The First World

In 1986, I began my judicial clerkship with Family Court Judge Ronald B. Graves.

As a young lawyer, I sat in court and watched divorce cases move through the legal system.

I learned how judges think.

I learned how lawyers negotiate.

I learned how custody disputes are decided.

I learned how support issues are resolved.

I learned how divorce is supposed to work.

It was an extraordinary education.

But it was only half of my education.

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The Second World

At the exact same time, I was dating a divorced woman with two young children.

One evening, I met those children for the first time.

A little boy, two-and-a-half years old, walked into the house after spending time with his father.

As he entered the foyer, he looked at the walls.

Then the stairs.

Then the ceiling.

Then the furniture.

He looked confused.

Not because he was visiting someplace unfamiliar.

But rather because the move from one "home" back to a second "home" was confusing to him.

I remember thinking:

"This is what divorce looks like in real life."

Not court files.

Not legal arguments.

Not statutes.

People.

Parents.

Children.

Fear.

Confusion.

Heartbreak.

And families trying to find their footing in a new world.

 

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WHAT I LEARNED

During the week, I watched judges make decisions.

On evenings and weekends, I watched families live with those decisions.

The court system focused on resolving disputes.

My then girlfriend's family  focused on living with the consequences of those decisions.

The legal system focused on parenting schedules.

Her family focused on birthdays, holidays, school events, hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and children trying to make sense of two homes.

The court files told one story.

Real life often told another.

And slowly, I began to understand something that has shaped my work for nearly four decades.

Knowing divorce law is one thing.

But to me, understanding how divorce laws affect real people is more important.

I believe that this realization has made me a better divorce lawyer.

It made me wiser.

It made me more creative.

It helped me see issues that I otherwise might have missed.

It helped me understand not only what a judge might do, but how a family might actually live with the result.

And for nearly 40 years, that perspective has shaped the advice I give, the strategies I develop, and the way I advocate for my clients.

What Our Clients Say:

"Steve Kaplan represented me in a grueling two year divorce. A trained attorney myself, I give Steve the highest marks."

F.M., Esq.

"As a psychotherapist, I have quite a few clients who have been represented by Steve Kaplan, and have found him to be honest, direct, approachable, and focused."

M.M.S., LCSW

"From the time of the initial consultation through to the end, I felt like I had a big brother in my corner that you did not want to mess with, who had an answer to any and every situation that might arise."

B.N.

"I was in such a difficult situation with little to no hope of ever recovering when I was blessed with finding Steve Kaplan. This man is truly a miracle worker and directs a team of professionals like an orchestra conductor."

L.W.

"He is the most knowledgeable family law attorney I know. He has helped each of my clients obtain extremely favorable results.."

V.M., Esq.

"As a physician in the community, I have benefited greatly from Steve's expertise"

S.S., MD

"In addition to his caring demeanor, his knowledge of the law is unmatched."

K.L., Esq.

"He is the consummate professional that you can trust with the most complicated, emotional process you can possible go through. I have recommended him to others and will continue to do so. Hire him, he's the best!"

J.R.

"Hands down, the best divorce attorney in New Jersey."

D.H.

"He is a very honest man and I believe his honesty is known throughout the Monmouth/Ocean county court system which gives him credibility with both judges and his peers."

A.A.

"Steve Kaplan is without question one of the most caring, knowledgeable and patient Divorce Lawyers."

D.Z.

"I’m glad that I listened to him then, and now 8 years later I’m still glad that I listened to him."

J.F.

"One of New Jersey's best family law attorneys."

J.T.

"Steve Kaplan has earned his place as one of the best lawyers in New Jersey through his knowledge, wisdom, dedication and many long years of experience."

H.S.

"His passion is to provide reliable information for people struggling with divorce issues who need regular support with their legal questions."

M.W.

"He fought hard for what he believed was in my best interest, and Thank God he did. With his help, I was able to rebuild my life. I survived because of Mr.Kaplan's services and highly recommend him."

K.S.

"He is relatable, kind, and straight forward."

C.Z.

"I can't say enough about how well Mr Kaplan treated me and the exceptional service I received by him and his firm."

M.C.

"I want to personally thank you for everything you have done for me. You are a true professional. A miracle happened in my life when I met you."

MJ

"If you want an attorney with straightforward integrity, conscientious with your money, and gives extremely honest viewpoints based on his 30 plus years of experience, Steve is the attorney for you."

