Why Choose A Certified Matrimonial Attorney
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How do you choose the best legal representation for your needs?
It’s confusing trying to choose the attorney that is best suited for your case. You may have never needed an attorney before, so you ask a friend to refer you to someone, or Google attorneys and are bombarded with hundreds of options all claiming to be the best. How do you choose one attorney over another? Whether you need a matrimonial attorney or a divorce lawyer for personal family law matters, resources describing family law attorneys in New Jersey can help you understand the kind of representation that may be right for you. How can you be sure that you will choose the right attorney to handle your particular legal problem for your family?
The PDF above has been written to help you make that choice. It will answer your questions about choosing a qualified, highly trained attorney with expertise in the area of law relevant to your specific need. A family lawyer handles legal matters involving marriage, divorce, spouses, and children, because family law governs those relationships, though the exact services of family law attorneys can vary by state and local laws; for example, they may advise on domestic partnerships and related legal rights in New Jersey or prepare prenuptial and other marital agreements.
Finding the right attorney is to your benefit and to the attorneys as well, and learning about Certified Matrimonial Attorneys can illustrate the level of experience and training you may want to look for. Certified Matrimonial Attorneys represent only about 0.5% of New Jersey lawyers. That is why the Supreme Court of New Jersey has directed the Board on Attorney Certification to carry out the certification program in an effort to raise the level of competence of attorneys in this state. This program is designed to help you make an informed decision when seeking and selecting an attorney. To move forward, review the experienced team, learn their strategies, and schedule a consultation to decide whether you want a settlement-oriented or litigation-oriented attorney.
What is a certified matrimonial law attorney?
A Certified matrimonial law attorney is a designation granted by the New Jersey Supreme Court to attorneys who demonstrate sufficient experience, education, knowledge, and skill in matrimonial law practice, a branch of family law focused on marriage and divorce. Family law governs legal relationships between a spouse and children; in New Jersey, it includes divorce, child custody determinations based on the best interests of the child, child support, spousal support, division of assets and debts, parental responsibilities, parental rights, prenuptial agreements that define asset division before marriage and can address spousal support expectations, and related financial issues affecting parents, as well as procedures that address whether a child may have to speak with the judge in a custody case. When properly executed, they are enforceable under New York law and are especially important in high-asset marriages. The Supreme Court, through its Board on Attorney Certification, designates only those lawyers who apply for certification and who are able to meet the standards set by the Board and approved by the Court. A certified matrimonial attorney helps with support calculations, including applying New Jersey child support laws, negotiations, and property division, including marital property such as income earned during marriage and real estate, while accounting for each spouse’s future financial needs. New Jersey divorce laws control how child support obligations, child custody arrangements, and asset division are handled.
What does it mean when an attorney is certified?
A certified attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. Certified matrimonial attorneys guide the divorce process in New Jersey, where proceedings may be contested or uncontested, by providing legal representation, legal counsel, and tailored strategies, and by drafting and filing documents for divorce proceedings. They also negotiate settlements, communicate with the other spouse or counsel, and take legal action in court when litigation is necessary, protecting the rights and interests of the parties involved. In many cases, they can help clients pursue alternative dispute resolution options such as mediation or arbitration to resolve family law issues outside of trial.
A New Jersey attorney who is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a matrimonial law attorney must have:
- Been a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for over five years
- Fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements
- Demonstrated a substantial level of experience in matrimonial law
- Been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his or her work
- Taken and passed a written examination in matrimonial law
Why does New Jersey have a certification program?
The certification program helps the public find attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law, including matrimonial matters, that may call for tailored strategies aimed at settlements as well as trial-ready litigation skills during a divorce. Certification helps lawyers by giving them a way to make their experience known to the public and to other lawyers, while helping the public identify attorneys prepared to provide legal representation in negotiations, mediation, and courts. Certification also encourages the maintenance and improvement of attorney competence in specialized fields of law.
In what areas of law does the New Jersey Supreme Court certify attorneys?
At present, five specialty areas of practice are approved for certification by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, including civil trial law certification for attorneys handling complex civil cases; criminal trial law; matrimonial law; municipal court law; and workers’ compensation law.
How many attorneys are currently certified in New Jersey?
As of December 2016, out of approximately 75,000 active lawyers in New Jersey, 1,650 currently hold Board certification. Certified matrimonial lawyers represent only about 0.5% of New Jersey lawyers.
How does the consumer know if an attorney is Board certified?
Although many practicing matrimonial law attorneys advertise in newspapers, on television, and in the Yellow Pages, only attorneys certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court are entitled to use the designation “Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney” on their letterhead, business cards, Yellow Pages listings or in any of their advertisements.
What if I have more questions or need to find out more about certification?
Anyone in need of more information regarding the certification program should address his or her questions to:
Board on Attorney Certification P.O. Box 970 Trenton, NJ 08625-0970 609-984-3077
