Is Your Spouse Secretly Drugging You? Understanding Spousal Drugging Abuse & Chemical Control

TL;DR:  Spousal drugging abuse — sometimes called “chemical control” — is when a partner uses drugs, alcohol, or medication to manipulate, harm, or control you. This is recognized under New Jersey’s domestic violence laws as a serious form of abuse.

If you believe this is happening to you, there are legal protections available, including restraining orders and other remedies. Your safety comes first.

In an emergency, call 911. For confidential legal guidance, Request A Consultation Today.

 

Spousal Drugging Abuse: Domestic abuse doesn’t always look the way people expect. While many think of physical violence or verbal threats, some survivors experience abuse that is much harder to detect — but just as harmful.

Chemical control is a form of abuse in which a partner uses substances — such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or even alcohol — to manipulate, dominate, or incapacitate the other person. It can happen in the privacy of a home, often without immediate outward signs. But the emotional, psychological, and physical effects can be devastating. Read more

Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group Named 2025 Family & Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year in New Jersey

We are delighted to share that Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group has been named Family and Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year in New Jersey for 2025 by The Lawyer Network.*

This recognition highlights our team’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding the rights, children, and futures of families across New Jersey. It is a testament to the hard work and care our attorneys bring to every client and every case.

Weinberger Divorce Family Law Group Family Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year in New Jersey Award 2025 Read more

Five Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America® 2026

We are proud to announce that five attorneys from Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group have been named to the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America®, a distinction based entirely on peer recognition and reserved for the nation’s most accomplished lawyers.

This year’s honorees include:

Dianna C. CavaliereBest Lawyers for Family Law
Robyn HowlettBest Lawyers for Family Law and Lawyer of the Year in Family Law for the Toms River region
Carmela NoviBest Lawyers for Family Law
Rachel PartykaBest Lawyers for Family Law
Judge Philip Maenza (Ret.)Best Lawyers for Family Law Mediation

To be named to the Best Lawyers in America® list is no small feat. The honor is based entirely on peer review — meaning other highly regarded attorneys in New Jersey nominate and evaluate the candidates. The process measures professional expertise, ethics, and a consistent record of achieving strong results for clients. Full award methodology can be found here. Read more

When a Child’s Behavior Raises Red Flags: Can It Affect Custody Decisions in New Jersey?

Can a child's bad behavior affect child custody decisions?

When deciding child custody, the New Jersey courts carefully assess each parent’s ability to provide a safe, stable, and supportive environment for the child. But what happens if a child repeatedly engages in reckless or even criminal behavior? Could the parent responsible for the child’s daily care risk losing custody because of it?
Read more

Divorcing? Be Careful What You Tell ChatGPT — It Could End Up in Court

ChatGPT divorce

Have you been using ChatGPT to search for divorce information or even talk through your feelings during this difficult time? Think twice about what you share. What most people don’t realize is that conversations with ChatGPT aren’t legally protected the way confidential conversations with a divorce lawyer or therapist are.

Here’s what you need to know.

Read more

Blindsided by a Spouse’s Affair? What the Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal Teaches About Protecting Your Next Steps

blindsided by an affair

At Coldplay’s recent concert in Boston, a now-viral kiss cam moment unexpectedly revealed marital infidelity unfolding in real time. We’ve all seen the clip: as the camera panned to a couple in the stands, the woman quickly covered her face while the man ducked out of frame. Chris Martin, the band’s lead singer, tried to lighten the mood with his quip, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

When the footage hit newsfeeds the next day, the affair part of Martin’s prediction turned out to be true. The pair were quickly identified as married executives at the same company. 

Headlines have focused on the two caught on camera (one has since resigned; the other’s job is in limbo). But what about the people left reeling behind the scenes: the unsuspecting spouses who discovered — alongside the rest of the world — that their partner was unfaithful?

If you’ve been recently blindsided by your spouse’s affair, you’re likely still caught in that crushing wave of grief, numbness, and emotional paralysis. You may feel frozen in place as you wonder what to do next: Should you confront your spouse? File for divorce? Is there a path to rebuilding trust?

In the shock-filled aftermath of betrayal, it’s essential to give yourself space to regain your mental calm and process what’s happened, and begin to take the first steps towards legally and emotionally protecting yourself. Here’s how to do just that. Read more

What Happens to Job Buyouts, Work Bonuses & Severance Packages In Divorce?

job buyouts in divorce

When Ed Orgeron, Louisiana State University’s former head football coach, walked away with a $17 million job buyout, he didn’t expect his ex-wife would claim half of it as a marital asset in their divorce. But that’s exactly what happened, and now the Louisiana Supreme Court has agreed she was entitled to over $8 million.

This case raises a key question for anyone facing divorce: Is a job buyout, severance package, or work bonus considered marital or separate property? In New Jersey, the answer often depends on timing, intent, and how the payout was earned.

Let’s take a deeper look.

Read more

What a UK Supreme Court Ruling Can Teach New Jersey Couples About Protecting Assets in Divorce

divorce assetsA recent UK Supreme Court ruling is making international headlines, and for good reason. In the case of Standish v. Standish, the court ruled that roughly £80 million (about $100 million) transferred from a retired UBS banker to his wife during their marriage would not be subject to asset division in their divorce. Why? Because the court found those assets weren’t truly part of the marital pot.

Even though this case happened across the Atlantic, it raises important questions for couples here in New Jersey:

In high net worth divorce with complex assets, what counts as marital property — and what doesn’t? And how do you protect what’s yours?

Let’s break it down.

Read more

Divorce Experts in New Jersey: Who You Need & When to Use Them

divorce experts

Getting a divorce in New Jersey can become complicated whenever significant assets, child custody disputes, or questions about income and employment are involved. In these more complex situations, input from an expert professional may be essential for reaching your goals. Financial specialists, appraisers, business valuators, custody experts, and therapists often play important roles in helping couples untangle the many layers of a divorce.

Should you involve experts in your divorce? Here’s a closer look at the types of professionals used in divorce — and how they might be helpful to you in reaching your goals.

[Download our FREE Divorce Experts Checklist]

Read more

Teen’s Legal Move Raises Questions: Can Children Intervene in Divorce Cases?

adult children divorce

Can a child intervene in their parents’ divorce to ensure their needs are properly met?

That’s the central issue in the high-profile divorce of former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and his wife, Glenna Bevin. As the couple moves to end their marriage, one of their adopted children, 18-year-old Jonah, has taken the unusual legal step of filing to intervene in the proceedings, arguing that his financial interests are not being adequately represented. Read more