Family Law

Dedicated representation for all aspects of New Jersey divorce

The decision to dissolve your marriage is one you can only make after a great deal of soul-searching, so you don’t want your attorney to take it lightly. When the time comes to move on to a new phase of your life, the Law Office of Michael P. Otto can provide the reliable legal guidance you need, along with steady emotional support. For more than 14 years, our firm has helped residents of Middlesex, Union, Somerset and Morris counties reach fair settlements that lay the foundation for a hopeful future. Clients who entrust their divorce case to our care find that we are:

• Ethical – A workable divorce settlement is one that rebuilds trust, which is especially important in cases where the spouses must continue to cooperate in parenting their children.
• Compassionate — We are a family-oriented law firm, and we identify with spouses and parents who care deeply about their children’s futures.
• Dedicated — We’re willing to do the hard work necessary to ensure fairness in your settlement and establish a lasting resolution to your most contentious issues.
• Experienced — Our years of divorce representation have prepared us to manage the numerous complications that inevitably arise, while limiting delays that add expense and anxiety.

Contested and uncontested divorce in New Jersey

Piscataway divorce attorney Michael Otto is a solid choice to litigate tough issues in your contested divorce or to prepare a divorce settlement agreement that the family court approves for your uncontested divorce. Mr. Otto capably manages issues such as alimony, child custody, parenting time or visitation and child support. Mr. Otto has a great deal of experience in the equitable distribution of marital property, including the division of retirement benefits through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). Our family law firm works to ensure a workable and final divorce settlement. We understand that circumstances may require you to assert your parental rights in the future, so we regularly give assistance with post-divorce modifications.

Choosing between divorce mediation and traditional divorce

In divorce mediation, couples meet with a single attorney/mediator to devise a manageable plan for dissolving their marriage. This process allows them to reduce the cost of their divorce, but requires a high degree of cooperation. It’s important that the spouses can still communicate effectively and work constructively together. Divorce mediation is not a process for couples who no longer trust each other or where one spouse fears the other because of a history of domestic violence. Couples who wish to avoid litigating points of their divorce but want greater advocacy of their personal interests can reach a settlement agreement in traditional negotiations where each spouse has a separate attorney. The couple can then present the settlement for court approval in an uncontested divorce proceeding.

Piscataway Child Support, Custody and Visitation Attorneys Assert Parental Rights

Manageable plans to maintain loving relationships after divorce

The most difficult divorce issues to resolve usually are not about property, they’re about the amount and quality of time you get to spend with your children. Given today’s hectic lifestyle, parenting time is hard to come by, even in intact families. After divorce, scheduling becomes doubly complicated. That’s why it’s so important to have a manageable custody and support plan in place even before your divorce is finalized. For more than 23 years, Michael P. Otto has helped divorcing parents balance their parental rights with the needs of the other parent and the best interests of their children to achieve mutually beneficial settlements. Our clients throughout Middlesex, Union, Somerset and Morris counties find that we are:

• Ethical –The guiding principle for child support, custody and visitation is “the best interest of the child.” Our firm never employs tactics or pursues ends that would be contrary to your children’s health and welfare.
• Compassionate — Our family-oriented law firm appreciates a parent’s right to maintain a meaningful and loving relationship with his or her children.
• Dedicated — We’re committed to the hard work required to ensure fairness in your child support, custody and visitation orders.
• Experienced — Our years of representing divorced parents have informed us about the pitfalls that complicate issues touching on children of divorce, so we are prepared to offer solutions to fit just about any situation.

Child custody and visitation attorney in Piscataway, NJ upholds parental rights
New Jersey law recognizes two important principles: 1) a parent has a right to a meaningful and loving relationship with his or her children, and 2) such a relationship is not always possible. So, the court presumes that contact with you and your soon-to-be ex is good for your kids, but either of you can rebut that presumption with evidence that parental contact can be harmful to the child. Since any divorce can become acrimonious, it’s important to retain a family lawyer who is prepared to fight in court for your parental rights.

New Jersey child custody, support and visitation explained Child custody can be sole or joint and is divided into two separate rights: legal custody, which is the authority to make decisions on the child’s health and welfare, and physical custody, which is the responsibility to provide shelter, food, clothing and other basic needs. Whenever one parent exercises more physical custody, the other parent pays some amount of support to compensate the custodial parent. (The court can also order payment of support when the earnings of the parents are unequal) The court considers several factors under the New Jersey state child support guidelines when making an order for child support. When one parent does not have physical custody, he or she can petition the court for visitation or parenting time to maintain a healthy relationship. For further details about your rights, consult a qualified divorce lawyer in Piscataway.