Family Law And Divorce
Family law matters can be stressful with significant emotional and financial impact not only for those directly involved, but also for children and families. At Nigro, Pettepit & Lucas, LLP, we take the time to understand the individual goals and objectives of our clients, taking care to give meaningful advice that will serve in both the short and long term. Concerns ranging from financial security, preservation of assets and income, and the protection of children are assessed and taken into account to help our clients set priorities and make effective, strategic decisions. Depending upon your individual circumstances, our attorneys will counsel you as to steps that can be taken to secure your assets. We routinely work with accountants, actuaries, business evaluators, real estate appraisers and other professionals to understand and protect our client’s assets.
Nigro, Pettepit & Lucas, LLP represents clients in litigated family law matters as well as mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, and conciliation proceedings, depending on the goals and strategies identified with our client. Having a deep understanding of family law, our attorneys often serve as court-appointed Discovery Masters and Parenting Coordinators in divorce cases. Our lawyers are frequently called upon by the court to serve as guardians ad litem to protect the interests of minor children in contested disputes and in other family law matters.
Our attorneys provide knowledgeable, experienced representation and advocacy for our clients in all aspects of family law, including:
- Alimony
- Appeals
- Child Custody, Parenting Plans and Child Support
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Collaborative Law
- Contempt/Enforcement Actions & Defenses
- Division of property and assets
- Divorce
- High asset divorce
- Inherited property and assets
- Modifications/Contempt
- Paternity
- Prenuptial/Postnuptial agreements
- Protecting Business Interests
Contested, uncontested & collaborative divorce: Which is the right one for you?
At NPL we have a wide range of experience guiding our clients through each of the following types of divorce:
Uncontested Divorce: This is the type of divorce undertaken when both parties are in agreement regarding most of their divorce stipulations. The parties have already resolved issues such as division of assets, debts, property, spousal support, as well as any child custody or support concerns. Fewer instances of court intervention are needed, and therefore, an uncontested divorce is less costly in terms of time, money and frustration.
Contested Divorce: In a contested divorce the couple cannot come to terms regarding how the divorce should proceed. Intervention of the court or utilization of an alternative dispute resolution method is necessary. In the event that the parties are unable to reach an agreement short of trial, then a judge will decide the exact terms of the divorce, and his or her judgment will be final and binding unless an appeal is pursued.
Collaborative Divorce: This approach is in the same spirit as Mediation; however, it requires the parties to agree in advance that they will be bound by the process and that their collaborative counsel will be disqualified from representing them in the event that an agreement cannot be reached and litigation needs to be pursued.
Limited Assistance Representation (LAR)
Several of our attorneys are certified in Limited Assistance Representation (LAR). These attorneys can provide certain legal services in a cost-effective way, e.g., drafting court documents, attending court hearings, participating in a mediation or conciliation session, and reviewing potential agreements or settlements.
Family Law Mediation and Conciliation
For clients who wish to attempt to resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom, we can explore various methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), including conciliation and mediation. Unlike typical family law matters, which often involve an adversarial process and numerous court appearances, mediation can help resolve disputes outside of the courtroom. Mediation means that both parties and a neutral person (called a “mediator”) work together to overcome differences and to reach a result that is acceptable to both parties.
Mediation and conciliation is effective in a myriad of disputes, including divorce, child custody, paternity, holiday scheduling, property division, spousal support, modifications, or business interests.
Speak With Us To Learn More
The hallmark of our firm is exceptional personal service. We will provide you with guidance uniquely tailored to your specific circumstances.