If you qualify, there is no attorney fee for you to participate in The Divorce Project. Further, all court fees are waived for eligible participants by court rule.
What is the Divorce Project?
The Divorce Project is a collaborative effort between South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (SJLS) and private, volunteer attorneys to assist low-income individuals with no-fault, no issue divorces. The Divorce Project only assists individuals who do not have assets or debts to be divided. If there are children born of the marriage, the client must have orders establishing custody and child support. The client must also have a good address for their spouse.
How Can I Participate in This Project?
If you feel you are eligible to participate in The Divorce Project, you may contact the Centralized Intake Unit of South Jersey Legal Services; Inc. at 1-800-496-4570 to be screened for eligibility during intake hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. At the initial review, we will decide if you are financially eligible. An intake staff member will obtain information about your income, family size, assets and the matter for which you are seeking help. All information you provide SJLS remains confidential.
If you are financially eligible, we then decide whether your case is one for which we can provide representation based upon our established case acceptance guidelines. If the case is one which we are unable to handle, we will attempt to refer you to an organization which will provide assistance. If your case is one that we usually handle, but because of limited resources we are unable to handle at present, we will try to find other legal representation for you.
What are the Grounds for Divorce in New Jersey?
There are many grounds or reasons that a divorce may be based upon. For example, if you have been separated from your spouse for 18 consecutive months or more, you may file a no-fault divorce. This means that you do not have to provide the court with a reason for the divorce. Further, if you have not been separated for 18 consecutive months, but you and your spouse have been married for longer than 6 months and for the last six months of your marriage, you have been unable to get along, you may file for a divorce based upon your irreconcilable differences. Some other grounds for divorce include extreme cruelty, adultery and abandonment. These types of divorces are not handled through The Divorce Project. If you would like assistance with one of these types of divorces, you should contact your local bar association and ask for the Lawyer Referral Service.
How Long Will it Take for Me to Obtain a Divorce?
There is a waitlist to obtain assistance through The Divorce Project. You will be required to submit various documents including a copy of your Marriage Certificate and any custody and child support orders currently in effect. Once this information is received, your file will be reviewed for placement. Once you are referred to an attorney and the divorce complaint is filed, you will be required to attend a hearing before a judge. It will depend on the specific facts of your situation as to how quickly you may obtain a divorce. Generally, a no-fault divorce with no issues may be resolved in as few as three months.