The New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) oversees the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), formerly known as the Division of Youth & Family Services (DYFS). DCPP has an obligation to investigate any allegation of child abuse or neglect. Many categories of people including doctors, nurses, teachers, coaches, and day care providersRead more
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So your spouse just advised you that he/she wants a divorce. In most cases this is not a total surprise, but usually one spouse is much further along in the emotional and logistical process than the other. So if you are still at the starting line, here’s a few things to do right away: First,Read more
Stuck at home in the pandemic like everyone else? This may be the perfect time to mediate your divorce or custody issues and finally put those issues to rest. With Family Court hearings and trials delayed or paused, most attorneys trapped in their offices or working from home, and litigants accessible from anywhere, this isRead more
Not quite business as usual in courtrooms across New Jersey, but features like Zoom video conferencing are allowing citizens access to the the state’s judicial system. After almost 30 years of practicing Family Law there is little that I can say is a completely new experience, but yesterday was a first. I appeared for court,Read more
All joking aside about being shut in our homes with our spouses for weeks, the current “stay at home” order in New Jersey due to the COVID-19 public health emergency raises real and serious issues for marriages that were already frayed or broken before COVID-19 upended all of our lives. The world has not stoppedRead more
Late last week the Supreme Court of NJ issued new orders about Court Operations. To a large extent, individual counties are still permitted to set their own guidelines but they did relax certain Court Rules regarding deadlines and restricted access to the Superior Courts across the state. Burlington County Courts will still operate albeit aRead more
Last week it was reported that a man in North Carolina successfully obtained a Judgment for $750,000 against the man with whom his ex-wife conducted an affair. These types of cases surface every once in a while and the cause of action is commonly referred to as “alienation of affection.” So the question is then,Read more
Even when a parenting time (visitation) schedule has been worked out between the parties, or even ordered by Judge, things can wrong. Unexpected weather, illness, family affairs, school events, and sports can all impact a schedule. Parents are expected to work within the confines of these circumstances and make the sacrifices and adjustments necessary to accommodate theRead more
After 25 years of practicing exclusively divorce and family law, I have repeatedly heard client say, “I wish someone had told me that sooner.” Some things are inevitable when divorcing, but many of the most troubling aspects can be avoided with a little advance knowledge and planning. Here are five of the most important: 1.Read more
Mediation is often a much cheaper alternative than traditional litigation through the court system. Disputes can usually be resolved in less time as well. The mediation process gives you control over the outcome of your dispute—mediators will help you communicate in different ways than you have. Here are five questions to determine if mediation might be right for you:Read more