In this short video, Bergen County attorney (in divorce, family, criminal, employment law) Eric J. Aretsky explains why it is a good idea to have an attorney represent you in your municipal court case. Eric Aretksy touches on what you can expect from the municipal court process, including the plea bargain process, what to expect in an initial consultation with your attorney, attorney retention, entering your not guilty plea, entering a discovery,and when you might move to a trial, if necessary. He describes the consequences you could be facing for a municipal traffic or criminal violation, including increased insurance premiums, or jail time in the case of criminal charges. If you have been arrested on a criminal charge including DUI, possession with intent to sell, white collar crimes, burglary, assault, or any of a range of other crimes, and you are going before the municipal court, you will want to have an attorney to represent you. Contact us for no cost, no obligation consultation:

Aretsky & Aretsky Attorneys at Law 3 University Plaza Dr. Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-580-3411 aretskylawfirm@optimum.net https://www.aretsky-law.com/

Photo Credit Flickr

On the heals of divorce fillings, Shellie Zimmerman made a call to 911, accusing her estranged husband, George Zimmerman, of threatening her with a gun and punching her father in the nose. She later changed her story and decided not to press charges. Prosecutors could still press charges based on the videos from the home, and the squad cars that responded to the call. You can read more about the 911 call in the Associated Press article dated September 9. Click here for the full article.

Chances are we have not heard the last of the Zimmerman family. END WNStoryRelatedBoxAccording to an Associated Press articles on September 5, “George Zimmerman’s wife filed for divorce Thursday, less than two months after her husband was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin and a week after she pleaded guilty to perjury in his case. Shellie Zimmerman made the decision because of “disappointment,” her attorney, Kelly Sims, wrote Thursday in a short email to The Associated Press.

The 26-year-old Zimmerman told ABC’s “Good Morning America” last week that she was having serious doubts about remaining married. The interview came just after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor perjury charge for lying during a bail hearing following her husband’s arrest for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Her husband, who was acquitted on second-degree murder and other charges in July, wasn’t in the Sanford, Fla., courtroom as she was sentenced to a year’s probation and 100 hours of community service – even though she supported him and lied about their finances.” Click here for the full article. If you are interesed in reading about George Zimmerman’s recent encounters with the police over speeding, click here.

Crazy About Your New Spouse, BUT You Want a Prenup! In this day of multiple marriages, we are all entering into our nuptials with a lot more “history.” We may have substantial assets, large incomes, or one or both parties might have large outstanding debt. It may not be romantic, but many couples today are choosing to be 100% committed on everything but the finances. Therefore, a common question people ask a divorce attorney in Bergen County such as Eric or Dolores Aretsky, is what things should be included in a prenuptial agreement? Your agreement should be tailored to your individual circumstances, but here are some things that should be covered:

1. Property, and each party’s rights and obligations in terms of it.
2. The rights to buy, sell, transfer, or otherwise manage and control property.
3. What will happen to property upon separation, divorce, death, or in the case of another major event that affects your marriage.
4. Spousal support.
5. How the provisions of the agreement will be carried out.
6. The ownership rights in and disposition of death benefits from a life insurance policy.
7. The choice of law governing the agreement.
8. Any other rights and obligations you want included, based on your individual circumstances, except in the case of child custody or other things that would violate public policy.

We all want our marriages to be until death do us part, and good for you if you are throwing it all in without restrictions at age 45. But if you want to be a little more cautious, come see us about a prenuptial agreement. Call us today at 201-580-3411 or email us at aretskylawfirm@optimum.net. If you liked this article, you might also like: Do we need two lawyers to create a prenup?

