In this Appellate Division case entitled New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency v. S.K., A-2734-15 (App.Div. August 31, 2018), the defendant argues the Family Part Judge improperly drew an adverse inference against him when he invoked his right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and…
A frequent post-divorce concern or criticism often heard from the parent who has primary residential custody of child is that their former partner does not exercise their parenting time and that the failure of their partner to keep to the schedule has negative monetary and lifestyle implications. I have always viewed a…
The Jolie/Pitt “Fight Club” continues. I previously blogged about the Jolie/Pitt divorce in “Fight Club: What You Can Learn From Angelina Jolie’s and Brad Pitt’s Long Term Relationship With Short Marriage“. This week the media was abuzz with news of Angelina Jolie’s claims that Brad Pitt is not paying “meaningful…
A few weeks ago The New York Times published an article about a divorce in the United Kingdom caught my attention. The article was called “Divorce on Demand? In the U.K., It’s Not Quite That Simple“. Does the UK have “divorce on demand”? What even is divorce “on demand”? Can spouses…
Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post entitled Support Security: Real Life Considerations. In it I discussed the developed case law and statutes dealing with affording dependent ex-spouses (and children) some level of economic security and protection in the event of the death of a payor – spouse, including…
Words matter. Cliche? Perhaps it is. This is a week that illustrates how words have power. Remember when then President Clinton responded to a question with the infamous line about the meaning of the word “is”? Presidential impeachment dangled on a two letter word which most of us took for granted. President Trump…
Mass shootings in schools, colleges, movie theaters, churches, concerts and other public spaces have been in the news regularly, leading to disputes over gun control and issues involving the Second Amendment also in the news, while politicians grapple with how to respond. It is interesting that after a mass shooting, when…
Kate Spade’s recent suicide has been the subject of widespread speculation in the news. How could it be that this attractive and successful icon of fashion would take her own life? After all she sold her business for billions. She was attractive, popular in the media and in the “right” social circles. She…
One of the many rights litigants have is the right to be represented by counsel of their own choosing. Simple, right? Well, not really. An attorney of your choosing could be disqualified from representing you if that attorney had participated in the matter prior to your representation and your adversary…
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to recognize same sex marriage. Numerous states thus enact differing laws regarding the ability of same sex couples to marry in their states, with numerous states passing laws to ban same sex marriage, and various states over the years,…