested divorces are often more contentious and litigation in court can take longer and cost more. Each new motion you file, the time you spend in court, retainer fees, and taking time off of work can start to add up.

Every lawyer has a different retainer or hourly fee based on their experience and the areas they serve. Ultimately, the more experience, the higher the fee.

At Cowen & Jacobs, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional legal representation in and out of the courtroom. We will fight tirelessly for the most favorable outcome and charge retainer fees that reflect our over 35 years of experience.

Contact Our Legal Team Today

Call or Fill Out The Form Below to Schedule Your Consultation

Are you ready to get started on your case with a consultation? With over 35 years of experience, our attorneys are ready to fight for you. Reach out to us today to see what Cowen & Jacobs can do for you.

NOTICE: The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

Talk With An Experienced Divorce Attorney
in Hackensack, NJ Today

Put our experience to work and get the guidance and advocacy you need in your divorce. Contact our divorce lawyers in Hackensack to discuss your case today.