Family lawyers at this time of year know that with the holiday season comes custody and parenting time disputes. As suggested in my last blog post, getting a jump on these disputes before the midnight hour is the often the best way to proceed. Sometimes, however, it simply cannot be done and the family court…
As lawyers and litigants are often reminded in Family Part matters, New Jersey is an equitable – not equal – distribution state. Not every marital asset, as a result, will be divided 50/50. Instead, trial judges are given broad discretion when called upon to analyze numerous factors under New Jersey’s equitable distribution law in determining…
Believe it or not, the time is here. Summer is no longer in the rearview mirror and Halloween is behind us (although the leftover candy remains). Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around and the corner. Turkeys and pies, gifts, ugly sweaters, holiday music, decorations, parades, and champagne are just some of…
Bobby joins the firm as a partner and he brings with him years of extensive experience handling complex and high-net-worth divorce matters; contentious custody disputes; alimony matters; post-divorce matters (involving modification in support on many cohabitation matters, and down income and retirement matters); pre- and post-nuptial agreements; appeals; college contribution disputes; and domestic violence matters.…
Most family law practitioners have heard the speech many times from judges, usually at an initial Case Management Conference. You know the one: settle, settle, settle. If you don’t settle, some person in a black robe will have to decide important issues about your life and you will probably be unhappy with the result. The…
When there is a Temporary Restraining Order issued under the predicate act of Harassment, the first issue arises as to what “harassment” is, how it is defined, and practically what constitutes harassment. When someone feels “harassed” by the other party, that does not necessarily fit the legal definition of harassment. Harassment, in part, is defined…
The Supreme Court of New Jersey faced in interesting issue regarding the imputation of income in Caplan v. Caplan, 182 N.J. 250 (2005). In this case, the Father previously had earned seven figures for a number of years. However, he was terminated from his employment and never sought to regain the same income that he…
So what is a post-nuptial agreement? Unlike its pre-marital predecessor, the pre-nuptial agreement, a post-nuptial agreement is drafted after a parties’ marriage, at any time during the marital tenure, and is typically designed to protect individual assets and other rights and entitlements in the event of a divorce. Post-nuptial agreements, while enforceable, are subject to…
In E.S. v. H.A. were parents of a minor child. The parties separated in December 2008 following an contentious series of proceedings, including a domestic violence action. The parties’ marriage ultimately came to a conclusion by way of a consent judgment of divorce entered in September 2009. The only issues which remained open at the…
If you follow child protection law in New Jersey then you know how rare it is for the Appellate Division to publish one of its DCPP decision. DCPP decisions make up a large part of the Appellate Division’s docket due to the high number of indigent parents involved in these cases, their right to appeal,…
Drafting settlement agreements require careful language considerations to ensure that the intent of the parties can be determined based upon a plain reading of the agreement. In a recent unpublished Appellate Division decision, we briefed the issue of whether the plain meaning of the terms of a settlement agreement should be strictly construed. In Fanelli…
Beck v. Beck, 239, NJ Super. 183 (1990), is another helpful case to litigants seeking to modify support obligations for change in circumstances under Lepis. In this post-judgment case, the payor Husband filed a motion to terminate alimony due under Lepis. Husband claimed several factors contributed to his change of circumstances: his declining income as…
Many parties today want to attend mediation in an attempt to be cost effective in their divorce. This makes sense, and meditation is often a successful tool utilized to reach an amicable resolution. At the conclusion of a mediation, many mediators will draft a Memorandum of Understanding, reflecting the terms discussed. Following receipt of the…
In Stamberg v Stamberg, the Plaintiff Husband sought a reduction in alimony payments based on the change of circumstances presented by a medical condition which caused him to lose his employment. In submitting his financial information to the court, Husband included his social security income, his disability payments, and his pension payments. Defendant Wife sought…
For many divorcing couples, particularly those who own or have an interest in a closely held family business, cash very often reigns supreme. Often times access to cash, particularly by way of a business, serves to supplement, or enhance a couple’s marital lifestyle far beyond that which may be classified as reported income for income…
In order for a Court to hear a matter, it must have both subject matter jurisdiction over the issue and personal jurisdiction over the persons involved. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that subject matter jurisdiction “cannot be forfeited or waived and should be considered when fairly in doubt.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.…
