Divorce

Happy Ten Years, CM

In celebration of Community Magazine’s nostalgic look back in this Tenth Anniversary Edition, my first Divorce Talk (An Introduction, May 2012) is reprinted below. Some things have changed. I’m older and have now been practicing forty-four years. We’re living through a surreal global pandemic. And breaking news gets more bizarre each day. Some things, however, really haven’t changed, making the subject of my first Divorce Talk as relevant today as it was more than eight years ago An Introduction In my thirty five years as a family lawyer I have represented [...]

By |2020-11-05T16:52:57+00:00November 5th, 2020|Community Magazine, Divorce|Comments Off on Happy Ten Years, CM

Parental Alienation

Parental alienation comes in all forms – from the most extreme cases of overt brainwashing, parental abduction and even false allegations of sexual abuse to more subtle forms that might not even be perceptible to the perpetrator.  It is, however, in all its forms, child abuse. Our children are born to two parents.  Under New Jersey law there is a presumption that children are entitled to the love, affection, and guidance of both parents.  Of course, if circumstances suggest that that is not in a child’s best interests, court [...]

By |2019-11-22T15:42:59+00:00September 19th, 2019|Divorce, Lawyer's Advice|Comments Off on Parental Alienation

Housekeeping

“Can I keep the house?” The answer varies from case to case. This seemingly simple question is actually a multifaceted one fraught with complicated facts- and emotions. Years ago a man literally divided the house in half by using a chainsaw to cut through the roof and the walls. That triumph of emotion over intellect is not the preferred way of answering the question. Generally, there are two main areas with many sub-parts to explore. First, does the income and asset picture allow you to buy your spouse’s interest? Second, assuming you can buy out your spouse, can you [...]

By |2018-06-01T15:34:40+00:00June 1st, 2018|Divorce, Property|Comments Off on Housekeeping

Mandatory Court Conferences in Divorce Matters

It is quite possible that the only time you’ve ever stepped foot in a courthouse is for jury duty.  During the course of your divorce, however, you may have to appear in court several times before the hearing at which your divorce is finalized.    The below serves as a short primer on what you can expect during these appearances. Case Management Conference: This is a court conference scheduled soon after the parties have filed their divorce pleadings.  In many (although not all) cases, this will be the first time [...]

By |2018-04-20T15:18:36+00:00April 20th, 2018|Divorce, Divorce Tips, Family Court, Mediation And Arbitration|Comments Off on Mandatory Court Conferences in Divorce Matters

Putting Out (Camp)Fires: Divorce and Summer Camp

If freezing temperatures and forecasts for snow have you wishing for longer days and warmer weather, you may be looking ahead to summer.   And whether you’re divorcing or recently divorced, chances are you’ve given some thought to summer camp.  Summer camp for most New Jersey families is no longer a luxury, but a necessary child care alternative for working parents.  The New Jersey Child Support Guidelines contemplate a child’s basic needs: food, clothing and shelter, but what about the supplemental costs for raising a child? Fortunately, Appendix IX-A to [...]

By |2018-01-18T16:11:12+00:00January 18th, 2018|Child Support, Children, Divorce, Family Court|Comments Off on Putting Out (Camp)Fires: Divorce and Summer Camp

To Have and to Hold? Engagement Rings and New Jersey Law

Let’s talk about engagement rings.  They come in all shapes and sizes. Round, oval, emerald, cushion, pear, princess, radiant. A half-carat.  A whole carat.  Even two or three or four carats. They may be white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, sterling silver, or platinum. However, no matter what they look like or how big they are, these rings are usually worn from the day of an engagement through every day thereafter.  A ring is a visible, constant reminder of a couple’s relationship.  Therefore, it is no surprise that when [...]

By |2018-01-08T16:00:11+00:00January 8th, 2018|Divorce, Equitable Distribution, Property, Property Settlement|Comments Off on To Have and to Hold? Engagement Rings and New Jersey Law

Common Sense

Our divorce laws are quite complicated and generally require the guidance of an experienced attorney to navigate successfully. However, no matter how good your lawyer is, he or she will have great difficulty overcoming your or your spouse’s lack of common sense. Common sense should be the guiding light for divorcing couples. Without it the process is likely to be more cumbersome, more stressful, more time consuming, and more expensive. For example, if a couple has reported combined gross income of $100,000 per year on joint income tax returns, [...]

By |2017-11-10T16:48:34+00:00November 10th, 2017|Divorce|Comments Off on Common Sense

Eight Helpful Divorce Tips

Eight Helpful Divorce Tips - If you are going through a divorce you may be confused, overwhelmed and even terrified of what lies ahead. Having information is the key to staying in control and keeping calm. Leave your emotions at the door: Don’t let those hard feelings color your perspective. You may want revenge, but in the end it’s far better to keep calm and look at things rationally. You could have your attorney send a letter to your spouse about the couch, but that simple letter could cost more [...]

By |2017-11-10T16:17:06+00:00November 10th, 2017|Divorce|Comments Off on Eight Helpful Divorce Tips

Questions to Ask My Divorce Attorney on the First Visit

Questions to Ask My Divorce Attorney on the First Visit - It can be daunting, confusing and downright scary to visit a lawyer about an impending separation or divorce. The right attorney will put your fears to rest and make you feel comfortable with the process. This is the time to ask the questions you may have about the divorce process. Here are some questions to ask before selecting the right lawyer for you. Do you concentrate in divorce? If he does, it means he deals with divorce a [...]

By |2017-07-17T14:51:26+00:00July 17th, 2017|Divorce|Comments Off on Questions to Ask My Divorce Attorney on the First Visit

Have A Pizza!

My friend Tony at Colts Neck Pizza, got me thinking last month.  He joked, “I have a complaint.  I read your articles, but you never say…have a pizza.”  As I ate my pizza that evening, I thought about what he said.  It made a lot of sense. Divorce is stressful even in the more amicable splits.  When the acrimony is extreme, stress levels can skyrocket.  People deal differently with stress.  Some lose weight.  Others gain weight.  Difficulty sleeping or concentrating are frequent side effects.  Irritability, raw nerves, or depression [...]

By |2017-06-01T15:07:00+00:00June 1st, 2017|Divorce|Comments Off on Have A Pizza!
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