Our Full-Service Family Law Firm
At Bauer & Karch Law Group, LLC, we understand that every family is unique. With decades of combined experience, our dedicated team is committed to guiding you through family law matters with both compassion and expertise. Our skilled attorneys work tirelessly to achieve fair outcomes that prioritize your family’s best interests, supporting you every step of the way as you begin your next chapter.
Legal Practice Areas
Bauer & Karch Law Group is here to help you navigate through the divorce and family law processes to ensure the best possible outcome.
divorce
Our dedicated legal team is here to provide guidance and support with both skill and compassion throughout the divorce process. We work toward favorable resolutions for our clients through alternative dispute methods such as mediation, collaborative divorce, and arbitration.
custody and parenting time
A key part of any divorce is making child custody arrangements that allow your children to flourish. Our priority is always to protect your children’s well-being and act in the best interests of your family as you move forward.
child support
We also recognize that child support is often one of the most sensitive and challenging aspects of divorce. Our attorneys will walk you through New Jersey’s child support laws and advocate for the financial resources your children need to ensure long-term stability and security.
alimony
Spousal maintenance can also bring its own complexities. With extensive knowledge and experience, our legal team is committed to safeguarding your financial future and working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for every client.
domestic violence
If you’re experiencing domestic violence or have been served with a restraining order, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced legal team. We are here to support you, protect your rights, and work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of you and your loved ones.
Arbitration & Mediation
At Bauer & Karch Law Group, LLC, we encourage clients to pursue amicable solutions whenever possible by utilizing the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. This cost-effective method focuses on resolving conflicts outside the courtroom through mediation and arbitration, promoting fairness and cooperation.
Collaborative Law
Ending a marriage is never easy, but collaborative law aims to make the process smoother by helping both parties reach mutual agreements without litigation. Our compassionate attorneys are here to guide you every step of the way, offering the support and legal insight needed to achieve a fair and respectful resolution.
DUI/DWI& Traffic violations
Understanding your rights is crucial when facing DUI, DWI, or other traffic-related charges. Speaking with an experienced attorney right away can significantly impact your case’s outcome. The skilled team at Bauer & Karch Law Group, LLC is prepared to build a personalized defense strategy tailored to your situation, ensuring your rights are fully protected throughout the process.
Complimentary Initial Consultation
Fill out this form or call us at 908-236-8204 to schedule a free consultation with our team.
Why Clients Choose Us
Full-Service Family Law Firm
Your family’s legal matters deserve the guidance of an experienced law firm that carefully evaluates every possible option and outcome. Whether through alternative dispute resolution or in the courtroom, our compassionate New Jersey attorneys are dedicated to protecting you and your loved ones.
Over 50 Years of Experience
The Bauer & Karch team has the knowledge and experience to handle complex litigation matters, including high-asset divorces, business-related separations, custody disputes, and domestic violence cases. We are committed to delivering strong, compassionate representation focused on protecting your rights and pursuing the best possible outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have the answers to all your family law related questions. If you can’t find a response to your query, don’t hesitate to contact us!
What are the steps to file for divorce?
Once a Marital Settlement Agreement has been signed, a Divorce Complaint can be filed, and you may request that the Final Judgment of Divorce be granted based on the submitted documents. In many cases, this allows the divorce to be finalized without either party needing to appear in court.
What are the differences between sole custody, joint custody, and shared custody?
Legal custody and physical custody are two separate and distinct concepts. Legal custody, which may be sole or joint, relates to decision-making authority over important issues such as a child’s health, education, and overall welfare. Physical custody, often referred to as parenting time, concerns how much time the child spends with each parent.
How is child support calculated?
New Jersey generally relies on the Child Support Guidelines to determine child support in most cases. However, there are certain situations where the Court cannot apply these Guidelines. In those instances, child support is decided based on the factors set forth in the applicable statute.
For how long is spousal support & maintenance paid?
The duration of alimony depends heavily on the specific circumstances of each case. New Jersey recognizes four types of alimony: open durational, limited duration, rehabilitative, and reimbursement.
How can I obtain a temporary restraining order?
If the situation occurs during regular Superior Court hours, you should contact the Court and speak with a member of the Family Division or Domestic Violence Unit, who will guide you through the process of appearing before a judge. If the incident happens outside of normal Superior Court hours, you will meet with a Municipal Court judge who will hear your testimony and determine whether to issue a temporary restraining order.
