New Jersey Divorce and Family Lawyer Blog
In 2014 my colleague wrote an excellent blog entitled “When Does Child Support End?-Shifting the Burden”, which discussed New Jersey law on the emancipation of a child and the termination of child support. Another colleague has further blogged about the payment of college expenses by divorced parents. You may also recall a 2014 case filed in New Jersey by Rachel Canning, who moved out of her parents’ home because she did not want to abide by their rules, yet filed an application to compel her non-divorced parents to pay for her college expenses and support. Continue reading ›
Are You Worried That Your Spouse is Hiding Assets?
V. Stiviano, the former mistress of former Los Angeles Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, is being sued by his wife of over 50 years, Rochelle Sterling. In her suit, Mrs. Sterling is seeking the return of gifts that Mr. Sterling purportedly gave to Ms. Stiviano. Among the gifts Stiviano apparently received are a $1.8 million home, a Ferrari, two Bentleys and a Range Rover. Mrs. Sterling claims that these gifts were purchased with the parties’ joint monies without her consent. Continue reading ›
Contact and Communication: In the Domestic Violence Context
I have previously written articles specifically relating to domestic violence and contempt proceedings, including my most recent post from March 18, 2015 – Final Restraining Orders: When Final Does Not Equate to Permanent. The Appellate Division recently handed down a published decision that further examines domestic violence in the context of contempt proceedings being held against a Defendant in State v. D.G.M., which was decided on March 20, 2015. Continue reading ›
Child Support and Your Credit Score
In order to ensure children receive support from both parents, New Jersey employs a number of enforcement mechanisms. These include, but are not limited to:
Income withholding
Credit reporting
Interception of lottery winnings
Tax fund offset
Seizure of assets
License suspension- driver’s, professional or recreational
Passport denial
Civil awards/settlements
Court enforcement
Warrants
Judgments
New Hires Directory Continue reading ›
To Divorce or Not to Divorce – Is That the Question?
One of the more difficult decisions that face many of us in our lifetimes is the decision to stay married or to divorce. Sometimes the decision as to whether to end a marriage is not left to us; our partner may choose to end the marriage and choice is no longer a factor. Many times, however, the question of divorce is mutually discussed without a firm commitment from either side. Continue reading ›
Final Restraining Orders – When Final Does Not Equate to Permanent
My colleagues and I have previously written on the topic of Domestic Violence, Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO), and Final Rrestraining Orders (FRO). Specifically, I have previously written on the subject matter of contempt proceedings where the Defendant in a domestic violence action can be held in contempt for violation of either a TRO or FRO. Continue reading ›
THE FAMILY CASE INFORMATION STATEMENT REVISITED
For the casual fan like myself, there are periods during the year where the sports landscape is rather barren. The time we are now in between the Super Bowl and March Madness is one such period. Similarly, there are periods where the family law landscape can seem rather barren as well, during which the courts’ issuing of decisions and/or the Legislature’s passing of laws seems to reduce to a trickle. Continue reading ›
Imputation of Income for the Calculation of Child Support and Alimony in New Jersey
The New Jersey Appellate Division this week published the case of Elrom v. Elrom, in which the Husband appealed the provision in the parties’ divorce judgment where the trial court imputed income to the parties for purposes of determining the amount of alimony and child support the Husband had to pay to his former Wife. The Wife in this case was an attorney licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey. Continue reading ›
Courtroom Etiquette
Few people have direct contact with the court system beyond jury duty or possibly some experience in a municipal court. Therefore, what little they know about courtroom behavior is usually derived from what they have see on television, which is not necessarily an accurate depiction of courtroom etiquette. Therefore, litigants often either have questions or need some kind of instruction before appearing in court about what to expect and how to behave in a courtroom setting. It is an important consideration. After all, you want to create the best impression you can on the judge who may be making important decisions affecting your life. Continue reading ›
A Valentine’s Day Checklist: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Saint Valentine was a third-century Roman saint associated since the High Middle Ages with a tradition of courtly love. Although not much is known about the patron saint of Valentine’s Day as there happen to have been various Saint Valentines, one Saint Valentine was sentenced to death for performing marriage ceremonies in secret after Emperor Claudius II banned marriage for young Roman soldiers, believing that single men made better soldiers. Continue reading ›