What Military Parents Need To Know About Child Custody Laws In New Jersey

military custody and parenting time

Like all other divorced c0-parents, military service members who co-parent sometimes experience legal issues with regard to child custody or parenting time. Certain laws protect military parents so that they are afforded the same ability to be heard in court and to respond to any lawsuits filed against them in New Jersey, especially if they are deployed. But understanding these laws, and the overlapping civilian custody laws that apply, can be confusing…and stressful. Are you a military parent, or are you co-parenting with one? Here are 5 key things you need to know about military child custody in New Jersey.  Read more

5 Subtle Forms Of Child Abuse And What To Watch Out For

child abuseNot knowing what really goes on in your co-parent’s home is one of the toughest aspects of divorce – especially if you’re concerned that your ex might be abusive. Read more

Can An Uncle or Aunt Be Legally Responsible to Support a Child?

uncle and aunt custody and support issuesHere in New Jersey, there is a legal theory where a person could be seen as a child’s parent, even if they are not the biological or the adoptive parent of that child. Under that theory, called the “psychological parent,” a person is seen to have stepped into the shoes of a biological parent by being a supportive force and influence in a child’s life either financially, emotionally, or both. Step-parents often find themselves becoming psychological parents. But what if you are an aunt or uncle? Could you ever be seen to be the psychological parent of your niece of nephew? Read more

New Jersey Law Requires Fertility Treatment Coverage for Same-Sex Couples

infertility treatment for same-sex coupleEarlier this week, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation that compels insurance carriers for state government workers and public school employees to provide fertility treatment coverage for women in same sex relationships. This bill came out of a federal civil rights law suit that was filed last year against the State of New Jersey by a same-sex couple whose application for fertility coverage was denied by their health care provider, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Here’s how the new law came about, and what same-sex couples can expect their insurance to cover. Read more

How Undocumented Immigrant Parents Can Safeguard Their Children

 

Updated July 11, 2019:

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to conduct raids across the country on Sunday, July 14, to arrest thousands of undocumented migrant families, according to reporting by the New York Times. 

Raids are expected to take place in at least 10 cities, and will occur “over multiple days” and will include “collateral” deportations in which “authorities might detain immigrants who happened to be on the scene, even though they were not targets of the raids.”

Back in 2017, as Trump administration officials began signaling significant changes in immigration policy enforcement, we wrote about how undocumented immigrant parents have the right to establish Power of Attorney provisions for their U.S. citizen children to establish temporary custody and financial access in a worst case scenario.

This information may be more relevant than ever. With federal detention centers for immigrant children as close by as Pennsylvania, this is information worth sharing.

The original blog follows… 

It’s estimated that more than 168,000 children in New Jersey — approximately 9 percent of the state’s total child population — have parents who are undocumented immigrants. With U.S. immigration and visa policies tightening, and deportations on the rise, immigrant families increasingly must face heartbreaking decisions about how to prepare for a worst case scenario.

If parents are deported, should they take their children with them — even if the children are U.S. citizens? How can they provide for and protect their children who remain behind? And how can parents be sure they are making the best decisions possible in the face of extreme uncertainty? Read more

Is Spanking Child Abuse?

is spanking child abuseSpanking, or the use of corporal punishment as a child rearing practice, has been a hot-button topic in parenting circles for decades. At the heart of this debate is an extremely important question: does spanking or slapping your child as a consequence for misbehavior merely a form discipline — or is it a form of child abuse? Read more

Co-Parenting With An Unreliable Ex: 5 Steps For Keeping Your Kids Secure

They’re a no-show or late at almost every custody swap. They promise to call or Skype the kids…and then don’t. They frequently “forget” to share important information like…your son was sick over the weekend, or that really big science project they were supposed to work on was left untouched.

Unreliable exes often don’t seem to realize that their behavior not only makes it difficult to co-parent, but also makes it hard for kids to feel safe and secure in their relationships with their parent. Stuck with an ex who can’t — or won’t — take parenting responsibilities seriously? Here are 5 tips to help you keep your kids feeling as secure as possible in the face of someone who does everything possible to make them feel insecure. Read more

Dads and Divorce: Coping Without Your Kids

custody options for dadsYou dread coming home to an empty house. Dinnertime is too quiet. The kids’ bedrooms are too neat. You spot other dads hanging out with their children, and you wish you could see yours every day. It can be difficult for kids to adjust to two home after their parents’ divorce, but it can be just as difficult for parents to adjust to seeing their kids less often then they would like.

Today, we’re talking just to dads (moms: we’ll have tips for you coming soon!), and want you to know that no matter how your parenting time plan is divided, you are still your children’s father. If you are having a difficult time coping with not seeing your kids as much as you once did, here are nine tips to make every minute count. Read more

Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, LLC Goes BLUE for CASA Child Advocate & Child Abuse Awareness Day

Please scroll to the end of this post for more photos from today’s GO BLUE event!

Weinberger Divorce & Family Law Group, LLC is proud to support CASA’s GO BLUE campaign in support of New Jersey’s Child Advocate Day, this Friday, April 7. We applaud CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for the extremely important work they perform on behalf of children who have been abused and neglected. In addition to wearing blue in a show of support for CASA throughout all our offices, and making a firm-wide donation, we are taking time today to raise awareness about the vital work this organization performs in our state.

Want to learn more about CASA? Here is some information to get you started: Read more

The State Of Transgender Parents Rights In New Jersey

transgender parents and childrenMarch 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, an annual awareness dedicated to celebrating transgender people and to acknowledge discrimination that still occurs against the transgender community every day. As part of raising awareness, let’s take a look at the hot button issue of transgender parents and child custody rights. Are the rights of transgender parents being respected — and protected — by our laws and courts in New Jersey? Read more