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GOING TO COURT TO GET YOUR DIVORCE FINALIZED

10/19/2018

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All marriages and divorces have official paperwork attached to them.  I vividly remember going to the New York county clerk’s office and filling out the paperwork for my marriage license.  This was no easy task since I lived in Connecticut at the time. So, I had to take an entire day off of work just to do the paperwork for marriage.  You may have to do the same for your divorce.  Annoying- but necessary. In almost all situations, you have to go to court to have your divorce granted by the judge.

My clients often ask why does a couple who goes through divorce mediation and agrees on everything in the end still have to go to court. They don’t want to take time off of work and court seems so intimidating and unnecessary.  That is where the official paperwork comes in.  I have been told that your attorney, or the judge if you have no attorney, will show the court that you think the agreement is fair, understand everything you agreed to in the divorce decree, were not forced into the agreement, that it resolves all the issues in your case, etc. It seems like it is a safety net preventing you from rescinding your agreement down the road.  For example, you agreed to five years of alimony, but then five years later you want to return to court saying you didn’t really understand that alimony was for just five years, and now you want to extend it.  There are witnesses and signatures that say otherwise.  You previously stated and signed that you did understand and you did agree to these terms on the day you were in court.  You both need to sign the divorce decree as well.  Official paperwork. 

It may be an inconvenience to have to take off of work to get divorced.  But it is the only time you will have to go to court if you utilize divorce mediation.  Westfield Mediation, LLC, offers different hours each day to best suit our clients needs, including evening hours.  We can schedule appointments around your busy schedule.  If you litigate your divorce you have to go to court many times and take many days off of work.  You can be one and done with divorce mediation. 
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For more information on divorce mediation, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M. Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, at Westfield Mediation, LLC at 908.913.0373.  View our website at  www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at info@westfieldnjmediation.com. 
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Affordable divorce

10/5/2018

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“Can I afford to get divorced?” A lot of people ask us that, and the answer is generally “Yes.”  In divorce mediation, at Westfield Mediation, LLC, we show our clients how they can afford to go through the divorce process, set up separate homes, and move on to a happier, less stressful place.

First, the process. While going through a divorce is never free, if you use divorce mediation, instead of costly lawyers for adversarial litigation, you end up paying about 10-20% of the price for a better, quicker process.


Second, establishing two homes.  In most cases, creating two households from one costs money, but it does not have to be overwhelming. In divorce mediation, we guide our clients through the steps to ensure that they each have a new place to live that they can afford.  We help divorcing couples lay out their assets, debts and budgets, so that they know what they have, and what they can reasonably spend in the short run.  The fear of separating some expenses like health insurance, car insurance, credit card payments, etc., sometimes keeps couples in an unhappy marriage.  However, separating expenses does not have to mean doubling them. There are ways to deal with these expenses that make them more affordable.  


Third, moving forward. Focusing on the expenses of the divorce process sometimes blinds couples to the costs of staying in an uncomfortable, dissatisfying home situation. Living with conflict contributes to stress and has a negative effect on emotional and physical health. Going through a divorce to move forward with your life can easily outweigh some of the financial costs of the process.  
For more information about divorce mediation, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M. Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, at Westfield Mediation, LLC at 908.913.0373.  View our website at www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at info@westfieldnjmediation.com. 

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    Authors

    Michelle Weinberg, M.Ed.,LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with many years of experience working with couples.

    Randi M. Albert, JD, is an attorney with experience in family law and public service.

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    Division Of Assets And Liabilities
    Divorce Attorney
    Divorce Mediation Process
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    Parenting
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