Information About Criminal Matters

Jose David Alcantara, Esquire • March 25, 2025

Information About Criminal Matters


Jose David Alcantara

1125 Atlantic Ave. Suite 541
Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
Tel. 609-782-2494 email: Jda84375@gmail.com


Criminal charges, even if you are found not guilty or the charges are dismissed or otherwise disposed of, can have the most profound impact on other matters of an individual's life. The charges can affect your employment prospects, your privilege to carry and possess certain licenses (hunting, police employment, casinos, driver's license, etc). In addition, one can also lose a reputation, friendship's and family relations as well as incur bankruptcy. The info here is not final advice. You should obtain a qualified attorney.

Certain common sense suggestions are in order before and after obtaining an attorney to represent your freedom. Among these are the following:

1. Trust, cooperate and inform your attorney. Tell the attorney of your choice all the details regarding the arrest, summons or charges. These facts will not only include the exact details of the actual arrest and charges but also information regarding any prior charges or incidents, names and addresses of character and reputation witnesses, prior employment, education, social security number, legal status, prior medical history, employment history, military service, residences, need for an interpreter, financial ability (bail), the existence of any evidence, etc.

2. Keep your attorney informed as to your address change.

3. Do not discuss the case with anyone.

4. Make a proper appearance. Remember that you are constantly being judged on your appearance, clothing, speech.

5. Have patience. Concluding any criminal matter is a long and drawn out process which may take weeks or months depending on the seriousness of the offense.

6. Arrive on time at any court hearing.

The attorney's fees in criminal matters are paid on a per hourly basis and often involves a deposit. The amount of the deposit depends on the seriousness of the offense, the importance of the offense to the accused as well as how many hours are put into the matter.

Besides the summons or charges, the first document your attorney receives is the police report or "discovery," which details, to some extent, the investigator or arresting officers version of the occurrences leading to the charges being filed. This report is helpful to the accused in that it must be properly filed, sufficiently detailed and provides the first glimpse as to the nature of the charges against the accused. If the facts leading to these charges are insufficient, the charges themselves can be dismissed by way of a motion to dismiss for insufficiency, or a probable cause motion, or a motion to dismiss the indictment or a host of other motions such as perhaps the charges were brought in an erroneous jurisdiction or venue.

If the matter becomes indictable, i.e., transferred to a higher court, then there will be a waiting period to ascertain the validity of this new status to the charges. If the charges are not worthy of being indictable, then they may be downgraded back to the municipal court as a lesser offense.

There thus are several methods by which erroneous charges may be dismissed or otherwise resolved, depending on the court's discretion:


 

a. motions for probable cause, suppression, misidentification,  improper              

grand jury determinations, loss of discovery, etc.

              b. plea agreements.

 

              c. Programs such as pre-trial intervention (avoidance of jail

              through a probationary type of program wherein you agree to

              maintain employment, undergo urine exams, report any address

              changes, not become involved in any other criminal activity,

              etc.), community justice, mediation, etc.

 

              d. Probation

 

              e. merging the charges

 

              f. mutual dismissal of the charges by way of a Fifth Amendment

              (right to remain silent).

 

              g. voluntary dismissal by the alleged victim.

 

If the accused fails to appear in court for any one hearing, whether it be the arraignment (first appearance to declare his/her innocence) or whether it be at a pre-trial conference (hearing to determine any issues that may need to be resolved to protect the interests of the State or the defense), then a bench warrant will be issued. A bench warrant is an Order for the arrest of a person for failure to respect the court and for failure to appear. The bench warrant will later require an explanation for the failure to appear and the court will most likely impose the requirement of a reasonable or appropriate bail amount commensurate to the crime charge so as to assure the return of the accused to court.


