How is the amount of alimony determined?

Courts in New Jersey consider many factors when setting alimony, including the length of the marriage, income of each spouse, standard of living, and future earning potential. Judges also look at contributions made to the household, such as childcare or supporting a spouse’s career. In high net worth cases, the distribution of marital property often influences the amount and duration of support. Our attorneys help clients understand these rules and advocate for fair outcomes.

Are prenuptial agreements enforceable in New Jersey?

Yes, as long as the agreement follows the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (NJ Rev Stat §§ 37:2-31 to 37:2-41). For a prenup to be valid, both parties must have entered it voluntarily, with full financial disclosure. If a court finds an agreement to be unfair or created under pressure, it may be set aside. We review prenuptial agreements carefully to confirm enforceability and protect your interests.

How long does a divorce take?

Uncontested divorces in New Jersey may be resolved within a few months. Contested cases often take longer, especially if there are disputes over custody, finances, or property. In Bergen County, judges aim to complete divorces within one year, but delays can occur if experts are involved or trial dates are pushed back. Our team keeps you informed so you know what to expect.

Is New Jersey a 50/50 state?

No. New Jersey uses equitable distribution, which means assets are divided fairly but not always equally. Courts look at the length of the marriage, each spouse’s financial situation, and contributions to the household. Our role is to make sure all property, from homes to retirement accounts, is valued correctly and divided in a way that reflects your rights.

How does no-fault divorce affect my case?

No-fault divorce allows couples to end their marriage by citing irreconcilable differences without proving wrongdoing, which can reduce conflict and speed up the process. Even with a no-fault filing, you still need to resolve custody, support, and property matters. Our attorneys explain which path fits your circumstances and guide you through the process.

How much does a Hackensack divorce lawyer cost?

The cost depends on whether your divorce is contested or uncontested. Simple cases usually cost less, while contested divorces require more time in court and may involve experts, which increases expenses. At Cowen & Jacobs, we provide clear information about retainers and hourly fees during your consultation so you know what to expect from the start.

Call Us Now To Schedule A Consultation

(201) 525-0025

(201) 525-0025

Divorce Lawyer in Fort Lee, NJ

Protecting Your Future with 35+ Years of Family Law Experience

Divorce Guidance Shaped Around Fort Lee Households

Hiring a divorce lawyer in Fort Lee often means untangling more than a marriage: a co-op or condo in one of the borough’s high-rises, a salary earned in Manhattan, children settled in Fort Lee schools, and sometimes family or assets overseas.

Cowen & Jacobs is a women-owned firm where Barbara Cowen has practiced New Jersey family law since 1981. Fort Lee divorces are heard in the Bergen County Family Division in Hackensack, and we know how its judges and settlement panels handle custody, support, and property.

Ready to take the first step? Schedule a free, confidential consultation today.

How Your Divorce Unfolds, Step by Step

New Jersey courts aim to finish most divorces within 12 months. Agreement speeds things up; custody fights and complex assets slow them down.

Confirming you can file here. One spouse needs a full year of New Jersey residency, except in adultery cases. If you moved from Manhattan or abroad, we confirm the dates. Custody is usually decided by the state where the children lived for the past six months.
Choosing the grounds. Most clients file on irreconcilable differences (six months of breakdown) or after 18 months apart. N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2 also lists fault grounds like adultery and extreme cruelty, which usually add cost without changing the property split.
Filing and service. We file with the Bergen County Family Division and make sure the summons issues within 60 days, with extra steps if your spouse lives in New York or overseas.
Your spouse’s response. They have 35 days to answer and may counterclaim. No response can lead to a default judgment.
Case Management Conference. A judge sets contested issues, deadlines, and the schedule, often by video.
Financial disclosure. We prepare your Case Information Statement. For Fort Lee clients, that often means New York pay and bonus records, co-op stock certificates or condo deeds, and foreign accounts.
Early Settlement Panel. If negotiation stalls, a panel of experienced family law attorneys recommends terms. It isn’t binding, but it signals how a judge may see your case.
Economic mediation. The first two hours are free. Domestic violence cases aren’t mediated, and suspected hidden assets get full discovery first.
Settlement or trial. Most cases end with a Marital Settlement Agreement in your Final Judgment of Divorce. Otherwise, a Family Division judge decides what’s left.

"Navigating our family issue was incredibly challenging, but their professionalism and integrity made a world of difference." — Hear From Our Clients

Supporting You At Every Step: Our Trusted Legal Services

Every divorce comes down to decisions about children, support, property, and safety. Because divorce touches nearly every corner of family law, we look at the whole picture from the first meeting.

Child Custody & Parenting Disputes

Judges decide custody on the best interests of the child, and in Fort Lee that often means planning around a Manhattan commute and the school calendar. We build custody and parenting time arrangements covering legal and physical custody, whether one parent keeps the apartment and the other moves to Englewood or stays nearby.