You should quickly decide to work with a divorce attorney for your Bergen County divorce . You will need to get prepared to get the most out of your first appointment. Your attorney will probably want some documents that are specific to your particular case. Every situation will be somewhat different. There are other documents, however, that a family law attorney will generally need to see in every divorce or child custody case. In general, its a good idea to bring the following to your first appointment with an attorney:

• Financial documents for all your assets and debts, business financial statements, and ledgers
• Tax returns from the prior 3 years
• Pre or post nuptial agreements, if you have prepared them
• Documentation of your past employment earnings

Related Article Why Should I Hire a Divorce Attorney In addition to these documents, its a good idea to have an outline of your priorities in regards to the divorce. These might include assets and financial goals, as well as other things like child custody and parenting concerns. The big three things that most individuals are trying to deal with in the divorce are”

• Who gets what in terms of the house, the cars, the furnishings and other assets
• Who has primary custody of the children and what are the visitation rights
• Will there be any child support or spousal support payments.

But sometimes there are immediate issues that are more important.

• What will happen during the separation on these three issues?
• What happens if your spouse if failing to do what they are supposed to do or required to do by court order?
• What if your spouse is taking actions to hide assets or keep your from securing property that is yours or jointly owned?
• What can you do if your spouse won’t cooperate in the divorce process?
• Who is going to pay for your legal costs?

These are all major concerns that strike quickly in the first days after you have decided to divorce, and sometimes are even more critical if your spouse is the one who has filed or intends to file for divorce. His or her attorney may be advising them to aggressively attempt to assert rights that are not necessarily correctly your spouses. The goal in any divorce is to keep things as civil as possible. This always reduces your costs, the stress on both parties, and the stress on kids and others that are close to you. Mediation is a great way to proceed, but unless you call an attorney right away, sometimes the emotional aspects get far ahead of the cooler heads that are needed to do mediation.

Property Division in New Jersey Divorce Cases

Bergen County Divorce Lawyers

Property distribution is often the most contentious issue in the dissolution of a marriage or civil union. Disagreements over the division of marital assets drive many divorce cases to trial. At the New Jersey law office of Aretsky & Aretsky, our divorce lawyers are committed to providing effective legal representation in negotiations, mediation, or divorce court.

Property Mediation in NJ Divorce

We encourage you to attempt mediation, as it is often the most cost-effective method for reaching a property settlement agreement, but our number one goal is always to ensure your interests are protected. If that can only be accomplished in court, we are experienced trial attorneys ready to handle your case. As noted in our prior post and video which gives more detail on divorce mediation, the decision to use a mediator is likely to save you money, time, and further damage to the relationship between the divorcing couple. The process of divorce can lead to major acrimony that is sometimes avoided through mediation. Contact our Ridgewood law office to meet with an attorney to discuss mediation as an option.

Experienced Attorneys Handling High Asset Cases

There are several interrelated issues that people will need to consider when reaching an agreement on the division of marital property. These are:

• What is (and is not) part of the marital estate (marital versus separate non-marital property)?
• Is there a valid prenuptial agreement which governs the distribution of marital and non-marital property and any award of alimony?
• What is the value of each asset or debt?
• How can marital assets be divided and what are the tax consequences associated with the division?
• Who will benefit the most from having each marital asset? And what other property may offset it in the negotiations?
• Is spousal support a consideration in this divorce?

Each of these issues can present challenges, particularly in complex divorce cases involving business holdings and deferred executive compensation packages. By utilizing attorneys who have years of experience with complex cases, there is less chance of overlooking assets or negotiating away rights or money. The tax issues alone can be beyond the scope of either party to the divorce or even their accountants. In complex divorce accountants are generally involved in determining distribution, but there are many ways to value things, and many decisions will have major tax consequences. Who will pay the tax is part of the complexity of property division. Our attorneys have extensive experience investigating and negotiating fair property settlement agreements. When it will be helpful, we work with financial experts to help clients understand their assets and make informed decisions regarding marital property distribution.

You’ve tried everything, but you really need to end your marriage. Or, you don’t really want the marriage to end, but your spouse has decided for both of you. Now that the decision has been made, you’d like to get it behind you as fast as possible.

