Coronavirus has led to 38 states to put stay-at-home mandates in place, which means restaurants, bars, fitness centers, theaters, and many more businesses have had to close their doors. Employers are having to cut or furlough staff during this pandemic. And the economic prognosis is bleak: for t...

At the time of this writing, New Jersey and 31 other states have all moved to a “lockdown” mode, meaning people are to stay at home as much as possible in an attempt to flatten the curve of the coronavirus spreading across the country. It is estimated that there are some 245 million Americans (th...

In a matter of days, the spread of COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) changed the landscape of America as we know it. Multiple states, including New Jersey, have issued shelter-in-place mandates, meaning all residents are to stay at home and can only go out for essential errands, such as grocery sh...

Raising a child calls for parents to make numerous decisions on a daily basis. For both parents to come to a consensus is difficult enough in an intact family. After divorce, when most parents are the least amicable, deciding what's best for your child as a unit can feel like an impossible task. ...

Sit in on any New Jersey child custody proceeding and there's a high likelihood that you'll witness mudslinging on both sides. Despite how amicable parents claim to be before stepping into the courtroom, the nature of custody disputes often brings out the worst in people. In the most contentious ...

A huge dilemma that both family law attorneys and parents face in custody cases is whether a child should testify in custody proceedings. Some parents long to protect their child from the court process regardless of the circumstances, while others want their child's voice to be heard - particular...

In a previous article, we explored the intricacies of the “best interests” doctrine applied in child custody cases. We discovered that the way in which the best interest of a child is determined is a convolution beyond each parent's idealizations, or even what appears to be reasonable, so long as...

 If you've been involved in a New Jersey child custody case, you've likely heard the phrase “best interests of the child.” A child's best interest is a doctrine that New Jersey courts utilize to justify family law decisions. Although this doctrine appears to be a relatively simple concept on the ...

Life after a divorce or separation can be complicated. When you throw children into the equation, emotions are high and the stakes are even higher. In most situations, parents in New Jersey are responsible for working out a co-parenting plan. Developing a plan is an uphill battle for parents in g...

Child custody courts have garnered quite the reputation over time. Whether the outcomes of custody cases detriment or benefit separating and divorcing families overall depends on who you ask. For years, disgruntled fathers have aired their grievances about the court system, and have even gone as ...

To create a parenting plan in which both parents can reach an agreement is a great feat within itself. But when parents live hundreds or thousands of miles apart - whether it be in different areas of the U.S. or across the globe - things can get much more complicated. The good news is that there ...

New Jersey's new impaired driving law takes a pragmatic approach to alcoholism and substance abuse by requiring most first offenders convicted of a DWI to install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles. Before the law took effect on December 1, many DWI offenders had their licenses suspende...

To say that parenthood is a monumental responsibility is an understatement. If you've had children, you understand the significance of being present and fulfilling the many needs that aid in their healthy development.  But truly having the capacity to be your child's everything in the midst of a...

In child custody proceedings, the most influential consideration in a decision is the best interest of the child. Since psychologists and legal experts believe that it's in a child's best interest to maintain a healthy relationship with both parents, an ideal determination in most New Jersey cour...

Drafting a child custody arrangement that truly satisfies you and your child's other parent will be a challenge regardless of how cordial you both claim to be. When one or both you have a career that requires you to stay on the go, reaching an agreement that you'll be content with becomes even mo...

Divorces are contentious by nature. Even if it's a mutual decision between spouses, family court dockets brim over with motions and trials in which parties aim to contest the smallest details in a range of matters - from child custody to alimony.  Plenary hearings have become a standard method o...

With application season on the horizon, parents across the state are facing the bittersweet reality of sending their children off to college. Although acceptance letters won't be rolling in until next year, informed parents know that now is the time to start preparing, especially if you have conc...

In highly contentious child custody battles, matters can escalate quickly and both parties are bound to feel the pressure. When backed into a corner, some parents may believe that accusing the other of child abuse will shift the dynamics of the case, and increase his or her chance of winning cust...

Divorce is hard, to say the least. But when children are involved, things get much more difficult. Sit in on any New Jersey child custody proceeding and you'll almost always see a nasty mudslinging fight fraught with allegations and character assaults. Each parent and their representation wants t...

When it comes to deciding child custody, litigation isn't the only option. Litigation is a costly, emotionally charged, and drawn out process that leaves the fate of your access to your child solely in the judge's hands. It is, however, necessary in situations when the nature of the parents' rela...

Raising children takes a tremendous amount of patience, time, and dedication. Most couples are thankful that they have each other to lean on when rearing children, especially in the event that serious issues arise. But when things go awry in the relationship, and both parents still want to remain...

Most divorced parents understand how arbitrary child support can be. Even though there are certain guidelines, federal law allows each state to establish and enforce their own rules, and ultimately, judges make decisions with their own discretion. Because each state has its own expectations as to...

Grandparents play a vital role in a child's life. Their significant contributions to the family, no matter how indirect, are observed and internalized by a child - whether it be as a watchdog, a mediator, a stress reliever, or an unwavering source of support. Grandparents can provide a fresh pers...

The process of finalizing a divorce is overwhelming, and there's a lot at stake for both parties. If you're contemplating ending your marriage, there are certain precautions you can take in the meantime that will make the process more peaceful and equitable. These steps can also maximize your cha...