Child Support

The New Jersey Child Support Guidelines start with both parents' income, then factor in parenting time, health insurance, and childcare. When one parent earns a Manhattan salary with bonuses or equity pay, we make sure the full figure counts. If income changes later, we can ask the court to modify the child support order.

Alimony & Spousal Support

New Jersey recognizes open durational, limited duration, rehabilitative, and reimbursement alimony. Courts weigh marriage length, income, earning capacity, and the marital standard of living. For marriages under 20 years, alimony generally cannot last longer than the marriage. We assess which type applies, how much, and for how long.

Property Division & Asset Protection

New Jersey divides marital property through equitable distribution: fairly, not always equally. Many Fort Lee couples own a co-op, which is corporate shares, so a buyout usually needs board approval, unlike a typical divorce in Teaneck built around a house. For business interests or accounts abroad, our high-asset divorce work brings in forensic accountants.

Prenuptial Agreement Review

An existing prenup can shape property division, support, and other financial terms. We review whether it was properly executed, whether both spouses gave full financial disclosure, and whether it holds up under New Jersey law, then show you how it may affect your settlement.

Domestic Violence Protection

If you are in danger, a temporary restraining order can be issued the same day, including after hours through the Fort Lee Police Department and an on-call judge. We guide you through the restraining order process and represent you at the final hearing, where custody, support, and the home can also be addressed.

Why Fort Lee Families Trust Us With Their Divorce

Many Fort Lee residents first call a Manhattan firm because that’s where they work. But a Fort Lee divorce is decided under New Jersey law in the Bergen County Family Division, the same courthouse our Hackensack divorce lawyers appear in regularly.

A family law career that began inside a Bergen County courtroom. Barbara Cowen clerked for the Hon. Arthur Minuskin in the New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County, before opening her practice.
Standing in the local legal community. Barbara serves on the Bergen County Ethics Committee, which reviews grievances against attorneys in the county.
Settlement experience from the neutral’s chair. Sara Jacobs spent 14 years as an arbitrator at the Superior Court in Bergen County and co-chaired the Bergen County ADR Committee. That background shapes how we prepare for the Early Settlement Panel and mediation.
A named partner from start to finish. Your case stays with Barbara or Sara, reachable by phone, email, and text, never handed off to junior staff.

Answers for the Decisions You’re Weighing Now

I live in Fort Lee but work in Manhattan. Do I file in New York or New Jersey?

Where you live decides it, not where you work. Fort Lee residents who meet New Jersey’s residency rule file in Bergen County, and New York wages count like any other income.

Can I stay in our apartment while the divorce is pending?

Often, yes. Either spouse can ask the court for temporary exclusive use of the home. In a co-op, the proprietary lease and building rules also matter, so we review them before you make a move.

Can I move abroad with our children after the divorce?

Not without the other parent’s consent or the court’s permission. Judges decide relocation based on the children’s best interests, and an international move raises questions about enforcing parenting time in another country.

Will the court provide an interpreter if English isn't my first language?

Yes. New Jersey courts provide interpreters at no cost for court proceedings, including in Korean. Tell us at your consultation so one is requested for every appearance.

We married outside the U.S. Can we divorce in New Jersey?

Generally, yes. A marriage legally performed in Korea, Japan, or elsewhere is recognized here, so you can divorce once the residency requirement is met. A prenup signed abroad is reviewed under New Jersey standards and may need a certified translation.

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.

Proudly Supporting Families Throughout New Jersey

We serve families in Fort Lee, Hackensack, Teaneck, Englewood, Paramus, Maywood, Allendale, Demarest, Ridgewood, and communities throughout Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, and Essex Counties.

Allendale
Englewood
Fort Lee
Garfield
Hackensack
Haworth
Montvale
Ridgewood
Teaneck
Upper Saddle River

Your Trusted Partners Through Divorce: Our Attorneys

Barbara E. Cowen

Barbara has been practicing family law in New Jersey since 1981. She holds a J.D. cum laude from Pace University School of Law, a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati, and completed a clerkship with the New Jersey Superior Court. The clients who know her best point to the same quality: she combines deep legal knowledge with genuine care for the outcome of every case.

Sara Jacobs

Sara brings a neutral’s view of how disputes settle. She served 14 years as an arbitrator at the Superior Court in Bergen County and co-chaired the Bergen County ADR Committee from 1989 to 2000. Her own practice focuses on employment and personal injury law, and she holds an LL.M. from NYU School of Law.

Before You Move Out or Sign Anything, Get a Plan

Leaving the apartment, agreeing to a schedule over text, or signing a draft settlement can shape your case before it starts. A free, confidential consultation shows you where you stand and what to do first.

Call Cowen & Jacobs at (201) 525-0025 or use the form above to schedule.

We are here for you and ready to help you resolve your legal issue. For a consultation discussing your case, call Cowen & Jacobs today.

Attorney Advertising. The transmission and receipt of information contained on this website, in whole or in part through this website, does not constitute or create a lawyer-client relationship between Cowen & Jacobs and any recipient.

Disclaimer | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Web Design by Sagapixel

Call Now Button