I often get asked questions about the Division of Child Protection & Permanency, more commonly referred to by its old name, DYFS. Specializing in child abuse and welfare defense, it is not uncommon for both individuals and family law attorneys who do not specialize in this area to have questions…
Articles Posted in parental rights
Co-Parenting in a Pandemic: Help for Divorced or Separated Parents
Co-parenting children when parents are separated or divorced can be challenging in normal circumstances. One would agree, however, that times are not normal. The country is in the midst of a pandemic due to the COVID-19 virus. Governor Murphy has closed schools and many business, and he has directed that…
New Jersey Supreme Court Addresses the Improvement of Division of Child Protection & Permanency Can Improve Ability to Locate Parents in Guardianship Cases
In the matter of New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency v. A.S.K. (A-50-17 ___ N.J. ___ (App. Div. 2018), the New Jersey Supreme Court reviewed the trial court’s decision to terminate the parental rights of E.M.C. (“Eric”) to his son, A.E.C. (“Adam”) based on the record and the application…
New Jersey Appellate Court Affirms Decision to Deny Termination of Parental Rights of Parent with Multiple Sclerosis
On May 3, 2018 the New Jersey Appellate Division published the case of DCPP VS. T.D., R.C. AND R.G., IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF M.G., B.C. AND A.G. (FG-20-0040-13, UNION COUNTY AND STATEWIDE)(CONSOLIDATED) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) (A-4918-15T1/A-4923-15T1), an Opinion affirming the trial court’s decision to not terminate the parental…
Surrogacy No More: Will Gestational Carrier Agreements Finally Achieve Legal Recognition?
For the third time since 2012, the New Jersey lawmakers have passed legislation that would allow persons to enter into gestational carrier agreements; namely for the intended parents to enter into a contract with a woman 21 years of age or older to become pregnant by assisted reproductive technology…
Parental Rights and Obligations of Sperm Donors in New Jersey
How does the law define what constitutes a parent and who is a parent? According to New Jersey’s Parentage Act, a “parent and child relationship” is “the legal relationship existing between a child and the child’s natural or adoptive parents, incident to which the law confers or imposes rights, privileges,…