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4 Reasons Why You Need a Vocational Expert for Your Divorce

4 Reasons Why You Need a Vocational Expert for Your Divorce

Let’s face it, divorces can be ugly. While we all hope for the best and keep our fingers crossed that our soon-to-be-ex-spouse will behave maturely and allow the divorce to be as amicable as possible under the circumstances, we know that is not always the reality. It is particularly difficult when young children are involved.


You Need the Help of Divorce Professionals – Beyond Just a Divorce Lawyer


If you are getting divorced or you know that you are going down that path sometime soon, then you should start to think about who will be able to assist you in your divorce proceeding. The goal, of course, is to end the marriage as quickly as possible and with the least amount of acrimony. But, the other goal is to make sure that your children will have the proper financial support they need, and even if you do not have children that you will have the financial support you need. 


Back in the day, people thought that getting a good divorce lawyer was the beginning and end of the equation. That is really no longer the case. Many people now are getting the services, in addition to a lawyer, of professionals like a qualified divorce financial advisor, and a licensed therapist to deal with the emotional toll of a divorce.


Yet, more and more, people going through a divorce are employing the services of another important professional – the Vocational Expert. 


In this article, we will discuss the basic role of a vocational expert for divorces in New Jersey and elsewhere. More importantly, we will go through the 4 reasons why you need a vocational expert for your divorce. 


If, after reviewing this article, you have additional questions about obtaining a vocational expert for your divorce in New Jersey or the surrounding region, we invite you to contact us at Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. – OAS. 

 

We are one of the most experienced employability and life care planning firms in the United States. To discuss your case, call us at   1-800-292-1919 , contact us at a location near you, or through our online form.


The Vocational Expert


Vocational experts for divorce in New Jersey and elsewhere analyze a person’s education, experience, interests, and abilities against what is happening in the current employment market. The evaluate how likely a person can obtain employment, and what his or her earnings maybe both in the short and long term.


The information that a vocational expert can provide is very helpful in divorce proceedings because it will be vital to determining the appropriate payments for child and spousal support. 


Thus, if you are in the divorce process, here are 4 reasons why you should get the help of a vocational expert.


1 – Objective Evidence of Your Spouse’s Earning Potential


It is a sad reality that a spouse with a history of very high earnings will somehow become poor overnight the moment that a divorce begins. There are many cases in which a high-earning spouse will claim that his or her income has dropped precipitiously because of “economic conditions,” or will quit his or her job altogether and take a much lower-paying job just to avoid making spousal or child support payments . 


Given that tragic reality, you need to be armed to fight back against such unscrupulous tactics. That is where a vocational expert can come to the rescue.


vocational expert will see through such underhanded tactics by presenting facts about what your spouse can reasonably be expected to earn. Also, if the spouse’s income did decrease, a vocational expert can evaluate how likely and how soon his or her income will come back to where it once was. 


2 – Evaluate Your Own Earning Potential


By the same token, it is important to have an objective assessment of your earning potential. While a spouse may claim that you should be able to make a six-figure income because of your professional degrees. However, if you left the workforce to raise children, you need an evaluation of what you can actually earn in today’s job market, and whether you need to update your skills.


3 – To Rebut Your Spouse’s Vocational Expert


If your spouse obtains the services of a vocational expert to analyze your earning capacity for purposes of child and spousal support, then you would be wise to have a vocational expert evaluate your spouse as well. Note that if you are qualified to work in an occupation that pays about $80,000 annually, and you are currently working at a job paying $45,000 annually, then your spouse could argue that his or her support payments should be based on you earning $80,000, rather than what you are actually earning.


Thus, having your own vocational expert will put whatever evidence your spouse puts forward in check, so the court gets a reasonable picture of the financial picture.


4 – Quantifying Change in Life Situations


Vocational experts will take into account illness or injury when making an earnings assessment. Thus, a vocational expert will be able to present evidence showing what you could reasonably earn given a certain limitation that occurred during your life.   


OAS – The Vocational Experts for Divorce in New Jersey


The experts at Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. (OAS) have over forty years of experience documenting the income potential and employment capacity of those with wrongful termination cases, as well as with the underemployed, unemployed, and disabled spouses in many types of cases


OAS specializes in working with the plaintiff or defense attorney to assist in objectively documenting the economics in a case. From the initial referral to the trial testimony, OAS works with the retaining attorney so that the vocational assessment of the case can be objectively and efficiently presented. 


We strongly believe in the importance of a clear and understandable presentation of the facts. OAS is the leading provider of Vocational Expert and Life Care Planning Services  for Plaintiff and Defense attorneys. 


The company specializes in assisting attorneys in evaluating earning capacity in divorce cases and documenting the damages in cases where an individual has been severely injured by providing objective findings on how the injuries affect a persons’ ability to work and earn money, as well as the cost of care required in catastrophic injuries.


OAS is your Vocational Expert & Life Care Planner Nationwide, with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Nevada, and California. 


Occupational Assessment Services, Inc. is one of the most experienced employability and life care planning firms in the United States. To discuss your case, call us at   1-800-292-1919 , contact us at a location near you, or through our online form.

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