2 0
O c t O b e r 2 0 1 8
www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com
1318 Route 31
P.O. Box 4001
Clinton, NJ 08809
Divorce/Family Law * Wills, Trusts & Estates
Personal Injury * Employment Law
Business Contracts * General Civil Litigation
Tax Planning & IRS Disputes * Real Estate
Traffic Court/DWI * Municipal Law
Providing skilled legal expertise
to Hunterdon County since 1884.
908-735-5161
gklegal.com
d o d i v o r c i n g s p o u s e s n e e d
s e p a r a T e a T T o r n e Y s ?
By Diana N. Fredericks, Esq., Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C.
Question: My spouse told me that if I get my own attorney and try to take
his/her pension, he/she will make our divorce difficult. He/she tells me that I
am not entitled to the retirement assets earned during the marriage and that
I do not need my own attorney because we can both use the same one.
Answer: You MUST, at the very least, have an independent consultation with
an attorney who has your best interests in mind at the forefront. A lawyer may
not represent both spouses in a divorce; it is not permissible under our Rules.
Unfortunately, threats like the one portrayed above are not uncommon, and
while one spouse may be able to make the litigation more difficult/expensive,
it does not change whether an asset is subject to division or whether a spouse
is entitled to support.
Remember, if a divorce is imminent, the trust between spouses may
be damaged. You need an independent opinion as to your rights under the law.
Do not rely on what your spouse tells you is the likely outcome; seek counsel
and protect yourself. Do not meet or communicate with your spouse's counsel.
Protect yourself and your future…there is too much at stake.
For 134 years, individuals and businesses in central and northwestern New
Jersey have entrusted their legal concerns to the lawyers at Gebhardt & Kiefer,
P.C. Our firm is built on a legacy of professionalism, expertise, and client-
centered service.
Our knowledge spans numerous areas of law and we can help you find solutions
to your legal issues. For more information, visit us online at: www.
GKLegal.com or call: 908.735.5161.
"The month of carnival of all the year, When Nature lets the wild earth go its way
And spend whole seasons on a single day." ~ Helen Fiske Hunt Jackson (1830–1885), "October"