Probable Cause and Probable Cause Hearings in Criminal Cases

To make a valid arrest or get an arrest warrant from a judge, the police must have probable cause. This is a different standard from the reasonable suspicion standard required to make an initial stop. Determining how much evidence is necessary to justify a finding of probable cause depends on the specific facts of the situation. A police officer needs more evidence than the level required for the reasonable suspicion standard, but they do not need to have enough evidence to prove that the suspect is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. No percentage has been assigned to probable cause. Some judges seem to believe that the standard is less demanding than the preponderance of the evidence standard used in civil cases. Since that standard involves a greater than 50 percent probability, probable cause may not be what most people would consider “probable.”

Determining Probable Cause

Probable cause requires objective facts, not subjective beliefs.

A police officer must have more than a subjective hunch to make an arrest or get an arrest warrant. They need to have objective evidence that indicates the suspect’s responsibility for the crime. Even if a police officer believes that they have probable cause, a judge may not necessarily agree. They will review the information in the affidavit for the warrant and make a final decision. You should be aware that being guilty of a crime and having probable cause for an arrest are two different things. Probable cause may exist even if the defendant is not guilty.

Probable Cause Hearings

This term can refer to either of two types of hearings. Generally, a probable cause hearing happens together with the defendant’s first court appearance after their arrest. The judge will determine whether probable cause supported the arrest. If it did not, law enforcement will not be able to continue holding the defendant in custody if they have not been released on bail or on their own recognizance. The other type of probable cause hearing happens after the prosecution has filed charges and involves the judge considering testimony on whether the defendant more likely than not committed the crime. If probable cause exists, the case will move forward toward trial.

If the police get a warrant before making an arrest, the warrant will satisfy the Fourth Amendment requirement of probable cause. However, since officers generally do not get a warrant before making an arrest, a judge often will need to determine whether probable cause exists soon after a suspect is taken into custody. The judge may make a finding of probable cause if they are persuaded by a written statement from the police or prosecution regarding the facts of the case.

Consequences of Arrest Without Probable Cause

1.     1 Exclusion of evidence seized during the illegal arrest

2.     2 Removal of the arrest from the record

3.     3 Possibly a civil lawsuit for damages (usually only when an arrestee was physically hurt)

Timing for Probable Cause Hearings

Prompt action can be important for probable cause hearings. States may require a hearing within 24 hours after an arrest, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that 48 hours is close enough for constitutional purposes. Even if the hearing occurs within the required period, a constitutional violation still may arise if law enforcement delayed the hearing for improper reasons, such as looking for evidence to support probable cause. Failing to meet the deadline likely will justify the suspect’s release unless law enforcement can show that there is an extraordinary reason warranting an exception.

The Rights of Defendants

The rights of criminal defendants are protected by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth amendments to the Constitution. Although these protections are intended to shield individuals from abuses by the government, the government also has an obligation to safeguard its citizens against criminal activity. The Supreme Court has had to address both concerns. 

The Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment is a guarantee against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires that a search warrant be granted only with probable cause. If the police exceed their authority and conduct an illegal search, the evidence gathered may not be admissible in court under what is called the exclusionary rule. While initially applied only to federal cases, the rule has been extended to state courts since 1961. In recent years, the Supreme Court has attempted to limit the exclusionary rule amid complaints that a blanket exclusion of all evidence, used even when the police error was a minor one, was letting guilty defendants go free. Under chief justices Warren Burger and William Rehnquist, the Court has adopted the good faith exception to the Fourth Amendment. This exception uses loopholes in the exclusionary rule, such as when the police believed they had a valid search warrant but it turned out to be based on outdated information. The good faith exception has been applied even to searches without warrants for which the police could show their intention was legal. Warrantless searches are based on a broad interpretation of what constitutes probable cause and a reasonable search. The overall trend has been to weaken the guarantee of personal security in favor of controlling criminal behavior. 