As with most things having to do with law and courts and public servants, not to mention your spouse and his or her attorney, Many, many factors will contribute to either speeding things along or dragging things out for months or even years. The major factors are:

• Financial complications
• Minor children
• Foot dragging
• Anger and devisiveness
• Paperwork

Both Spouses Agree on Everything

If everyone agrees on how to split assets, deal with children issues, and how much monthly support payments are going to be, it is possible to complete a NJ Divorce in a few months. But this means that everything is agreed to, and everybody provides necessary documents, shows up for hearings, and signs papers as needed. This is rarely the case, and therefore it is more likely to take six months for a divorce where there is little disagreement on the key issues. We also suggest that rushing the divorce rarely leads to any real benefits, and may result in overlooking critical details that might have been determined with a bit more time. In other words, as with many things in life, doing it right beats doing it fast.

Divorce Mediation Helps Speed Things Along

We are certified to provide you with mediation. In this process we sit down with both of you and help you work out differences based on the legal standards in NJ and our experience in handling hundreds of cases. When you are uncertain about your position on various issues, or when both of you want to keep things civil, mediation is a great choice. See More on Mediation Here: Mediation or Litigation?

Contested Divorces

If one or both parties to the divorce are stuck on the major or even minor issues, then there is the possibility that there will be months of wrangling between all concerned, and there may even be a need for a trial on the issues. If this is the case in your situation, we are known for being aggressive fighters for the rights of our clients. We all prefer things to go forward without bitterness and anger, but in divorce cases, sometimes that is seemingly unavoidable

Complex Divorce

Sometimes there are major assets to divide, pensions to figure out, businesses that are difficult to fix a value on. There may be issues of the spouses wanting to live far from one another, even in different states. One or both of the parties may have medical, legal, or emotional issues that create complexity. Of course, in these cases, the process just takes longer.

Related Information: https://www.aretsky-law.com/aop/new-jersey-divorce/complex-divorce/ No matter what is the case in your situation, having trusted counsel will make your experience with divorce the easiest that it can be. Contact Aretsky and Aretsky to set up a personal consultation about your case today.

The first place to secure visitation rights is during the negotiations leading up to your final divorce decree. If you are not going to have primary physical custody, then you are going to want to maximize the amount of time you can spend with your children. Even if you are going to be the primary care provider, and the kids will be with you most of the time, getting a clear understanding of when your ex can visit is one of the most important parts of the process of your divorce

Related Topic: Who Gets Child Custody in NJ?

After the Divorce is Final

If your ex is denying you visitation with your child, you should seek the counsel of a family lawyer (we are in Bergen County) as soon as possible. In the State of New Jersey, a parent has a constitutional right to see their kids. Before any parent can be denied visitation, it has to be proven that visitation is harmful to the child, and that there is no other way to protect them other than ending visitation. Despite this truth, sometimes one parent won’t comply with visitation. Visitation schedules are court-ordered and enforced, so any decision to go against the court order and refuse visitation can result in fines and other penalties. In addition, refusing to grant court ordered visitation will not look good for that parent in a family law court. No matter what happened that ended your marriage, you want to make the future the best you can for your kids. They have a right to see both their parents. If your ex spouse is interfering with your visitation or contact with your kids, and is unwilling to back down and do what is legally correct, you need to talk to an attorney. When you visit with us, we are going to attempt to gently persuade your ex to provide the visitation ordered by the court. If there is an unwillingness to do the right thing, we will take every possible legal step to get you the results you seek. The highly qualified Bergen County divorce lawyers at Aretsky & Aretsky provide experienced, caring, and aggressive representation in the areas of Divorce, Criminal Defense, Employment Law and Personal Injury with offices in: Bergen County, Hackensack, Ridgewood, Mahwah, Fort Lee.

Who Gets Custody of Your Children in New Jersey and WHY?

As Bergen County divorce lawyers, we want you to understand your rights when it comes to how the courts will determine custody. If you are confused about the standard custody plan, listen up: Contrary to popular belief, there is no “standard” custody and visitation plan in Bergen County, or anywhere in New Jersey. Your arrangement will be based on your family. A number of factors will be considered. The court’s standard in child custody cases is “the best interests of the child”. In determining the best interests of the child, the court considers a number of factors including the home environments, the ages of the children, their relationship to each parent, the parents’ willingness to cooperate with one another, and other factors. A divorce lawyer will build a case for you based on your desires for custody and visitation, and what you feel is in the best interests of your children.The court will use the “best interest” factors to determine legal custody, physical custody, and visitation. Legal custody refers to who makes major decisions, and in New Jersey, this is commonly shared. Physical custody refers to the parent who the children live with most of the time. Visitation refers to the time spent with the parent who does not have physical custody.

