On August 15, 2017, the New Jersey Appellate Division approved for publication the decision in the matter of E.S. v. H.A (A-3230-14T2 and A-3256-14T2), in which the Appellate Division addressed whether a parent may be required to admit to a crime as a condition for that parent to be able to make…
Articles Posted in Parenting Time
New Jersey Family Court Addresses Jurisdiction Dispute in Post-Judgment Custody and Parenting Time Dispute
Earlier this month, a March, 2017 written opinion by family court judge the Honorable Russell J. Passomano, J.S.C. was approved for publication in the matter of BG-v-LH (FM-07-468-13). In this published opinion the court addressed issues of jurisdiction in a custody and parenting time dispute where one party had relocated with…
Words Matter: Common Misconceptions
I was at a social event recently. A woman attending that event, after learning that I was a divorce attorney, came up to me. She told me that her ex-husband had just filed court papers seeking to modify or terminate her alimony payments. With indignation in her voice she explained…
Settlement When it is Right – and For the Least Possible Cost
There is a saying among realtors that the first offer is usually the best offer. Why is that? Because the first offer is made when the property is freshly on the market. When real estate sits buyers become suspicious. There is also the cost of holding the property to factor…
Divorce is No Laughing Matter – For Children
A new situation comedy is about to premier on HBO simply titled “Divorce” starring Sarah Jessica Parker, who also serves as an executive producer. We all know that divorce is a serious, life-altering event. Like many situation comedies that find humor in dysfunctional marriages or family situations, it is understandable…
Fight Club: What You Can Learn From Angelina Jolie’s and Brad Pitt’s Long Term Relationship With Short Marriage
On September 20, 2016, the Internet was buzzing with reports of Angelina Jolie-Pitt filing for divorce from her long time partner of twelve years and husband of two years, Brad Pitt. The demise of Angelina Jolie-Pitt’s and Brad Pitt’s two year marriage raises questions about the division of their assets…
Psychological Parents and Tri-Parenting Relationships
In a recently published decision, D.G. and S.H. v. K.S., FD-1386-14S, the Honorable Stephanie M. Wauters, J.S.C., issued what could prove to be a groundbreaking decision as the definition of family continues to develop and evolve with the ever changing times. The original ninety-six page decision decision was abridged to twenty-two…
New Jersey Appellate Division Applies the Fugitive Disentitlement Doctrine to Family Law Case Involving Custody
Earlier this month, the New Jersey Appellate Division took up the issue of whether or not a litigant living as a fugitive outside the United States has standing to challenge a default judgment entered by the trial relating to custody and support. The case of Yvietta Matison v. Mark Lisantary,…
What’s In a Name? Should Children Be Prohibited From Calling Their Step-Parent “Mom” or “Dad”?
You know the song: “Here’s the story … of lovely lady …who is bringing up three very lovely girls. . . Here’s the story of a man named Brady who was raising three boys of his own. . . .” Most of us are familiar with the television show…
Sharing Holiday Time With Your Soon to be Former Spouse
Regardless of your faith, or lack thereof, the American holiday season is upon us. Few would disagree that Halloween is the preseason opener and Thanksgiving the actual kick-off to the holiday season. It really doesn’t matter what you believe; you recognize these holidays and have a manner of dealing with them. Over time,…