The Fifth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment is probably one of the most misunderstood safeguards of personal liberty. In the American legal process, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution; the defendant is innocent until proven guilty and has the right to remain silent. Prosecutors can never ask the accused if he or she committed a crime. Too often, we see through news coverage of actual trials or dramatizations on film or TV someone who is obviously guilty "plead the Fifth." The problem is that such a statement has, for many, come to suggest that the speaker is guilty — the exact opposite of the amendment's intent. To ensure that a person is not made a witness against himself or herself, the Supreme Court has issued several landmark rulings. Escobedo v. Illinois (1964) stated that a person has the right to have an attorney present when questioned by the police. In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), the Court required the police to inform a suspect of his or her constitutional rights. This statement by the police is now known as the Miranda warning.

The Sixth Amendment

The Sixth Amendment deals with the rights of the accused in criminal cases. Although a jury trial is assumed to be a fundamental civil liberty, it was not until 1968 that the Supreme Court ruled that this right is one the states are obligated to recognize in all but the most minor criminal proceedings. The states remain free to set the minimum number of people that constitute a jury, and many do not require a unanimous jury vote for conviction. In Gideon v. Wainright (1963), the Supreme Court held that the right to counsel provided for in the Sixth Amendment extends to the states. The government, at any level, must provide legal assistance to defendants who cannot afford their own lawyer. 

Criminal defendants have several constitutional rights. Perhaps the most essential protection is the requirement that the prosecution prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But defendants have other rights, too, including the rights to:

·        remain silent

·        confront witnesses

·        have a public trial

·        have a jury trial

·        have a speedy trial

·        be represented by an attorney

·        receive adequate representation

·        not be tried twice for the same offense ("double jeopardy").

Here we explore some of the other hallmarks of basic criminal procedure. (For more, see What does the Bill of Rights do?)

Right to Remain Silent

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that a defendant cannot "be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." In short, the defendant cannot be forced to speak. If the defendant chooses to remain silent, the prosecutor cannot call the defendant as a witness, nor can a judge or defense attorney force the defendant to testify. (Defendants in civil cases may, however, be forced to testify as a witness in a civil case. And for information on the right to remain silent outside the trial context, see The Privilege Against Self-Incrimination.)

Right to Confront Witnesses

The "confrontation clause" of the Sixth Amendment gives defendants the right to "be confronted by the witnesses against" them. This gives defendants the right to cross-examine witnesses—that is, the right to require the witnesses to come to court, "look the defendant in the eye," and subject themselves to questioning by the defense.

The Sixth Amendment forbids prosecutors from proving a defendant's guilt with oral or written hearsay statements from non-testifying witnesses, unless a judge concludes that the hearsay is non-testimonial. In general, statements made during ongoing emergencies (such as a call to a 911 operator reporting a crime in progress) are not testimonial. On the other hand, statements made to police officers seeking information about a past crime are testimonial. (See In Child Abuse Case, Supreme Court Narrows Right to Confront Witnesses.)

Special Confrontation Rules for Child Sexual Assault Cases

In recent years, legislators have been concerned about defendants who escape punishment for sexually molesting young children because the children were afraid to testify in the defendant's presence. To address this problem, many states have enacted special rules that authorize judges—in certain situations—to allow children to testify via closed-circuit television. The defendant can see the child on a television monitor, but the child cannot see the defendant. The defense attorney can be personally present where the child is testifying and cross-examine the child.

Right to a Public Trial

The Sixth Amendment guarantees public trials in criminal cases. This is an important right, because the presence in courtrooms of a defendant's family and friends, ordinary citizens, and the press can help ensure that the government observes important rights associated with trials.

In a few situations—normally involving children—the court will close the court to the public. For example, judges can bar the public from attending cases when defendants are charged with sexual assaults against children. Also, the judge may exclude witnesses from the courtroom in order to prevent a witness from influencing the subsequent testimony of another.

Right to a Jury Trial

The Sixth Amendment gives a person accused of a crime the right to be tried by a jury, except for petty offenses carrying a sentence of six months or less of jail time. This right has traditionally been interpreted to mean a 12-person jury. However, a jury can constitutionally consist of as few as six persons. (For more information, see The Right to Trial by Jury.)

