Thinking About Divorce In 2023? Here’s How To Prepare

divorce in 2023January is often called “Divorce Month” because the first month of the year usually sees an annual uptick in the number of divorce filings. Is getting a divorce in 2023 on your mind? The decision to end your marriage will alter your life forever, so it’s critical that you plan your next steps wisely. If you have made the difficult New Year’s resolution to divorce, the following tips can help you prepare for the divorce process with greater clarity and calm. Read more

How To Co-Parent Through Your First Holiday Season After Divorce

holiday parenting time

No matter what you and your ex disagree on in your divorce, you are likely both in agreement that you want a happy, fun-filled holiday season for your children. Navigating through your first holidays since your split can test your co-parenting savvy, but with a few extra steps this season can be as merry and bright as ever. Use these dos and don’ts for no-stress holiday co-parenting. Read more

3 Reasons Why Hiring A Divorce Attorney Could Save Your Marriage 

Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady have made headlines lately for the rocky patch they’ve hit in their marriage. In the latest development, the pair have reportedly each hired their own divorce attorney. Gossip outlets speculate this move is basically a declaration the marriage is over. But is it? This may come as surprising news to some, but working with a divorce attorney could be the very thing that helps to save your marriage and prevent a divorce.

Here are three reasons why.

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Can The Courts Make My Ex Pay My Attorney Fees?

can my ex be made to pay my legal fees

Your spouse blindsided you with the announcement that they want a divorce, leaving you feeling completely unprepared. What can you do if you can’t afford a divorce lawyer? Can your ex be made to pay your legal fees and attorney costs?

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Prep Your Child Support & Custody Agreements For Back-To-School

child support school costs

The new school year is almost here, and for divorced parents that means an extra layer of planning beyond the usual checklist of pencils, notebooks and a new lunchbox. Are your co-parenting arrangements back-to-school ready or are changes required to better suit your child’s needs? Here are some tips for how to review child custody and child support agreements for the school year ahead. Read more

Can Collecting Back Child Support & Alimony Lower Current Payments? 

enforcing support paymentWe recently had an interesting question about child support enforcement asked by one of our Facebook page members.

My ex was unemployed for a time and stopped paying the support he owed me. He’s now employed again, making more than he ever has before. He has not paid any of the back support and is refusing to talk to me about it. I also want to restart alimony, which was temporarily stopped when he lost his job. What are my rights to the back support and current support payments? 

Are you in a similar situation and experiencing non-payment of child support or alimony due to your ex’s job loss? How do you get support payments back on track once your ex is employed again?

Here are some answers…

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Can cannabis use affect your parenting and custody rights? 

cannabis custodyIn New Jersey it’s now legal for adults 21 or older to buy recreational cannabis products. However just because “legal weed” exists in 2022 doesn’t mean that using marijuana is free from legal ramifications. Do you or your former spouse use marijuana? Then you need to know how it could impact your parental rights and child custody arrangements. Read more

FIRE Divorce: Keeping Early Retirement Plans on Track

FIRE divorce

Are you concerned about getting divorced because you and your spouse are staunch FIRE proponents? Divorce can indeed be more complicated for FIRE couples, but with enough planning, you can come through it with your financial independence and stability intact. Read more

Seeking A Modification For Full Custody? Evidence Is Key

modification for full custodyYou’re noticing red flags in your ex’s parenting and think it’s in your children’s best interests to spend more time with you. What do the courts look for when one parent sues to make changes to the current custody agreement and requests “full custody” of the kids? A recent celebrity news item involving a custody dispute between exes Christina Hall (formerly Haack) and Ant Anstead  provides a lesson in the high stakes — and high burden of proof — involved in child custody modification cases. Read more

Serving Legal Papers In Divorce And Custody Matters — How To Keep It Private

Earlier this week, actress and director Olivia Wilde was center stage introducing her new film at CinemaCon when an audience member approached and slid a manilla envelope towards her, mysteriously labeled “personal and confidential.” Wilde glanced at the papers but kept mum about their contents, leading media in attendance to speculate the envelope contained an unsolicited script or perhaps a fan letter to Wilde’s boyfriend, Harry Styles. A few hours later, however, the truth was revealed: In the middle of a very high profile career-related moment, Wilde had been served with legal papers related to a child custody matter by ex-husband Jason Sudeikis.

Was this serving of legal papers in such a public way avoidable? If you’re about to serve, or be served papers, in your divorce or family law matters, it is important to know what your options are, and how to ensure speedy — and discrete — delivery. Read more