Family Law Attorney in Upper Saddle River, NJ

Thoughtful strategy for life changing family issues

Bergen County Counsel for Upper Saddle River Divorce and Custody Matters

Most people looking for a family law attorney in Upper Saddle River are reacting to something: a spouse who has retained counsel, a custody schedule that stopped working, or a restraining order served over the weekend.

Cowen & Jacobs is a woman-owned firm at Court Plaza South in Hackensack, twenty minutes down Route 17. Barbara E. Cowen has practiced family law in the Bergen County courts since 1981 and handles these matters personally.

Divorce here rarely involves simple numbers. Executive bonuses, restricted stock, and closely held businesses are usually on the table, and valuing them matters as much as dividing them.

I highly recommend this law firm. They are extremely knowledgeable, straight to the point, and truly get the job done." Daniel D.

What People is Saying About Our firm

Family Law Matters Handled

Family law cases rarely stay in one lane. A custody disagreement becomes a support dispute, and a support dispute becomes a motion to modify two years later.

Divorce

Our divorce lawyers handle everything from uncontested filings to high-conflict cases involving business valuations and deferred compensation. When the finances get complicated, we bring in forensic accountants and tax experts rather than accept the other side's numbers.

Property Division

New Jersey divides marital property by equitable distribution, not an automatic split down the middle. Real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, and stock awards each carry different tax and valuation questions.

Alimony

Courts weigh the length of the marriage, the standard of living established during it, and each spouse's earning capacity. In households where one spouse stepped back from a career, that history carries real weight in the analysis.

Child Custody

Legal custody, physical custody, and parenting time are decided separately, and each is measured against the child's best interests. We handle child custody disputes including parenting schedules, decision-making authority, relocation, and grandparents' rights.

Child Support

New Jersey applies the Child Support Guidelines, but the inputs are frequently contested. Disputes over variable income, overnight counts, and add-on expenses like tuition or activities drive most child support litigation.

Order Modifications

A custody or support order can be revisited when circumstances change substantially. Job loss, a significant income increase, remarriage, or a move that disrupts the parenting schedule are the usual triggers.

Domestic Violence

A temporary restraining order can be obtained through the Upper Saddle River Police Department and the on-call municipal judge outside court hours. The final hearing follows within about ten days in Hackensack, and we handle domestic violence matters on both sides of it.

Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement must satisfy New Jersey's Uniform Premarital Agreement Act to hold up later. Full financial disclosure and independent counsel for each party are what keep an agreement enforceable when it is eventually tested.

How Family Law Cases Typically Work

You will not be passed to an associate after the first meeting. Here is how a case moves from your first call to a final order.

Free consultation: We listen, tell you honestly where you stand, and explain the law that governs your situation. No pressure and no promises we cannot keep.
Case evaluation and strategy: We review financials, existing orders, and parenting arrangements, then build a plan around how the Bergen County Family Division actually decides matters like yours.
Negotiation or mediation first: Both partners are trained arbitrators and mediators. Agreements the parties reach themselves hold up better than orders imposed by a judge and generate far less post-judgment litigation.
Temporary orders when needed: Where support, parenting time, or safety cannot wait, we move for interim relief while the case proceeds.
Litigation when it counts: If a fair result is not available at the table, we file, argue, and try the case. We have prevailed on every appeal we have filed on a client’s behalf.
Resolution and follow-through: Cases end in a settlement agreement or a court decision, and we make sure the terms are enforceable and clear enough to live with.

What Drives the Cost of a Family Law Case

Family matters are billed by the time and work the case requires, and that varies enormously. Two divorces filed the same week can differ tenfold in cost.

The factors that move the number most:

Whether the divorce is contested or uncontested
Disputes over custody or parenting time
Business valuations, executive compensation, or multiple properties
Restraining order hearings running alongside the divorce
Post-judgment motions to modify or enforce an existing order

We explain exactly how billing works during the free consultation, before you commit to anything.

When Legal Guidance May Be Important

Legal guidance is often helpful when disputes involve contested divorce, custody or relocation issues, significant financial assets, or situations involving domestic violence protection.

Why Clients Trust This Family Law Team

Plenty of firms advertise experience. Here is where ours came from.

Bergen County roots. Barbara E. Cowen started out clerking for the Honorable Arthur Minuskin in the Bergen County Superior Court and sits on the Bergen County Ethics Committee.
A short walk from your courtroom. Our office sits beside the Justice Center where your case will be heard, so we can tell you how a particular judge tends to view a parenting plan.
A partner handles your case, start to finish. You get the attorney you met with, not a handoff to junior staff after the retainer clears.
Settlement first, litigation when warranted. As trained arbitrators and mediators we resolve most matters without a trial, and we litigate through the appellate courts when the case calls for it.
Complex finances are our normal. Deferred compensation, closely held businesses, and stock awards are common here, and we bring in forensic accountants to value them properly.
We know the northern Bergen commute. Whether you are in Upper Saddle River, Allendale, or Montvale, we schedule around a midday trip down Route 17.

Common Questions About Family Law

Where will my divorce case actually be heard?

At the Bergen County Justice Center on Main Street in Hackensack, through the Family Division. That is a twenty to twenty-five minute drive down Route 17, longer in morning traffic.

Can I get a restraining order at night or on a weekend?

Yes. Contact the Upper Saddle River Police Department, and an on-call municipal judge can issue a temporary order outside court hours. The final hearing follows in Hackensack within about ten days, so get counsel before then.

My children attend Northern Highlands. How does moving affect custody?

Upper Saddle River sends its high schoolers to Northern Highlands Regional in Allendale, so a move to a neighboring borough may not disrupt schooling the way leaving the region would. Courts weigh school continuity heavily, and that distinction shapes how a relocation request is argued.

How are bonuses, RSUs, and deferred compensation divided?

They are marital property to the extent they were earned during the marriage, but valuation and timing are where these cases are won. Unvested awards often need a forensic accountant to characterize correctly.

Do I have to be in Hackensack for every step?

No. Much of a case is negotiation, correspondence, and motion practice, and many conferences happen remotely. We reserve in-person appearances for the moments that need them.

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 Hackensack family lawyers 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.

Other Legal Services We Provide

Families Served Throughout Bergen County

Many families seeking guidance on divorce, custody, and financial support matters come from communities throughout Bergen County. These cases are typically handled through the Bergen County Family Court in Hackensack.

Speak With a Family Law Attorney About Your Situation

Ready to talk through your case? With more than 35 years of experience in the Bergen County family courts, the attorneys at Cowen & Jacobs are ready to help.

Call (201) 525-0025 or send us a message below.