Same Sex Divorce
Same Sex Divorce Attorneys
Marriage equality has come a long way in the past few decades for New Jersey citizens. Our state has transitioned from zero recognition for same sex unions, to domestic partnerships, to civil unions, and eventually legalizing same sex marriage. Before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in the historic 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, New Jersey had made same sex marriages legal in 2013.
Of course, any marriage comes with the risk of ending in divorce. If you or a loved one needs legal assistance pertaining to a civil union dissolution, same sex divorce, or domestic partnership dissolution, our attorneys are here to help.
The same sex divorce attorneys of Jacobs Berger understand that while no two divorces are alike, many involve commonalities. We take pride in using our experience to offer dynamic and personalized legal solutions for those going through same sex divorce. Our firm views each divorce case as a new opportunity to help our clients and their families rebuild their lives with a solid foundation for the future.
Call our office today for a confidential and comprehensive Strategic Planning Session with one of our qualified and experienced same sex divorce attorneys to learn more about how we can address your individual needs and concerns.
Same Sex Divorce Lawyers Discuss Divorce vs. Civil Union Dissolution
Civil unions are not marriages. Although individuals who have entered into civil unions carry many of the same benefits and the same responsibilities as those who are married, it is legally different. Same sex marriages, on the other hand, carry no legal distinction when compared to different sex marriages. Another way of stating this is that civil union dissolutions are not divorces. A major difference between civil unions and marriages is how they are recognized by the federal government. Even after same sex marriage has been upheld at the federal level, civil unions are not recognized.
Despite all of this, same sex divorces, civil union dissolutions, and opposite sex divorces are much more similar than they are different. In fact, they are so similar that many New Jerseyans within civil unions have opted to remain unmarried since 2015. It is also important to note that civil unions which were entered into between 2007 and 2013 are still valid, and have not been automatically changed to marriages.
For same sex couples who were involved in a civil union and did choose to get married at a later date, you may be eligible to claim that your legal relationship began before your marriage. This can have an impact on issues such as division of assets or alimony. There is no guarantee of this, and each case will be considered on a one-off basis. For more information regarding your legal standing, speak to our Madison same sex divorce attorneys today.
Divorce Attorneys Discuss Disputes in Same Sex Divorces
As mentioned above, the issues which our East Hanover divorce attorneys might expect to see in any divorce case will hold true for same sex divorce. The many considerations of divorce proceedings in New Jersey may include:
Equitable Distribution of Assets
All divorces involve material assets. These can include owned businesses, complex assets, accrued debts, retirement assets, property division, and much more. New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, which means that for divorcing couples, their assets will be divided fairly, though often times not equally.
Child Custody
Amongst the most contentious of divorce disputes involve child custody. Our attorneys understand that the wellbeing of children is often the number one priority of parents. To keep conflict resolution civil and productive, many clients consider alternatives to litigation based divorce when children are involved, including mediation and arbitration.
Child Support
Child rearing is expensive. When a married couple becomes a single parent, the everyday expenses of food, clothing, medical bills, daycare, schooling, and more can quickly become overwhelming. Child support for same sex couples may be determined by factors including financial standing of each co-parent, child custody arrangements, and the living situations of each co-parent.
Alimony and Spousal Support
There are in fact five types of alimony arrangements which may pertain to same sex divorces in New Jersey. These range from temporary alimony during divorce proceedings to more long term agreements for longer lasting marriages.
Contact our Gay and Lesbian Divorce Attorneys Today
At Jacobs Berger, our same sex couples divorce attorneys see our role as the architects of our clients’ new family structure. Our firm is built on the belief that divorce does not need to be a long, drawn out, painful process for our clients. We are available to our clients day and night, and our clients will find that we are both accessible and responsive to all communications.
If you or a loved one is in the midst of a same sex divorce or civil dissolution, please contact us online or call our Morristown offices by dialing (973) 354-4551 today for a comprehensive and confidential Strategic Planning Session with a member of our qualified divorce legal team today.