A unanimous verdict is required to convict a defendant. A lack of unanimity is called a "hung jury," and the defendant will go free unless the prosecutor decides to retry the case.

Potential jurors must be selected randomly from the community, and the actual jury must be selected by a process that allows the judge and lawyers to screen out biased jurors. In addition, a lawyer may eliminate several potential jurors simply because he feels that these people would not be sympathetic to his side—but these decisions (called "peremptory challenges") may not be based on the juror's personal characteristics such as race, sex, religion, or national origin. (See Jury Selection.)

Right to a Speedy Trial

The Sixth Amendment gives defendants a right to a "speedy trial." However, it does not specify exact time limits. Thus, judges often have to decide on a case-by-case basis whether a defendant's trial has been so delayed that the case should be thrown out. In making this decision, judges look at the length of the delay, the reason for the delay, and whether the delay has prejudiced (harmed) the defendant's position.

Every jurisdiction has enacted statutes that set time limits for moving cases from the filing of the initial charge to trial. While these statutes are very strict in their wording, most defendants cannot get their convictions reversed on the ground that these statutes were violated. (For more, see The Right to a Speedy Trial.)

Right to Be Represented by an Attorney

The Sixth Amendment provides that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right ... to have the assistance of counsel for his defense." If a defendant cannot afford an attorney (is "indigent"), a judge must appoint an attorney at government expense before sentencing the defendant to imprisonment. (For more detail, see Are lawyers available for defendants who can't afford to pay for one?) Judges routinely appoint attorneys for indigents in nearly all cases in which a jail sentence is possible.

Right to Adequate Representation

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that both indigent defendants who are represented by appointed counsel and defendants who hire their own attorneys are entitled to adequate representation—that is, to have a lawyer who does a reasonably good job at defending the defendant. Defendants are entitled to adequate representation not only at trial but also during plea bargains.

However, adequate representation is by no means perfect representation. Here are examples of claims that defendants have made to get their guilty verdicts thrown out but that appellate courts have rejected. (Note that the rulings depend on the particular facts at hand, meaning that these kinds of claims might, under different circumstances, actually establish ineffective assistance of counsel.)

·        The attorney failed to call favorable witnesses at trial.

·        The lawyer didn't object to the judge's mistaken instructions to jurors concerning the burden of proof.

·        The lawyer repeatedly advised the defendant, who claimed innocence, to plead guilty.

·        The attorney used cocaine during the time the representation took place.

·        The attorney represented the defendant while being suspended from the practice of law for failure to pay state bar dues.

On the other hand, circumstances can be sufficiently shocking to justify throwing out a guilty verdict based on an attorney's incompetence. Judges have reversed guilty verdicts where:

·        The attorney put a law-student intern in charge of the defense and left the courtroom while the case was going on.

·        During closing arguments, the attorney acknowledged that the defendant was guilty of a lesser crime without first securing the defendant's approval of this tactic.

·        During voir dire (questioning of the jury), the attorney failed to challenge two potential jurors who said they would be bothered by the defendant's failure to testify.

Right Not to Be Placed in Double Jeopardy

Among the clauses of the Fifth Amendment is this well-known provision: "[N]or shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb." This provision, known as the double jeopardy clause, protects defendants from being put on trial more than once for the same offense. (For much more on double jeopardy, including what it means for sentencing, see The Prohibition Against Double Jeopardy.)

One important exception to the rule against double jeopardy is that defendants can properly be charged for the same conduct by different sovereigns. For example, a defendant may face charges in both federal and state court for the same conduct if some aspects of that conduct violated federal laws while other elements ran afoul of the laws of the state.

Furthermore, the double jeopardy clause forbids more than one criminal prosecution growing out of the same conduct. So, for example, a defendant can be brought once to criminal court (by the government) and once to civil court (by someone who's been harmed) for the same offense.


