We all think our children are special, extraordinary and talented. But, what if you are raising the next Michael Jordan? What happens when your child has an exceptional gift for music? Or for art? Without question, your child’s amazing talent comes with expenses in the form of lessons, practice, travel and supplies. Who is responsible for paying these costs? And, are they covered by New Jersey’s Child Support Guidelines? Read more
If you are thinking about divorce, be aware that you need to gather a lot of information before you file. Although it may feel sneaky to do some reconnaissance work without your spouse knowing, or before you announce your intentions, it is imperative that you have a plan in place before taking the life-altering step of ending your marriage. Thinking about filing? Here are 8 savvy ways you can start preparing now… Read more
It is hard for most of us to remember a time without smartphones, email, GPS, and even drones, and virtual reality. High tech definitely seems here to stay. But, there is a dark side to all this technology, particularly in relationships that involve domestic abuse or domestic violence. Abusers can now, more easily than ever, spy on their spouses or significant others, using current technology found in computers, cellphones, hidden web cams and surveillance cameras, and GPS devices. Are you at risk for being spied on by on your spouse — and what can you do to keep yourself safe? Read more
New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, meaning that during divorce, marital assets and debts are divided between spouses fairly, but not necessarily equally. To carry out equitable distribution, the courts evaluate all types of assets differently and look at factors such as each spouse’s contribution to the marital asset. Retirement accounts, such as 401k accounts, however, are a special animal and are subject to particular rules when divided as marital property in a divorce proceeding. What can you expect when dividing this account in your divorce? Read more
Marriage in New Jersey does not always mean that you are gaining just a spouse — you could be gaining your spouse’s kids as well! For many reasons, your stepchild or stepchildren’s other biological parent may not be a part of their lives, and as a result, you have, for all intents and purposes, stepped into the shoes of being their full-blown parent, sharing all the responsibilities with your spouse. As time goes on, you may think about formally adopting your step-kids. How can you make this happen? Read more
Thankfully more and more courts here in New Jersey are recognizing and addressing cases of parental alienation when they come before the family judges. If you believe that your child has been subjected to parental alienation tactics what can you do? Here are some tips to overcome this situation: Read more
Some people will never be able to co-parent effectively. No amount of mediation, therapy, or positive thinking will get them there. Sound familiar? If you are stuck in a high conflict divorce, or if the conflict continues although your divorce was finalized long ago…it may be time to learn about parallel parenting, a form of parenting that can ease the tension when parents don’t get along.
When not handled well, divorce can make it difficult for children to achieve the most important goal of childhood: feeling securely attached to their caregivers. That doesn’t mean this goal can’t be achieved, but it does require that divorced parents be vigilant about providing reassurance and consistency in their children’s lives – especially in situations where one parent is minimally involved. How can you help your child form healthy attachments? Read on for important information every divorcing parent should know… Read more
It’s normal to feel blue and stressed while dissolving a marriage, but your misery doesn’t have to last forever. Having trouble coping? In order to feel better, you need to change not just the way you think, but also your behaviors. Talk therapy and medication can help (and may be necessary if your daily functioning is seriously impaired), but there are plenty of other less expensive ways to snap out of your divorce funk. Try these action steps today: Read more
Starting in January, adults born in New Jersey and adopted as children will be able to obtain an uncertified, long-form copy of their original birth certificate from the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (the State Registrar). Their adoptive parents; legal guardians or other legal representatives; adult direct descendants, siblings and spouses; and state and federal agencies with official reasons, can also gain access to certificates. What does this mean for you if you are adopted, or an adoptive parent? Read more
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