New Jersey’s “equitable distribution” divorce law means that assets are not necessarily distributed equally, but fairly. This does not mean that the distribution is entirely subjective, but that the court will consider specific statutory factors, including but not limited to:

• Duration of the marriage;
• Age and health of the parties;
• Standard of living established during the marriage;
• Any prenuptial agreements;
• Economic circumstances and earning capacity of the parties;
• Contribution of each party to the education or earning power of the other;
• Contribution of a party to asset acquisition, as well as the contribution of a party as a homemaker;
• Future medical or educational costs for spouses or children;
• The extent to which a party deferred achieving their career goals;
• The need of a parent who has physical custody of a child to own or occupy the marital residence and to use household effects; and
• The tax effects of the proposed distribution to each party.

In addition to these and other factors, courts are directed to consider any other relevant factors. An experienced high-asset divorce attorney understands the wide range of circumstances the court can consider and will use this to your advantage. At The Law Office of Jennifer J. McCaskill, we know that working to understand the entirety of your situation not only eases the burden on you, but in fact builds a more powerful case.