New Jersey’s Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (DVA) was designed to protect victims of serious domestic disputes from the dangers inherent in continued contact with a domestic abuser. Toward that end, the DVA envisions a Final Restraining Order that protects the victim from most contact with the abuser, and imposes…
Back on January 24, 2013, exactly one year ago today, the Appellate Division delivered a published opinion with regard to the issue of an indigent defendant’s right to counsel, or lack thereof, in a domestic violence setting. D.N. v K.M., 429 N.J. Super. 592 (App. Div. 2013). Nearly one (1) full year after the…
Way back in May of this year, I wrote the initial post for this blog concerning the protection of an unborn child of the victim of domestic violence based upon the published decision, B.C. v. T.G., penned by the Honorable Lawrence R. Jones, J.S.C., from the Chancery Division – Family Part in…
First let me state clearly and unequivocally that domestic violence is a serious problem in today’s society. Rarely a day goes by without reading or hearing news reports of someone being abused, injured or even killed by their spouse, cohabitant, another family member or even a dating partner. Recognizing that…
As both the Legislature and Judiciary of the State of New Jersey have declared, domestic violence is both a serious and pervasive issue present in this State. Based upon those declarations and findings, the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Statute”) was adopted and made effective…