Does New Jersey Have a Homewrecker Law? What Adultery Means for Your Divorce Case
A recent headline involving former NFL star Steve Smith Sr. has reignited public interest in “homewrecker laws.” In the viral story, Smith was accused of having an affair with a married woman, which resulted in the paramour’s husband filing a lawsuit against Smith under North Carolina’s “alienation of affection” statute – a law that allows a spouse to sue a third party for interfering in their marriage.
Another notable homewrecker case in recent years involved motivational speaker Tony Robbins, who was sued for monetary damages by the ex-husband of Robbins’ second wife Sage for being the catalyst for the marriage ending. As the NY Post worded it in their headline story on the saga, Robbins was accused of “self-helping himself” to someone’s wife. Sage’s ex-husband lives in Canada; Robbins is a resident of Florida. The case appears to have been privately settled.
Could a case like this happen in New Jersey? When infidelity is a factor in divorce, here is what state law says about the ability of one spouse to sue their spouse’s lover for their role in breaking up the marriage. Read more