New Jersey law generally allows you to end your marriage for a variety of reasons including infidelity, emotional abuse or simple boredom. There are multiple legal options such as mediation, litigation or private talks with your spouse. It’s possible that you’ll use a combination of these methods as you seek to end your marriage as amicably, affordably and quickly as possible.
Choosing a pathway to divorce
The method that you’ll use to end your marriage depends on a number of factors such as your relationship with your spouse and if you are a parent of young children. If you have an amicable relationship with your spouse, mediation may be an effective way to negotiate a divorce settlement. This may also be true if you have children that you want to shield from the toxic elements of a divorce. However, if you don’t communicate well with your spouse, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit.
Quick and cheap may not always be best
Mediation may be preferable to litigation because you’ll typically spend less time and money creating a divorce settlement. However, rushing through the divorce process may result in a deal that doesn’t abide by state guidelines. Furthermore, you may agree to a deal that denies you alimony payments or other resources that you might want or need to survive as a single person.
Why litigation isn’t always the answer
When you ask a judge to craft a divorce order, you cede control of the negotiation process. This means that you may lose out on parenting time or a portion of marital property because the judge doesn’t agree with your assertion that you’re fit to be a guardian or that an asset was acquired after the marriage began.
A divorce will have a significant impact on the lives of your children. Therefore, it’s important to consider their needs as well as yours when determining whether to take your case to court as opposed to pursuing less antagonistic methods.