Why Do I Need an Attorney for your NJ Divorce?

The most difficult part of any divorce is the impact on your kids. You want them to feel loved, wanted, and protected. Unfortunately your ex may be abusive, addicted, troubled, unstable, or worse. Even in the best of circumstances, you want to protect your rights to either have fully shared physically custody or agree to a primary parent for physical custody who truly can provide the most attention. Don’t leave this question to the court. The judge is always going to appreciate the couple bringing in an agreement that they have worked out in advance, and will generally accept that agreement. We can help you work with your ex and the opposing attorney to get a reasonable agreement. If not, we will fight aggressively on your behalf to get the best results given the facts of the case. The highly qualified Bergen County lawyers at Aretsky & Aretsky provide experienced, caring, and aggressive representation in the areas of Divorce, Criminal Defense, Employment Law and Personal Injury with offices in: Bergen County, Hackensack, Ridgewood, Mahwah, Fort Lee.

Gay Marriage in NJ is in the courts.

As same-sex couples in New Jersey await the supreme court’s decision on same-sex marriage, it is still not legal for gay and lesbian couples to have the full range of legal benefits of marriage, but civil unions are recognized in the state of New Jersey, offering many of the protections of marriage.

Our Bergen County family lawyers have been on the leading edge of family law cases involving same sex couples in New Jersey. We understand the challenges you face and can provide legal solutions to protect you, your family, and your finances We offer the range of legal services for same-sex couples, including Dissolution of Civil Union / Domestic Partnership.

Dissolution of a civil union is the same as divorce in New Jersey family courts. You will need to petition the court by filing a complaint to dissolve the civil union and then work through the issues involved in every divorce action: property distribution, child custody and visitation and alimony. You can count on Aretsky and Aretsky to provide solid legal representation throughout all these aspects of a civil union dissolution.

Ed Murray / The Star-Ledger

It is looking more like legal recognition of gay marriage may be in the cards for New Jersey, changing the game for family lawyers like ours in Bergen County who represent same sex couples. Check out the full article:

Amick: Supreme Court cases could improve odds for same-sex marriage in New Jersey at NJ.com

“Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Trenton), the first openly gay member of the New Jersey Legislature, has introduced a bill that would ask the state’s voters next November to approve same-sex marriage. He was inspired by the success of similar referendums last month in Maine, Maryland and Washington, and the rapid shift of public opinion in the direction of marriage equality. However, his idea was quickly smacked down by leaders of his own party, which controls the Legislature, and by New Jersey’s leading gay-rights activist, Steven Goldstein. They oppose it on principle, arguing that a basic civil right, marriage, shouldn’t be put to a public vote. They also cite the practical fear that right-wing organizations, with no presidential election on the ballot to occupy them, would flood the state’s airwaves with millions of dollars’ worth of divisive and even homophobic messages against the referendum.”

Contact our New Jersey Family Law Attorneys

For legal help with civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other issues affecting same-sex couples in New Jersey, contact Aretsky & Aretsky by e-mail or call (201) 996-0234

“Christmas is the best holiday for us. We’ll invited lots of people and have ridiculous amounts of food and drinks… Very traditional, very Italian — it’s loud at our house.” – Melissa Gorga,The Gorga family, currently promoting their work-in-progress marital advice book Love, Italian Style: The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage released their family Christmas photo to US Magazine. Some say the Gorga’s high profile marital advice book comes as a slap in the face to sister-in-law Teresa Giudice, and is likely to cause more family disputes in the already troubled family.

Teresa is reportedly facing a tough holiday right now, as tensions mount between her and husband Joe, with rumors circulating that a divorce may be in the works. Teresa Giudice also released Christmas photos, but hers were notably lacking herself and husband Joe, featuring instead the four girls in a series of staged Christmas scenes.