A house for rent sign is in the grass in front of a house

Informacion sobre Arrendar

By Jose David Alcantara, Abogado • March 25, 2025
Jose David Alcantara, Abogado 1125 Atlantic Ave. Suite 541 Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 Tel. (609)-782-2494 email: jda84375 @gmail.com SUS DERECHOS EN ALQUILAR CASA O APARTAMENTOS Uno de los mejores sitios informativos para comenzar a entender sus derechos de alquilar un departamento o casa esta situado en el website de New Jersey Legal Services, en Espanol: https://proxy.lsnj.org/rcenter/GetPublicDocument/Sites/LAW/Documents/Publications/Manuals/TenantsRights.pdf Alli le proveen a Usted una gran cantidad de informacion sobre sus derechos en arrendar, cual informacion tambien les ayuda a los proprietarios (Landlords). Aqui les explico ciertos de estos derechos, protegidos por la ley: 1. Inspeccion. Su residencia alquilada tiene que obligatoriamente pasar inspeccion de la ciudad. Sin esto, el proprietario esta alquilando (rentando) ilegalmente. La electricidad, plomeria, calefaccion e otros servicios tiene que llegar al nivel requirido por las leyes. Ud. Tiene derecho a reclamar este documento y lo puedo obtener del Municipio local. 2. Deposito. Su deposito tiene que ser depositado (y Ud. Ver la copia) en un “interest bearing account, “ una cuenta que le da interes. Si no, entonces el proprietario esta en violacion de arrendar legalmente la propriedad. La cantidad de deposito no puede ser mas que 1 ½ de la cantidad de la renta. 3. Reparaciones. Ud. Tiene derecho a reclamar reparaciones para las funciones como la nevera, estufa, electricidad, plomeria con tal que Ud. No causo intencionalmente el problema. Se recomienda que obtenga evidencia de esto y ponerlo todo en escrito. Ud. No necesariamente tiene derecho para reclamar reparaciones para “normal wear and tear” o sea, el desgastar usual o normal de ciertas cosas. Pero, el Landlord es obligado a pintar el apartamente cada tres (3) anos (pero si la pintura esta bien, esto no se tiene que hacer necesariamente). Consulte con un abogado. Informese. 4. Aumento de renta. El proprietario puede alzar la cantidad de renta, pero esto es limitado por la ley, o las leyes de su comunidad. Este aumento es tipicamente limitado a menos de 10%. 5. Nuevo Proprietario. Ud. Tiene derecho a quedarse alli bajo los mismos terminos de antes. El Landlord esta obligado a informarle que este vendiendo o cambiando proprietario. Consulte con un abogado para mas detalles. 6. Inspecciones del proprietario. Ud. Tiene derecho de vivir en paz. El proprietario no puede asomarse a su residencia sin noticia y demandar entrada. Eso es ilegal, incluyendo amenazamientos del Landlord. Obtenga sus pruebas, evidencia, fotos o grabaciones del abuso del Landlord para documentarlo. Estos factores no incluyen todos sus derechos y es solamente lo basico. Cordialmente, Jose David Alcantara, Doctor de Leyes
A broken red heart is sitting on a gray surface

