If you’ve been served with divorce papers or just received a court notice for a custody or support motion in Union County, you’re probably feeling one thing:
❗Overwhelmed. And out of time.
Maybe your spouse is trying to get full custody.
Maybe you’re being asked to pay more support than you can afford.
Maybe you’re being told you can’t see your kids — unless it’s supervised.
Before this turns into a courtroom war that drains your wallet and wrecks your co-parenting future, you need to know:
🧭 You have options. You have rights. And you’re not alone.
At Guaranteed Divorce Mediation (GDM Online), we help people across Elizabeth, Linden, Plainfield, Union Township, Westfield, Hillside, Roselle, and Rahway:
- Respond to FM and FD motions
- File a cross-motion to protect parenting rights or financial stability
- Choose online divorce mediation instead of costly litigation
- Get connected with a family law attorney if full representation is needed
📍 Union County Family Court Moves Fast — Are You Ready?
All divorce and family law cases in Union County are handled at:
Union County Superior Court – Family Division
📍 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
This court processes:
- FM docket: Divorce and post-divorce motions
- FD docket: Custody, parenting time, and child support for unmarried parents
Family court judges in Union County see hundreds of cases each month — and they make big decisions based solely on the paperwork you file.
If you don’t respond correctly or show up unprepared, the court can:
- Award full custody to the other party
- Set child support based on incomplete info
- Enter a default judgment if you don’t respond
- Freeze you out of major parenting decisions
⏰ URGENCY: Deadlines That Can Change Everything
If you’ve been served:
- You typically have 35 days to respond to a divorce complaint
- If a motion has been filed (custody, parenting time, support), you have only:
- 15 days before the hearing to file an opposition or cross-motion
- The other side then has 8 days to reply to your cross-motion
If you miss these deadlines or respond without key documentation, you risk losing important rights — possibly permanently.
🤔 Should You Hire a Lawyer or Try Mediation?
The answer might be both.
At GDM Online, we help you assess the situation first — no pressure, no confusion. Then we:
- Help you file the correct response or appearance
- Offer divorce mediation online if both sides are willing to settle out of court
- Refer you to a Union County family law attorney if the case requires legal firepower
🧠 What a Smart Legal Response Looks Like
Whether you’re responding to a motion or trying to avoid one, you need to file:
- A strong certification (your sworn story to the court)
- A cross-motion if you’re making your own requests
- A clear parenting plan (if custody/visitation is on the table)
- A Case Information Statement (CIS) for financial and support matters
- Proof of your involvement, stability, or need for support
- Optional: Letters from teachers, doctors, or counselors
You don’t need to figure this out alone — we’ll help you do it right and fast.
💬 Real Story: Linden Father Responds to Custody Motion with Mediation Win
Case: Jamal from Linden was served with a custody motion from his ex requesting:
- Sole legal and physical custody
- Supervised parenting time
- Increased child support
- Counsel fees
He only had 10 days to respond.
What we did:
- Reviewed the motion same-day
- Helped Jamal file a cross-motion requesting 50/50 custody
- Attached co-parenting app logs, text messages, and proof of active involvement
- Proposed online mediation — his ex agreed
- Reached a new custody and support agreement in 3 Zoom sessions
- Filed the Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) and avoided trial
🧾 No courtroom fight.
⚖️ Parenting rights preserved.
💵 Thousands saved on legal fees.
🔁 Filing a Cross-Motion in Union County? Here’s Why It Matters
When you receive a motion — especially one requesting custody changes or support increases — the smartest thing you can do is file a cross-motion.
That way you can:
- Ask for shared custody or parenting time
- Challenge support calculations
- Enforce your own rights (access, communication, holidays)
- Request the court to consider your version of the facts
But again — the clock is ticking. Cross-motions must be filed with your response — not later.
👀 Signs You May Be Dealing with Parental Alienation
If the other parent is trying to eliminate your parenting time, you may be dealing with alienation. Warning signs include:
- Sudden refusal of your child to visit or speak with you
- The other parent not sharing school/medical info
- False claims of “abuse” with no evidence
- Your child using adult language about the divorce
- Ignored texts/emails or gatekeeping around holidays
We’ll help you respond with facts, timelines, and a parenting plan that shows you’re engaged and stable — and not the problem.
💡 What Mediation Looks Like (And Why It’s a Game-Changer)
Mediation is private, voluntary, and highly effective — especially in emotionally charged divorces.
We offer online divorce mediation in Union County for:
- Custody & parenting time
- Child support & alimony
- Property and debt division
- Living arrangements and parenting transitions
Couples often settle everything in 2–4 sessions, for a flat fee starting at $500.
It’s faster. It’s cheaper. And you stay in control.
💬 FAQs – Union County Family Court Edition
❓ Do I have to go to court?
Not always. If both sides agree to mediate, we can avoid court altogether. If not, we’ll help you prepare and connect with legal counsel.
❓ Can I still respond if my court date is in a few days?
Yes — but call us immediately. We may be able to file a motion for adjournment or get your opposition and cross-motion in under pressure.
❓ Can I request custody, not just defend against losing it?
Absolutely. That’s what a cross-motion is for. If you want more parenting time, joint custody, or a more balanced schedule — now’s the time.
❓ Can you help if I already missed the deadline?
Possibly. If the court hasn’t ruled yet, we may be able to intervene. The sooner you contact us, the better.
📞 Don’t Let Court Deadlines Decide Your Family’s Future
If you’re in Elizabeth, Linden, Union, Rahway, Westfield, Hillside, Roselle, or anywhere in Union County, and you’ve just been served — don’t wait until it’s too late.
Let us help you:
- Understand the motion
- File the right response
- Protect your parenting time and finances
- Explore mediation or get referred to a strong family law attorney if needed
👉 Call us now at 973-606-6600
👉 Text 201-205-3201
👉 Or Contact Us Here
We’ll help you take back control — and stop this divorce from becoming a disaster.
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