B.P.

"Steve Kaplan is the only family law attorney I will ever refer anyone to see. He helped me through a difficult divorce with issues including child custody, child support and division of property about 10 years ago and has been available and easily reachable for any concerns I’ve had over the years since."

C.L.

"Steve advised me and worked with me each step of the way, always knowing the specific details of my case. He made me feel like we were working together as a team to get to a positive end result."

L.G.

"The absolute best experience with this team. Working with Steven was one of the best decisions I made during my process. Everyone, and I mean everyone at this firm was so pleasant to work with."

F.J.

"...He proved to be very compassionate and I want to thank him and Valerie for their professionalism throughout the process. Highly Recommend."

C.C.

"He goes the extra mile to make sure that he has all the important information needed to assist the client and reach the best results. I was very satisfied and highly recommend Steve."

P.J.

"Steven takes the time to personally understand your case. He is definitely a great lawyer, who works for his clients , and it's never driven by money, you come first...this is a rare trait in this world today."

P.S.

"Steve is an excellent attorney and is always looking for new and innovative ways to better serve his clients. Easy to work with and draws on his extensive knowledge and experience to get great results."

K.M.

"Steven J. Kaplan took what was literally a spiraling out of control legal situation due to a conflict between two other attorneys....he locked it down and wrapped it up with a mutually agreeable bow for two formerly warring ex-spouses who share a minor child. He makes miracles happen."

P.Y.

"Steve is a fantastic divorce lawyer who deeply cares about his clients. Exactly who you'd want by your side in a difficult time."

R.M., Esq.

"I found him to be a compassionate, caring professional with a good grasp of the details at a time when I was drowning in a lot of difficult feelings. I have concluded the dissolution of my marriage, and have the strength to carry on, and I give him and his firm a lot of credit for that."

P.O.

"Steve is a stellar individual and professional. From the outset, Steve handles cases with a strategic and realistic approach. Most importantly, he does this with enormous compassion and genuine concern. Steve masterfully tackles difficult, contentious family dynamics, in order to preserve sanity, finances and heartache. In every interaction, the common theme that pervades is one of practicality and cooperation. Steve takes matters related to well the being of children seriously. As a physician in the community, caring for adults and children alike, I have benefited greatly from Steve's expertise. I recommend Steve without hesitation to anyone searching for representation and/or regarding all family/divorce related matters."

S.S., M.D. (2018)

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PLEASE NOTE:

The testimonials presented on this website are from actual clients and professional colleagues of The Law Office of Steven J. Kaplan, Esq., and are reprinted with permission. They reflect the individual experiences of those clients and colleagues. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future matter.

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WHY I CREATED DIVORCE SMARTER

The lessons I learned from Judge Graves and from becoming part of a divorced family never left me.

Throughout my career, I found myself explaining the same important concepts to client after client.

How custody really works.

How support issues are decided.

How children often experience divorce differently than adults.

How decisions that seem small today can affect a family years later.

And I noticed something.

Many people were making some of the most important decisions of their lives without fully understanding the process they were entering.

So years ago, I began creating educational materials to help people better understand divorce.

Over time, those materials evolved into my Divorce Smarter course.

Today, Divorce Smarter is a free New Jersey divorce course designed to help people understand the divorce process before they make decisions that may affect them and their families for years to come.

Whether you ultimately hire me, hire another lawyer, or simply want to become better informed, my goal is simple:

Help you make smarter divorce decisions.

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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

 

1. How divorce works in New Jersey

2. Child custody and parenting issues

3. Alimony and child support

4. Financial issues and property division

5. Common mistakes people make

6. Negotiation strategies

7. Ways to reduce unnecessary conflict

8. How to approach divorce more strategically

9. How to make smarter decisions

YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO DIVORCE SMARTER.

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VIDEO: Should You Mediate? Or Go To Court? (60 second video answer)

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Get free access to Divorce Smarter.

Learn how divorce works.

Understand your options.

And hopefully this will all help you make better decisions to help you get better results in your case.

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START YOUR "DIVORCE EDUCATION" TODAY.

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Learn how divorce works in New Jersey.

Start making decisions with knowledge instead of fear.

Divorce Smarter!

Steven J. Kaplan, Esq.

Free Divorce Education For New Jersey Residents

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