Informacion sobre Divorcio

By Jose David Alcantara, Abogado • March 25, 2025
Jose David Alcantara, Abogado Direccion: 1125 Atlantic Ave. Suite 541 Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 Telefono : (609) 782-2494 email: jda84375@gmail.com Un divorcio o una separacion es una de las mas dificiles y emocionales experiencias que le puede suceder a una persona. La intencion del matrimonio, en general, es encontrar un medio de felicidad y amor en este mundo tan complicado. La terminacion del matrimonio, asi como su transicion, puede ser deprimente y concluir con una situacion financiera dificil que afecte a las personas para el resto de sus vidas. Las proximas recomendaciones son respuestas a algunas preguntas generales sobre su divorcio. Esta breve introduccion no debe reemplazar el consejo especifico de un abogado sobre su caso en particular. Cada caso es diferente. QUE TIPO DE DIVORCIO SE RECONOCE EN LAS LEYES DE NUEVA JERSEY? La ley es diferente en cada Estado. En Nueva Jersey, existen cuatro formas principales de solicitar un divorcio : Extrema crueldad Separacion de 18 meses Desercion de 12 meses Adulterio Tambien existen otras varias causas para solicitar un divorcio incluyendo, falta de informacion sobre antecedentes criminales, un matrimonio anterior que aun sigue valido, adicion a las drogas, una enfermedad, problemas psicologicos o comportamiento sexual anormal, etc. Cada tipo de divorcio requiere que ciertas condiciones legales existan para que se pueda cumplir el proceso legal que supone el divorcio. Por ejemplo, un divorcio basado en " EXTREMA CRUELDAD " no requiere que la "crueldad" sea " extrema ", sino que basicamente tienen que existir razones legales suficientes para declarar, en el enjuiciamento por parte del juez, que hay motivos para un divorcio. Siendo asi, "extrema crueldad" incluye actos como, abuso verbal, falta de intimidad, actos de violencia, falta de comunicacion, falta de atencion, etc. Legalmente, los juzgados requieren algunos detalles con fechas especificas de los actos u omisiones concretos para determinar exactamente la base de incapacidad para permitir la continuacion del matrimonio. En un caso de SEPARACION, el solicitante tiene que alegar y probar que han estado separados durante mas de 18 meses sin interrupcion, y que durante este tiempo no han tenido ninguna relacion intima. Cualquier acto de regresar a convivir juntos significa que, legalmente, la pareja no podra divorciarse bajo este tipo de divorcio hasta que se separen otra vez durante 18 meses. Bajo la ley, la separacion de 18 meses es prueba evidente de que el matrimonio esta completamente arruinado y entonces no hay necesidad de probar cualquier otra acusacion ( adulterio, extrema crueldad, etc.). En referencia a la DESERCION, el solicitante debe alegar y probar que han estado separados, y sin ninguna relacion intima, durante mas de 12 cmeses. La separacion debe de ser involuntaria al principio y que la desercion continue hasta el dia presente. En referencia al ADULTERIO, hay ciertas clarificaciones necesarias para entender este tipo de divorcio. Hay que evitar confusion en esta parte de la ley. Por ejemplo, no es necesario probar que definitivamente el esposo-a durmio con otra persona. No es necesario tener las fotografias en las que el-ella estaba durante el acto intimo, no es necesario ser tan grafico. Los juzgados han declarado repetitivamente que las pruebas indirectas pero creibles son suficientes para establecer los elementos probatorios requeridos para demostrar el adulterio. Tambien es suficiente prueba, en ciertos casos, si se ha visto al esposo-a aparecer en un hotel a horas sospechosas durante largos periodos de tiempo sin explicacion razonable. Por ejemplo, el ser visto en un hotel con otra persona en circunstancias sospechosas ( no estaba en el trabajo, reunion,etc.), entonces, estos actos serian suficiente, en parte, para probar y obtener un divorcio basado en adulterio. Se debe anotar que en Nueva Jersey, una esposa o esposo que pueda probar que su trauma o danos fisicos se han producido directamente por la relacion matrimonial, podria recibir una compensacion en el juzgado de lo civil por tales danos, con tal que tenga el informe medico y se pueda relacionar la culpa al matrimonio. QUE ES LA