A New Jersey Family Law Attorney Who Gives You Straight Answers and a Clear Plan
Going through a divorce, custody dispute or child support matter in New Jersey? You deserve
an attorney who tells you exactly where you stand, what your options are, and what a fair
outcome looks like — then builds a strategy to get you there.
You're Being Asked to Make Major Decisions You've Never Had to Make Before
Divorce, custody disputes and child support matters don't wait for the right moment. They land
in the middle of your life — while you're managing work, children, and finances — and suddenly
you're facing legal and financial choices that will shape your family for years to come.
Most people going through this feel two things at once: the weight of what's at stake, and the
disorientation of not knowing how any of it works. That's not a personal failing. It's the natural
result of being thrown into a legal process you've never navigated before.
What you need isn't just an attorney. You need someone who can tell you exactly where you
stand, what you're entitled to, and what a
We’ve Seen What This Does to Families. That's Exactly Why We Do This Work.
Ryan Heeth didn't come to family law by accident. He watched family members navigate a
difficult divorce — one that involved a small business, significant financial complexity, and all the
emotional upheaval that comes with it. That experience gave him a firsthand understanding of
how much the quality of your attorney's guidance matters in moments like this.
Before founding Next Step Family Law, Ryan spent over a decade in corporate law settings and
investing in and operating businesses. That background makes him genuinely unusual in family
law: he's as comfortable analyzing financial statements, business valuations, and retirement
accounts as he is in the courtroom. When the real issues in your case are financial — and they
usually are — that fluency translates directly into better outcomes for you.
Our approach: give you honest answers from day one, shift your focus from what happened to
what comes next, and build a strategy focused entirely on getting you the outcome you actually
need.
Divorce & Separation
The decisions you make during your divorce — about your assets, alimony, and children —
will follow you for years. We help you understand exactly what you're entitled to and reach a
fair outcome as efficiently as possible.
Learn More About Divorce
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Your children's wellbeing comes first — and so does protecting your relationship with them.
We help you reach a parenting arrangement built around what's actually best for your family.
Learn More About Child Custody
Child Support
Child support in New Jersey is calculated from a specific formula — but the inputs matter
enormously. We make sure the numbers are right and you understand exactly what's fair.
Learn More About Child Support
Three Steps to Clarity
Step 1 — Schedule a Consultation
Reach out by phone or contact form — no commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation
about your situation and your questions.
Step 2 — We Learn Your Full Story
We listen carefully, answer your questions honestly, and give you a realistic picture of your
options and likely outcomes — no legal jargon.
Step 3 — We Build Your Path Forward
Once we understand your goals, we build a strategy focused entirely on getting you there —
as directly and efficiently as possible.
What Makes Next Step Different
You'll Always Know Exactly What's Happening in Your Case.
Legal proceedings are confusing enough on their own. We communicate directly and clearly —
you’ll always understand what’s happening, what your options are, and what each decision
means for your life. No jargon. No vague updates. No feeling like you’ve been talked past.
A Financial Background That Works Directly for Your Outcome.
Divorce and custody matters are financial matters as much as legal ones. Ryan’s decade-plus
background in corporate settings and investing in businesses gives him genuine fluency with
equitable distribution, business valuations, retirement accounts, support calculations, and
complex asset structures. When the core issues in your case come down to numbers, that
background is working directly in your favor.
We Pursue the Outcome You Need — Not the Fight You're Feeling Right Now.
The urge to use the divorce process to get even is understandable. It’s also, in our experience,
a path that almost always costs more — in time, money, and emotional damage — than it
delivers. We focus on practical outcomes that genuinely serve you. When negotiation and
mediation can get you there, we use them. When the courtroom is necessary, we’re ready. We
never recommend a fight that isn’t in your interest.
Responsive Communication, Every Step of the Way.
When something happens in your case, you hear about it. When you have a question, you get a
clear answer. We are available —calls, emails, questions — because keeping you informed and
in control is part of the job, not an extra.
What the Other Side of This Looks Like
Clients who work through their case with Next Step Family Law come out knowing something
they didn't know when they first called: exactly what they were entitled to, and exactly how they
got it.
They've made informed decisions about their assets and finances — not panic decisions made
under pressure. They have a parenting arrangement that actually works for their children.
They've navigated the process without making the relationship with their co-parent any more
adversarial than it needed to be. And they're ready to move forward.
That's the goal. Not just getting through this — but coming out of it with a foundation for everything that comes next.
The decisions you make during a divorce or custody matter aren't temporary. They shape your
finances, your relationship with your children, and your quality of life for years. That's why the
quality of the guidance you receive matters as much as it does — not just for getting through the
process, but for what you're able to build on the other side.
Serving Short Hills, NJ and the Surrounding Communities
Next Step Family Law represents clients throughout Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston,
Maplewood, South Orange, Summit, Chatham, Westfield, Scotch Plains, Morristown, and the
surrounding communities. We understand the local courts, the local community, and what it
means to practice family law in this specific area.
Ready to Take Your Next Step?
Most people wait too long to reach out to an attorney — because they're not sure they're ready,
not sure what they want yet, or just not sure what to say. None of that matters. You don't need
to have the answers before we talk.
A consultation with us will give you a clear picture of where you stand — what the process looks
like and what your options are. No obligation to hire anyone. No pressure to make any
decisions. Just the clarity you need to take your next step, whenever you're ready to take it.
Or call us directly — no obligation, no pressure. 404-569-7302.