Family Law & Divorce
Compassionate counsel and strong advocacy through every stage of your family law matter.
Family law matters are among the most emotionally charged and consequential legal proceedings anyone can face. At Lenar Law, we understand that the decisions made during a divorce or custody dispute will affect you and your children for years to come. Attorney Nicole N. Lenar provides compassionate, client-focused advocacy to help protect what matters most.
"Ms. Lenar provides dedicated advocacy and prepares each matter carefully for negotiation or trial."
Divorce — Contested & Uncontested
New Jersey offers several grounds for divorce, including irreconcilable differences (no-fault), separation, and fault-based grounds. Whether your divorce is relatively straightforward or involves complex asset division and heated disputes, we guide you through every step with clarity and strategy.
- Contested divorce (litigation)
- Uncontested divorce
- Collaborative divorce
- Division of marital property and debts
- Equitable distribution of assets, retirement accounts, and real estate
- Business valuation and division
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Child custody disputes are among the most sensitive matters we handle. New Jersey courts base all custody decisions on the "best interests of the child" standard. We work to achieve custody arrangements that protect your relationship with your children and serve their well-being.
- Legal custody (sole vs. joint)
- Physical custody and parenting time schedules
- Relocation disputes
- Custody modifications
- Grandparent visitation rights
Child & Spousal Support
New Jersey uses specific guidelines to calculate child support, factoring in both parents' income, custody arrangements, and the needs of the children. Alimony — now called "spousal support" in NJ — is determined by factors including length of marriage, standard of living, and each spouse's earning capacity.
- Child support calculations and enforcement
- Spousal support / alimony (limited, open-durational, rehabilitative)
- Modifications of existing support orders
Domestic Violence & Restraining Orders
New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act provides important protections for victims of abuse. We assist both those seeking restraining orders and those facing allegations, navigating the Final Restraining Order (FRO) process with care and competence.
- Emergency temporary restraining orders (TRO)
- Final Restraining Order (FRO) hearings
- Defense against restraining order applications
Alimony
New Jersey recognizes several forms of alimony, including limited duration, rehabilitative, reimbursement, and open durational alimony. Ms. Lenar works to secure fair outcomes whether you are seeking alimony or defending against an excessive claim.
Immigration
Family circumstances often intersect with immigration matters. We assist clients with immigration issues that arise in the context of family law proceedings, including residency and status questions affecting family members.
Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
A well-drafted prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can protect both parties' assets and provide clarity should a marriage end. We draft and review these agreements to ensure they are fair, enforceable, and reflect your intentions.
Family Law FAQ
Depending on how agreeable the parties are, the divorce proceeding can be either time-consuming or quickly accomplished. Overall it depends on your financial circumstances and assets. The Court generally schedules the divorce trial within one year of the filing of your Complaint — though this is not always realistic and a trial can occur years after filing.
It is impossible to calculate the final cost of a divorce. The quoted retainer is determined based on the number of hours the attorney anticipates spending on your case. Clients are billed for the drafting of legal pleadings, court appearances, telephone calls, and settlement conferences. Ultimately, the final cost will depend on how quickly your matter is resolved.
Child support is calculated by utilizing the incomes of both parties and the number of overnights spent with both parties. It is a computer-generated formula established by a committee of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Child support includes fixed costs for living environment — such as shelter, mortgage, rent, and utilities — and variable factors for food, clothing, entertainment, extra-curricular activities, and personal items.
Child support can be modified when there is a substantial "change in circumstances." Temporary circumstances do not always warrant a change. Depending on the circumstances, a reduction in income may or may not affect child support payments.
The court considers the "Best Interests of the Child." This includes the emotional and physical environment, personal safety, moral atmosphere, mental and physical health of the parties, the children's ages, and the children's preference.
Either party can make an application at any time to modify the arrangement. It is the moving party's burden to establish there is a sufficient change in circumstances warranting a modification of the agreement.
New Jersey recognizes several types: limited duration, rehabilitative, reimbursement, and permanent alimony. The Court has broad discretion and will consider the need and ability of the parties to pay, the duration of the marriage, the age and health of the parties, each party's earning capacity, the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage, and responsibilities for the children.
When the award for child support is calculated, the Court will deduct the alimony payments from the payor spouse's income. Alimony is tax deductible to the payor spouse and a tax liability for the payee spouse.
Although an attorney is not required, an attorney will be highly beneficial to your case. An attorney can help you make educated decisions and assist you in efficiently obtaining all available legal remedies. An attorney is familiar with the law and is more skilled at filing paperwork and mastering scheduling deadlines — missing a deadline can be very costly and potentially detrimental to your case.
Protecting Your Family
Start With a Confidential Family Law Consultation
Divorce, custody, and family disputes are among the most personal legal matters you'll face. Nicole listens carefully, explains your options clearly, and fights for the outcome your family deserves.