I am filing for an uncontested no-fault divorce pro se, until I can find a suitable lawyer that I can afford. My ex abandoned the marital home July 3rd, 2014. Both of us are New Jersey residents and have already divided assets and debts, and neither of us require alimony. My case is simple except that I am expecting a child with my boyfriend. I am certain that my ex will happily deny paternity.
What forms would I need to file in addition to the standard forms required to initiate a no-fault uncontested divorce in NJ? I know one of them will be an Affidavit of Non-Paternity, but what else must I file, that would otherwise not be included if my boyfriend and I were not expecting?
Ideally, I want to be able to file the right paperwork so my ex can relinquish any presumed paternity rights to my unborn baby, to which he is not the biological father. I am certain my ex will happily deny paternity.
You say that you will be representing yourself, until you can find a suitable lawyer that you can afford.
Given your statements that your ex abandoned the marital home on July 3 and that you are expecting a child with your boyfriend, your case may not be so simple.
I recommend that you call to a very experienced lawyer who devotes his/her entire practice to New Jersey Divorce and Family Law matters, will take the time to talk to you personally about these issues, and then meet with you personally to discuss them in greater detail. In my opinion, it will be well worth the cost of the meeting.
The best way to get divorced quickly and inexpensively is to resolve all issues in a written agreement BEFORE filing a complaint for divorce. You will find the cost to have a proper agreement prepared well worth it and much less than if you file a complaint first. If you then want to file an uncontested pro se divorce, you could do that yourself, and provide the Court with the agreement covering all issues. At a minimum you should review your situation with legal counsel to be sure you are covering all the important elements in your agreement or complaint.
Filing for divorce in New Jersey can be tricky and frustrating if one is unfamiliar with the process. An experienced family law attorney will be able to navigate you through the waters and ensure that you have prepared and completed all of the required documents before filing for divorce. I recommend you consult with such an attorney to make sure that you are including everything necessary. In the meantime, the article located at the link provided below may also offer some helpful information and guidance.
