The N.J. Child Support Guidelines were not designed to deal with true shared parenting situations, and there is no simple answer to the question of how (or if) to apply guidelines in this increasingly common situation. The New Jersey Court Rules create a presumption that the guidelines should be used unless there is a goodRead more
Actually, I am a lawyer and I am not on TV. Turn on any channel, on about any network, and there is a legal drama of some kind on at prime time. There’s “How to Get Away with Murder”, the HBO series “The Night Of”, that new one, “Bull”, about the jury scientist and “LawRead more
Going through a divorce is tough on the parents and on their children. This is especially so for military families. All too often, neither of the parties are native residents of the State they currently reside due to the constant moving required by the military. For this reason, the custodial parent may want to relocateRead more
When that knock on your door turns out to be worker from the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P), formerly D.Y.F.S., a parent can find himself or herself dropped into a maze of bureaucratic entanglements with lasting consequences. So, what’s the deal?Read more
In a case decided in the last few days called Smith v. Millville Rescue Squad, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided that employers are not permitted to “retaliate” against their employees in the workplace because they are separated or contemplating divorce, even if the breakup is contentious.Read more
Years ago, it was the custom for most college graduates to get a job immediately after graduation and to remain working for the same company until retirement. Nowadays, this notion seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Although career change can be exciting, particularly for those who are unhappy or feel stuck inRead more
In September 2014, the long awaited amendments to New Jersey’s alimony statute, N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23, went into effect. With those amendments came a plethora of questions from litigants and practitioners alike in regard to the meaning and application of the amended statutory terms. In particular, the section of the statute addressing the ability of an individualRead more
In a decision just a few days ago, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that where a divorce agreement requires the termination of alimony due to an ex-spouse’s cohabitation, that termination will be enforced even if that cohabitation is temporary. In this specific case, the majority upheld a property settlement agreement that mandated the outrightRead more
When a couple divorces, important financial decisions must be made. One of the most difficult issues that spouses must resolve is the division of the marital estate. If spouses are unable to reach an agreement on their own or through a mediator, the courts will settle the matter by applying appropriate equitable distribution laws. TheseRead more
Everyone has a Constitutional right to his or her day in Court. That’s true, but at what cost does that day come? We often hear comments like “I will not settle, I’ll take my case to Trial!” or “I’ve given as much as I’m going to give, if they don’t like it, let’s see whatRead more
