Why You Should Hire A Certified Family Law Attorney

The average divorce takes lots of time, energy and patience to finalize. Now is not the time to hire an inexperienced lawyer. Instead, to ensure the very best representation, your first objective should be to select a law firm that has a certified matrimonial attorney on staff. The attorneys that have this designation are generally considered top-tier family law attorneys because they have taken the additional step of receiving official certification. This designation, granted by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, is given only to those attorneys who have proven themselves to be especially knowledgeable and experienced in the field. There are only five areas of law that are currently eligible for certifications in the State of New Jersey: matrimonial law, civil trial law, criminal trial law, workers compensation law and municipal court law.

In order to become a certified matrimonial attorney, the individual must submit an application to the New Jersey Supreme Court and demonstrate that they have been a member in good standing with the New Jersey State Bar Association for at least five years; fulfilled ongoing continuing legal education requirements; demonstrated experience in the field of family law; received exemplary evaluations by their peers and judges before whom they have appeared; and taken a written exam. Only those attorneys who have been deemed certified are permitted to advertise themselves as certified matrimonial attorneys on their letterhead and business cards.

Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s publication regarding certified attorneys, as of March 2014, only about 1,600 attorneys were certified in their field out of the approximately 75,000 active attorneys in the state. That statistic clearly illustrates just how special a designation that is; it is not easily obtained.

Selecting a firm that has a certified matrimonial attorney will ensure that you have access to some of the best legal minds in the state. Their expertise is an invaluable resource to a family law firm. If you are in need of a matrimonial attorney and would like to discuss your case with a member of our team, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.