At Aretsky & Aretsky, we understand how emotional and stressful going through a divorce can be for you and your children, especially during the holidays. We strive to provide you with a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you feel comfortable and safe. Our divorce attorneys in Bergen County have over forty years of combined experience assisting families with all stages of the divorce process—from separation to division of the marital assets to child custody.

Child Custody and Visitation: Settling issues of child custody and visitation can be complicated and difficult when a same sex relationship ends. Did you know?… A non-biological parent who has provided for and bonded with a child while in a familial relationship can petition the court for visitation rights if the case can be made that you have been a “psychological parent” for the child.

If you are a non-biological parent in a same sex custody battle, our family law attorneys will work hard to protect your parental rights and relationship with your child.

Contact our New Jersey Family Law Attorneys

For legal help with civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other issues affecting same-sex couples in New Jersey, contact Aretsky & Aretsky by e-mail or call (201) 996-0234.

“I can’t tell you how many times Joe and I are approached by fans asking how they can have a marriage like ours. A great marriage doesn’t just happen. It’s a job.” Melissa Gorga On the heels of the high-profile gossip that her sister-in-law Teresa Giudice is planning to divorce her husband Joe, Real Housewives of New Jersey star Melissa Gorga has revealed she is writing a marital advice book, with the goal of preventing divorce. Does it come too late to save her sister-in-law’s marriage? See the full story on the NJ.com celebrity gossip blog. If Melissa’s advice comes too late for your marriage, Bergen County divorce attorneys Aretsky and Aretsky are here to help. We can handle all aspects of dissolutions including:

• mediation, if that is the preferred way for your family to handle arrangements
• property division
• alimony
• child support
• child custody

If mediation is not a good option for your situation, we also offer traditional legal representation and are known for being compassionate with our clients and aggressive in protecting their interests. Give us a call today and set up a consultation.

As same-sex couples in New Jersey await the supreme court’s decision on same-sex marriage,

New Jersey gay and lesbian couples still do not have the full range of legal benefits of marriage. Civil unions are recognized in the state of New Jersey, offering many of the protections of marriage.

Our Bergen County family lawyers have been on the leading edge of family law cases involving same sex couples in New Jersey. We understand the challenges you face and can provide legal solutions to protect you, your family, and your finances.

For example, committed same-sex couples may want to set up powers of attorney. A power of attorney is a legal document that appoints someone to make decisions and handle legal matters on your behalf should you lose the capacity.

Powers of Attorney: Although New Jersey recognizes your right to make medical and financial decisions for your partner, if you travel in states that do not recognize your union you may benefit from legal documentation of your rights.

“TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Gay rights activists in New Jersey hope the U.S. Supreme Court will establish a constitutional right to gay marriage and end a prohibition in that state.

As 1010 WINS’ Sonia Rincon reported, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up the California ban on same-sex unions, as well as a separate New York case about federal benefits for legally married gay couples.

We don’t have marriage equality in New Jersey yet,” said Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality. “If the Supreme Court rules all the way, as in marriage equality has to be legal in the United States of America, we have marriage equality in New Jersey.” Read more about supreme court case on New Jersey gay marriage…

As same-sex couples in New Jersey await the supreme court’s decision on same-sex marriage, it is still not legal for gay and lesbian couples to have the full range of legal benefits of marriage, but civil unions are recognized in the state of New Jersey, offering many of the protections of marriage.

Our Bergen County family lawyers have been on the leading edge of family law cases involving same sex couples in New Jersey. We understand the challenges you face and can provide legal solutions to protect you, your family, and your finances.

For example: Prenuptial Agreements: Although lesbian and gay couples now have the benefit of civil union to define legal rights within a relationship, you may still benefit from entering a prenuptial agreement for many of the same reasons heterosexual couples do. A prenuptial agreement can protect a personal business or financial assets in the event of a later divorce. It can protect the inheritance rights of children from an earlier marriage.

And it can give the prospective spouses a greater feeling of security. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a divorce and family lawyer.

New Jersey is one of four states offering civil unions and one of ten states providing spousal rights to same sex couples. Under New Jersey law, a civil union is equivalent to a marriage. Currently, since civil unions are not recognized by the federal government, gay and lesbian couples are not afforded the same federal benefits and protections.

