Q: Hi, I am a resident of Middlesex county, NJ, where after a short lived marriage of 2 months my husband filed for divorce
or anullment on false reasons on grounds of irreconcilable differences. I was a victim of physical and emotional abuse for which I have filed a police complaint as well. I am an Indian citizen and came to US for a short visit on business Visa and was cojuled into this marriage. I did not have enough money to hire a divorce lawyer on my own, so I was given a pro bono lawyer by an NGO. The problem is this lawyer doesn't seems to be working in my interest. I want this divorce on basis of extreme cruelty and not irreconcilable differences. My lawyer is forcing me to accept whatever my husband is offering and give up my right to file any complaints against my husband now or in future. My court date is on 5th of May and I am a little lost on what should I do? How can I get the court date postponed? What's the best way to find another pro bono divorce lawyer? Any advise is greatly appreciated.
A:
Thank you for your question. While there may be personal reason why you wanted to file on the grounds of mental cruelty, it will not matter what the underlying grounds are. It will not be on the Final Judgment of Divorce, nor does fault matter in New Jersey as far as potential property distribution. Your lawyer likely does not want to spend the time proving a cause of action when it is largely irrelevant.
That being said, your counsel should be listening to your wishes and explaining why things are done a certain way. If you are still seeking new pro bono counsel then contact Central Jersey Legal Services in New Brunswick. They may be able to help you. (732) 249-7600
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