ANULACION ? En general, la anulacion es una nulidad del estado matrimonial debido a razones legales que mantienen invalido el contrato matrimonial desde el principio. Una anulacion declarara que el matrimonio nunca fue matrimonio. Ejemplos donde una nulidad esta permitida son: El o ella ya estaba casado o casada, no divorciado o divorciada, cuando se caso con la nueva esposa o esposo. Cuando el o ella no entendia que estaba casandose, debido a la influencia del alcohol o las drogas, limitaciones mentales, etc. Cuando el o ella fue forzado o forzada o amenazado o amenazada a casarse. Cuando el o ella, inmediatamente despues del matrimonio, desaparece sin explicacion y no se le puede encontrar, y ademas, no ha habido todavia ninguna relacion intima entre ambos. Cuando el o ella falta en ser sincero a la hora de explicar un dato serio y significante que podria haber afectado la decision de la otra persona de casarse ( antecedentes criminales, diferente religion, diferente raza, homosexualidad, deseo de no tener ninos, etc.). SI NO SE PUEDE ENCONTRAR AL ESPOSO O A LA ESPOSA, TODAVIA SE PUEDE OBTENER EL DIVORCIO? Lo cierto es que si. La ley requiere que el " proceso debido " del esposo no encontrado sea protegido. Esta proteccion al desaparecido consiste en recibir notificacion de la demanda en proceso a traves de carta por correo ordinario, certificada, y por un oficial del juzgado. Despues de agotar todas estas formas de notificacion, entonces, es necesario suplicar al juzgado para obtener servicio sustitorio. Este proceso es un poco problematico y, legalmente, consiste en una publicacion en la prensa local. LA LEY Y LOS MEJORES INTERESES PARA LOS NINOS : Un divorcio es una experiencia dolorosa para los adultos. En los terminos mas sencillos, un divorcio es cuando ambas partes no son capaces de resolver sus diferencias aun despues de obtener un consejero, psicologo, asistencia de la iglesia, etc. Para los ninos el divorcio es peor todavia, porque estan perdiendo una familia unida. Se recomienda que ambas partes resuelvan el divorcio a traves de un acuerdo en lugar de litigar el caso en juicio y dejar que un juez decida el futuro de los dos. Si van a juicio, va a haber gastos adicionales de abogado, expertos, asesores del valor de la casa, estimadores, examenes psicologicos y otros gastos mas. Todos los Estados de los Estados Unidos de America han creado leyes para proteger los mejores intereses de los ninos en un divorcio. Los juzgados ven a los ninos como victimas del divorcio y les dan una atencion especial. Normalmente, las razones para litigar un divorcio son la custodia y visitas de los ninos. Las leyes son diferentes de Estado a Estado. Es importante consultar con un abogado antes de cambiar de un Estado a otro. En Nueva Jersey por ejemplo, la presuncion es de custodia " joint ", o sea, compartida por los padres, segun la Ley NJSA 9:2-4 y 9:17-40. Por lo general, la ley requiere que los dos parientes tengan una decision conjunta en cuanto a la salud, escuela, medicacion, preparacion, etc. de los ninos; a menos que existan algunos factores negativos para quitarles los derechos al padre o a la madre. Los juzgados desean que los dos parientes tengan responsabilidades en la ayuda de los ninos con asistencia emocional, fisica y hasta espiritual. Un divorcio es una experiencia horrible para los ninos y hay que tratarlos con mucha delicadeza para evitar que tengan problemas mas tarde como adultos. El juzgado permitira casi cualquier decision de custodia que sea, en el buen interes de los ninos en la relacion. La custodia podria ser conjunta : 3 dias el y 4 ella; 5 dias ella y el fin de semana el; 6 meses ella y seis meses el; etc.; dependiendo de cada circunstancia. El juzgado puede incluso asignarle el caso a un representante de los ninos, aparte de los parientes, para que independientemente represente los intereses de los ninos. Muchos padres malinterpretan el termino " joint custody ". La intencion general de " joint custody " o custodia conjunta es mantener a cada pariente involucrado en la vida del nino, incluyendo decisiones sobre educacion, el mejor medico, la escuela, la medicina, la ninera, etc. Entonces, es importante ver algo mas que solamente el termino usado en cada divorcio para entender mejor su significado