New Jersey law allows you to end your marriage for any reason. However, if you share a child with your former spouse, you are generally required to care for it until it reaches the age of majority. This is true even if the child is conceived with this individual during the divorce process.
Start planning as early as possible
Ideally, you’ll start creating a parenting plan as soon as you know that you’re pregnant. This will help to ensure that your future child will grow up in a nurturing environment despite the fact that his or her parents won’t be in a formal relationship.
A parenting plan should address issues such as how parenting time and childcare expenses will be allocated. It’s important to note that a judge will need to approve the terms of such an agreement before it is legally binding. An attorney may be able to represent your interests during a child custody hearing.
Take time for yourself
A divorce is one of the most stressful events that a person can experience even if you aren’t expecting a child in the near future. Spending time in the presence of friends, family members and others who care about you can make it easier to process your emotions in a healthy and timely manner. As a general rule, parents who engage in self-care activities are more effective when it comes to meeting the emotional needs of their children.
If you are expecting to raise a child with a former partner, it may be in your best interest to speak with a family law attorney. Legal counsel may be able to talk more about the process of obtaining visitation, physical custody or other rights to your son or daughter.