Responsibilities of Attorney and Client
You, as the client (see Disclaimer below), are entitled to expect us to preserve your confidential communications and to prosecute your case to the best of our professional abilities. The facts of your case will be the chief determinant and the outcome will be in the sole discretion of the Court and is subject to appeal if necessary. You are responsible for keeping us informed as to all facts.
Frequently, legal aspects of a domestic proceeding closely involve other family members and third parties. After you have deposited an amount of money with us as a retainer, you will be regarded as having established an attorney-client relationship with us. Once this relationship exists, you will not be asked to relay specific settlement proposals to an estranged spouse/partner, if that spouse/partner has retained an attorney. This would create ethical difficulties for the lawyer under the Code of Professional Responsibility because it would involve bypassing the other party's lawyer. For the same reason, you cannot expect us to talk directly to your spouse/partner, unless your spouse/partner has not retained their own attorney.
As the client, your first major responsibility will be to work out the course of the continuing personal relationship with your spouse/partner and, as the case may be, your children. This does not mean tha we will not be available to discuss the legal aspects of day-to-day problems, but our fees are based on time spent on a case (including telephone conversations, faxes and emails) and there is no need for you to increase your legal fees unnecessarily.
Your second responsibility will be to inform us of any relevant changes in your domestic situation, especially a reconciliation.
When Court appearances are scheduled, it will be your responsibility to be present on time at the designated courtroom in the County Court House. If we determine that witnesses are required to be present on your behalf, you will coordinate everything with them and be certain they know when and where to be. If you are the complainant, then you may need corroborating witnesses.
You will have to produce records of your total income, whether from wages, fees or investments, and all of your assets, and furnish a complete list of debts and liabilities, including amounts required to meet all installment payments. Keep complete and accurate records as well as a diary regarding all living expenses for yourself and for any children or other dependents. When not able to state exact expenses, you should make your best reasonable estimate. Always attempt to be fair to yourself as well as your spouse/partner. A spouse/partner will certainly get no more than he or she asks for, but ought not to ask for either more or less than he or she reasonably needs. Keep in mind the fact that judges are very experienced in these matters and will quickly recognize exaggerated demands.
It has been our experience that most matters truly necessitating emergency evening discussions are matters involving concern for physical well-being and, if there is a genuine emergency, the best procedure is to call the police directly. As lawyers,we represent you in the courts but we can do little to help you at your home. We are not the police and have no more authority than anyone else to intervene.
Miscellaneous
Domestic/Family/Custody litigation is a part of the American way of life and almost everyone has been directly or indirectly involved in a domestic proceeding. When involved in Domestic/Family/Custody litigation or disputes, you can expect to be exposed to a great variety of advice from family and friends during these proceedings. The information contained on this website is designed to make you more knowledgeable about the domestic proceeding and the law and less vulnerable to misinformation, uncertainty and just plain gossip. The information presented is not intended to be a summary of the law and, due to the importance of the individual facts, the generalizations contained herein should not necessarily be applied to any particular case. Also, changes in the law could at any time make parts of this statement obsolete. However, you may be assured that we are particularly conscious of the changing law and will do our best to keep up-to-date of the latest developments, both in-state and nationally.
You, as the client (see Disclaimer below), are entitled to expect us to preserve your confidential communications and to prosecute your case to the best of our professional abilities. The facts of your case will be the chief determinant and the outcome will be in the sole discretion of the Court and is subject to appeal if necessary. You are responsible for keeping us informed as to all facts.
Frequently, legal aspects of a domestic proceeding closely involve other family members and third parties. After you have deposited an amount of money with us as a retainer, you will be regarded as having established an attorney-client relationship with us. Once this relationship exists, you will not be asked to relay specific settlement proposals to an estranged spouse/partner, if that spouse/partner has retained an attorney. This would create ethical difficulties for the lawyer under the Code of Professional Responsibility because it would involve bypassing the other party's lawyer. For the same reason, you cannot expect us to talk directly to your spouse/partner, unless your spouse/partner has not retained their own attorney.
As the client, your first major responsibility will be to work out the course of the continuing personal relationship with your spouse/partner and, as the case may be, your children. This does not mean tha we will not be available to discuss the legal aspects of day-to-day problems, but our fees are based on time spent on a case (including telephone conversations, faxes and emails) and there is no need for you to increase your legal fees unnecessarily.
Your second responsibility will be to inform us of any relevant changes in your domestic situation, especially a reconciliation.
When Court appearances are scheduled, it will be your responsibility to be present on time at the designated courtroom in the County Court House. If we determine that witnesses are required to be present on your behalf, you will coordinate everything with them and be certain they know when and where to be. If you are the complainant, then you may need corroborating witnesses.
You will have to produce records of your total income, whether from wages, fees or investments, and all of your assets, and furnish a complete list of debts and liabilities, including amounts required to meet all installment payments. Keep complete and accurate records as well as a diary regarding all living expenses for yourself and for any children or other dependents. When not able to state exact expenses, you should make your best reasonable estimate. Always attempt to be fair to yourself as well as your spouse/partner. A spouse/partner will certainly get no more than he or she asks for, but ought not to ask for either more or less than he or she reasonably needs. Keep in mind the fact that judges are very experienced in these matters and will quickly recognize exaggerated demands.
It has been our experience that most matters truly necessitating emergency evening discussions are matters involving concern for physical well-being and, if there is a genuine emergency, the best procedure is to call the police directly. As lawyers,we represent you in the courts but we can do little to help you at your home. We are not the police and have no more authority than anyone else to intervene.
Miscellaneous
Domestic/Family/Custody litigation is a part of the American way of life and almost everyone has been directly or indirectly involved in a domestic proceeding. When involved in Domestic/Family/Custody litigation or disputes, you can expect to be exposed to a great variety of advice from family and friends during these proceedings. The information contained on this website is designed to make you more knowledgeable about the domestic proceeding and the law and less vulnerable to misinformation, uncertainty and just plain gossip. The information presented is not intended to be a summary of the law and, due to the importance of the individual facts, the generalizations contained herein should not necessarily be applied to any particular case. Also, changes in the law could at any time make parts of this statement obsolete. However, you may be assured that we are particularly conscious of the changing law and will do our best to keep up-to-date of the latest developments, both in-state and nationally.
DISCLAIMER. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. This web site is designed for general information only for New Jersey and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your specific situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and emails. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send or email any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.