en cada caso, ya que cada caso es diferente. Es posible tambien que el juzgado le brinde custodia solamente a un pariente con visitas limitadas o liberales al otro. Las visitas pueden ser flexibles o estructuradas, segun el caso. En el supuesto de que ninguno de los padres sea capaz de tener la custodia ( los dos estan en la carcel, drogadictos, muertos, etc. ), entonces, los familiares o el juzgado toman posesion legal de los ninos, despues de una investigacion y juicio. DISTRIBUCION EQUITATIVA O IGUALITARIA DE LOS BIENES MATRIMONIALES La Corte, en la mayoria de los Estados, y ademas de la pension alimenticia y sostenimiento o manutencion de los hijos, puede decidir la distribucion de las propiedades que las dos partes adquirieron legalmente durante el matrimonio, segun consta en los estatutos anotados de New Jersey: NJ 2A : 34-23, et. Seq. En casi cada estado existen formas legales que tratan sobre las publicaciones acerca de la distribucion equitativa o igualitaria de los bienes matrimoniales. En cuanto a establecer alguna definicion acerca de que es distribucion equitativa, el Juez Pashman declara sucintamente en el caso de Kikkert v. Kikkert , 88 NJ 4 ( 1981 ) : " El objeto de la distribucion equitativa o igualitaria se diferencia del proposito de la pension alimenticia y manutencion de los hijos. La pension alimenticia y manutencion de los hijos pueden ayudar a mantener los beneficios o ingresos de ambas partes durante cierto tiempo, utilizando los ingresos de una parte para sostener a la otra. Sin embargo, la intencion principal o primaria de las leyes sobre distribucion equitativa de los bienes de la propiedad matrimonial no consiste en compensar por los cambios en la fortuna de cada una de las partes una vez que se han separado, sino cumplir una distribucion justa de lo que las partes, provechosa y legalmente, adquirieron mientras estaban unidos. " A la hora de decidir o aplicar justamente los principios de distribucion equitativa de los bienes matrimoniales, la Corte usualmente examinara, ademas de otros factores o requisitos, los siguientes: A. El estado o situacion economica de las partes en el momento en que las propiedades o bienes seran divididas. B. El tiempo o duracion del matrimonio. C. Los ingresos o propiedades que cada parte trajo o introdujo en el matrimonio. D. El nivel de vida experimentado por las partes durante el matrimonio. E. La condicion mental, fisica y emocional de cada esposo. F. Cualquier acuerdo prenupcial, es decir, antes o en el momento de celebracion del matrimonio. G. La ayuda o asistencia que cada parte del matrimonio hubiera prestado a la otra durante la vida del mismo matrimonio, como educacion, apoyo financiero o de otra clase, etc. H. El valor actual de cada bien, articulo y propiedad. I. El impacto o las consecuencias con respecto a las leyes de impuestos o tasas. J. Las necesidades concretas o particulares del esposo o esposa que tiene, o tendra el cuidado y manutencion del hijo o hijos, especialmente en relacion a la residencia. K. Las deudas y obligaciones de cada esposo. L. La capacidad para ganar dinero que tiene cada parte : educacion, experiencia, edad, estabilidad o inestabilidad en el trabajo, educacion necesaria para prepararse o practicar en un trabajo, etc. Estos factores o requisitos son similares a los que la Corte considera en referencia a los casos que envuelve la cuestion de la pension alimenticia. La distribucion equitativa de los bienes matrimoniales ve al matrimonio como una especie de negocio, entonces, considera, por ejemplo, si la esposa (incluso indirectamente) participo en el desarrollo del dinero o negocio matrimonial, manteniendo en buenas condiciones el trabajo en la casa y cubriendo las necesidades del marido, cuidando a los hijos y por ello perdiendo o dejando a un lado cualquier posibilidad de desarrollar su capacidad laboral fuera de la casa, al mismo tiempo que su capacidad para realizarse como profesional, no estudia una carrera o trabaja fuera de la casa, etc. Cuando decida proceder a un divorcio, tenga cuidado como escoge a su abogado. Pregunte en mas de un lugar. Si un abogado le ofrece alguna " garantia " de como va a resultar su caso, pidale que se lo ponga por escrito, ya que en las leyes sobre divorcio hay pocas garantias permanentes.