Barry I. Croland
Divorce Law - Hackensack, NJ

After the introduction of New Jersey's Equitable Distribution Statute in 1971, clients began to hire attorneys who had developed reputations in successfully handling complex commercial matters. The change in New Jersey's divorce law required then, as it does now, an attorney who has the ability to identify complex financial and emotional issues, develop an individualized game plan on a case-by-case basis and then execute that game plan in a manner to preserve and protect his clients' best interests in an ethical manner.

Over the last 30 years, attorneys handling complex family matters have participated in the formulation of new Court Rules, debated and discussed substantive law issues and developed alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to assist the court system also acting as trial/appellate counsel in litigation which redefined the substantive law in this state.

Over the past 10 years the court system has utilized attorneys and experts to develop mechanisms to resolve family law cases amicably. A high percentage of family law matters are settled through the volunteer attorney Early Settlement Panels. More and more issues relating to children have been and are being resolved outside the court system (with court overview) by therapeutic mediation.

Experience has taught us that the absence of meaningful communication is the primary reason for divorces. Unless a client hires an attorney skilled in meaningful communication techniques, he or she will find himself or herself perpetuating the marital problems which led to and caused that person's divorce. The best family lawyers in the State of New Jersey are those individuals who are respected by their peers and the court system, possess highly developed communication skills, understand the complexities of the court system, demonstrate the ability to analyze and amicably resolve complex cases and deal with each case on a case-by-case basis.

Problems are not solved by punishing your spouse. The true innocent victims of contested divorces are the children. Every case that is emotion-driven has the potential for waste, elevated expenses and unhappy litigants. Litigants who expect their attorneys to yell and scream in a courtroom usually get what they deserve: a loss of dignity, high legal fees and an undesired result.

The next few decades will require litigants, their attorneys, the court system, mediators, arbitrators and other forms of alternative dispute resolution individuals to work together to craft innovative procedures to help individuals solve family law issues. Communications skills should be taught to individuals during their marriage. Finally, communication skills must be the foundation and entire structure upon which contested family law issues are resolved.

Barry I. Croland
"Communication skills must be the foundation and entire structure upon which contested family law issues are resolved."