New Jersey Divorce Chronicles, Part 13: Reaching A Settlement

reaching a divorce settlement

For more than a year now we have been following two couples through the process of deciding to divorce, consulting with attorneys, and choosing whether to begin their cases in private mediation or in the court system. We focused primarily on one spouse in each couple: Sharon, who was married to Robert for 13 years, and Jason, who was married to Melissa for 11 years. Sharon decided to jump directly into litigation, while Jason opted to pursue mediation first. By the end of 2015, both couples were close to wrapping up all of their divorce issues. Let’s see how things have worked out for each of them: Read more

Fugitive From Support Obligations? New Jersey Courts Will Not Help You

Dealing with an international child custody dispute? In a recent New Jersey Appellate court decision (Matison v. Lisnyansky), a three judge panel found that a man who failed to pay his palimony and child support, and who had fled to Russia, could not use the New Jersey court system to help him appeal the palimony and custody judgment against him. Mr. Lisnyansky remained outside of the country avoiding arrest on an outstanding warrant for failure to pay his child support when he filed his appeal. Read more

Has Grandparent Visitation Just Become Easier to Achieve in New Jersey?

grandparent visitation The New Jersey Supreme Court, in the case of Major v. Maguire, may have just given grandparents looking to establish visitation with their grandchildren a greater opportunity to make their case. Read more

5 Steps to Getting the Most From Your Divorce Attorney Consultation

make the most of your divorce consultation You have made the difficult decision to explore divorcing your spouse and have researched family law attorneys in your area. Now you’re ready to set up a consultation to learn more about the divorce process and begin working with a lawyer. How do you get the most out your upcoming consultation? Here are a few tips: Read more

How To Stay Married: 8 Dos and Don’ts

saving your marriage

We understand that big marital problems like infidelity and substance abuse can spell divorce, but it’s often the little things that can make or break a marriage. Trying to repair your relationship? If both spouses want to give their union another chance, here are a list of do’s and don’ts we’ve seen time and again help couples stay together. Read more

Perilous Mistakes Men Make In Divorce

men's divorce mistakesWhen a transition is as difficult as divorce, it’s understandable that you might want to pull off the band-aid as fast as possible. But rushing the process, or making decisions fueled by emotion instead of reason, may yield devastating life-long consequences. Both genders can make mistakes during dissolution but some are more common to men. Here is a list of divorce “don’ts” – and tips on how to avoid making them. Read more

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Top Things People Consider When Leaving A Marriage

deciding to divorceDisagreement is inevitable in a marriage, and a certain amount is healthy. But some differences truly are irreconcilable and no amount of negotiation or couples therapy will save a marriage between two fundamentally incompatible people. Wondering if you should stay or go? Here are some key issues that may help you answer this all important question. Read more

Will You Marry Me…And Can We Have A Prenup, Please?

How to ask for a prenuptial agreementWith almost 50% of marriages ending in divorce, and many of those divorces leading to protracted battles over assets, having a prenup can prevent arguments should the marriage end. But how do you tell your fiancée you want one without sounding dubious about your wedding vows? Or that you love your money more than you love him? Here’s how to bring up the subject without killing the romance. Read more

Your Guide To Feeling In Control Of Your Divorce — And Your Life!

feeling in control of your divorceDivorce can make you feel like you’re lost in a foreign land without a map. The familiar guideposts – home, finances, social circle, station in life – either vanish or morph into something that you don’t recognize. Even if you loathed your spouse, you might prefer the comfort of being a plus-one to navigating a whole new life and making decisions as a single person. Read more

Why Is January Called Divorce Month?

Why is January called Divorce Month?

January 1st rings in more than the New Year; it also marks the beginning of Divorce Month. What earned the first month of the year this unusual nickname? According to the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, the number of people filing for divorce jumps by 30% nationwide in January compared to preceding months. As for why so many couples make divorce their New Year’s resolution, here’s a look at some of the most common reasons. Read more