And they face possible legal problems when traveling, living, or working in other states. As a Bergen County family lawyer, we can help you understand these risks, and your rights under state and federal law.

At the Ridgewood law office of Aretsky and Aretsky, our attorneys have been on the leading edge of family law cases involving same sex couples in New Jersey. We understand the challenges you face and can provide legal solutions to protect you, your family, and your finances. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a divorce and family lawyer for a broad range of legal services, including:

• Prenuptial agreements
• Powers of attorney to ensure decision making authority for a partner
• Adoption and child custody and visitation agreements
• Dissolution of civil union, along with division of marital assets

Rumor has it that Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice is planning to divorce her husband Joe after the holidays. Teresa Giudice denies the accusations at this time, tweeting,“Sorry tabloids, Joe & I are not getting divorced, now or ever!”and later, “The only thing the Natl Enquirer is good for is lining a bird cage.” Speculations as to why she might be filing for divorce included the following:

• Joe’s infidelity. The National Enquirer reports that Joe made a call to his unidentified mistress in an August episode of the show Financial woes- Reports cite Joe’s inability to support the family financially as a reason for the divorce
• Legal problems Charges Joe will be facing in 2013 related to using his brother’s identity to get a driver’s license. He may be facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted, but sources say either way, the marriage is off come the New Year
• Verbal confrontation- Joe allegedly called Teresa a dirty name and humiliated her on air in the August episode. Sources claim this was the last straw for Teresa in the strained marriage. We at Aretsky and Aretsky know that divorce is painful, stressful, emotionally debilitating and dehumanizing. Our goal is to help you minimize the negative effects of divorce on you, your children, and others affected by the divorce.

Following the juicy details of the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorce? Rumors and speculation continue about whether Tom’s religion, Scientology, is the reason for the divorce. Many are speculating that Katie is trying to protect their 6 year old daughter, Suri, from indoctrination in the church. The Village Voice published the disturbing interrogation questions used on children in the Church of Scientology. It is their conjecture that Katie may be protecting Suri from this very type of interview. Our family lawyer in Bergen County read the above article with interest, as the Village Voice also interviewed a legal expert about the reasons why Katie may have chosen to file her divorce in New York instead of California. Are you considering filing for divorce in Bergen County or another county in New Jersey? If you have not yet consulted with an attorney, it is advisable to do so before you file. Have you considered the role of jurisdiction in your divorce case, as Katie Holmes was clearly counseled to? Give us a call today if you are looking for an experienced, credible, and aggressive divorce attorney in Bergen County, New Jersey to help you fight for your rights.

If you are in need of a family lawyer or divorce attorney in the Bergen County, NJ area, contact Aretsky and Aretsky. Located in Ridgewood, New Jersey, we understand families because we are one. Founded as a mother, son, and daughter firm in 1991, our practice is focused on providing full service family law representation to families in transition. We are committed to helping protect our client’s rights and interests as they work through divorce, child custody, alimony, and other issues related to property settlement agreements.

How soon before JWoww and Snooki end up in divorce court?

“The cast of Jersey Shore might have first come to the attention of American viewers thanks to their wild antics and unapologetic immaturity, but over the past year or so, some of the cast members have begun to grow up quickly. Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi recently got engaged and delivered her first child with boyfriend Jionni LaValle, and now, her BFF Jenni “JWoww” Farley has accepted a proposal from her longtime boyfriend Roger Mathews.

The engagement news was rumored to be coming for months, but to many fans, it was still a bit of a surprise to see it made official. JWoww always seemed a bit more grown-up than her co-stars, but she still had her share of reckless and crazy good times. If all goes according to plan, the fun will continue for she and Roger but ideally, not the whole reckless part.”

Pop Blend is doing a poll about which marriage will fail first. Register your prediction on their site by clicking the above link. And if you find yourself in a New Jersey marital debacle, talking to a trusted divorce attorney (call us in Bergen County) can help you understand your rights and make the best legal decisions for your self and your family.