How is Arbitration different from Mediation?
Arbitration is like litigation in that an arbitrator issues a binding decision on the unresolved matters, similar to how a judge would. Mediation involves a neutral third party who helps the parties work toward a mutually acceptable agreement. Collaborative practice is a process where the parties commit to avoiding litigation and, with the guidance of their attorneys and other team professionals, explore options to reach the best outcomes for their family
What is the best way to get in contact with you?
Feel free to call or email us anytime.
Do you practice in all of New Jersey?
We are licensed to practice throughout the state of New Jersey, but our primary focus is Vicinage XIII, which includes Hunterdon, Warren, and Somerset counties. We also handle cases in nearby counties, including Morris, Middlesex, and Mercer.
Testimonials
Wonderful Lawyer
Working with Mr. Karch was an absolute pleasure. He was extremely patient, kind, supportive, knowledgeable, and kept us informed every step of the way. His response time was extremely quick, and he was exceptionally thorough. There were absolutely no surprises at any point during the process. If you need a lawyer, chances are you are already under some degree of stress. Aside from his legal knowledge, Mr. Karch alleviated so much of our stress by being a genuinely kind human being. I would recommend his services to anyone.
Mr. Karch is externally knowledgeable in his field of practice and offers the very best of service to his clients. The areas of family law can be very personal and emotional. However, Mr. Karch is extremely good at navigating the issues and having you feel confident and assured that your matter will be handled and represented to the fullest extent possible. I highly recommend him and his staff for any and all legal matters that may arise.
I have had a very long and positive relationship with Steven Karch – he is extremely well versed and knowledgeable in the area of Family Law. In my particular case he always counseled me with ALL the options afforded to me with extensive details. I am very grateful to have had the pleasure and opportunity to have Steve represent me in a difficult situation and come out of it in good standing overall.
Steven Karch, Esq. – consummate professional
If we had to do it all over again, it would be with Steven Karch. Mr. Karch represented my son for his very ugly divorce and myself for criminal charges related to this exceptionally nasty matrimonial situation. Many can know the letter of the law. Few seem to be able to steer clients safely past the shoals of disaster as effectively as Mr. Karch. Do not be deceived by his calm demeanor. He is a consummate negotiator, and very adept at keeping the appropriate focus for the situation in the face of terrible emotional upheaval. He does not promise pie in the sky, but very methodically sets forth actions and outcomes, then dispassionately counsels clients, keeping inflamed emotions out of the business equation. With Steven Karch’s wise counsel, my son and I survived this awful experience relatively intact, and we have made a permanent trusting association with Mr. Karch for all our legal work going forward.
I have found Mr. Karch to be extremely knowledgeable of the law. He exhibits patience, compassion and empathy; yet, in a courtroom setting, he is focused, deliberate, strategic and well within his comfort zone. Not once have I seen him outmaneuvered by his adversary.
Absolutely best family lawyer you’ll find. Not to mention over all great people. Made the experience tolerable and always had me and the kids best interest in mind. Not worried about money like most lawyers. Kept me out of court and I kept what was rightfully mine. I would give her ten stars if I could! You won’t be disappointed!
We had the misfortune of having to deal with a number of disappointing and unprofessional Attorneys – one was more incompetent than the next – but all consistently with big bills and no results . We were discouraged and hopeless . We were referred to Maryann Bauer by two of our friends who were both outstanding Attorneys in a different fields . Maryann Bauer is highly respected in her field and we were fortunate to have met her . She proved herself in the first meeting to be kind and attentive – listening and taking notes paying attention and retaining what we were actually telling her- we felt comfortable and confident and hired her to handle our disaster that was overwhelming our lives – and she did that successfully! – Maryann Bauer is one of the most forthright and respectable people we have ever met and done business with . This attorney ( and her staff ) have a way of handling themselves professionally through what can prove to be a very overwhelming , intense and disruptive life situations , on a professional level . She is unique – classy and poised – honest and motivated to attain resolution expeditiously without gauging you every step of the way and not interested in wasting time to run up your bills – ending up nowhere -which is the nightmare we found with so many other attorneys in this field. Thank you
Our Blog
Stay up to date on family law and divorce matters.
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27 Main Street,
Lebanon, New Jersey 08833
908-236-8204