My Spouse or Loved one has recently died. Will I have to pay Taxes? There are generally three kinds of taxes that may come into play upon death: 1) Income Taxes; 2) Inheritance Taxes; and 3) Estate Taxes. There are a variety of factors which determine whether and which…
How does the court decide which parent gets custody? When parents cannot agree about issues concerning the custody of their minor children, the court will attempt to determine a custody arrangement that will be in the “best interest” of the children. This is typically accomplished after the court has reviewed…
My spouse and I were divorced several years ago. How can I get the court to reduce the amount of permanent alimony that I am required to pay? You can file a motion for modification of your alimony obligation based upon “changed circumstances”. You will need to show that the…
Divorce cases and other family law disputes are usually handled through the civil court system. Occasionally, however, an issue arises that projects an issue from the divorce courts into the criminal court system. Typically, these cases center around issues such as custodial interference, violation of a protection order, and so…
How can I get my ex (or soon-to-be ex) to stop harassing me? To begin, you may ask the court to issue a temporary restraining order against your spouse or former spouse. If the judge believes that you are in…
What visitation rights will I have if my spouse has physical custody of our children following our divorce? In New Jersey, the term “visitation” is the antiquated terminology that simply refers to parenting time that the non-custodial parent spends with the parties’ minor child(ren). In fact, the terms “custodial” and…
For all of the unfortunate victims of domestic violence, the days of home confinement imposed by the Government’s concerns about the spread of the Corona Virus have brought new heightened concerns to spouses living together who are enduring ongoing abuse. The loss of a job, forced 24/7 engagement, and worries…
At its essence, a marriage or civil union is essentially a contract. The term “contract” is defined under the law as an agreement between two (or more) parties that creates a legal obligation to do (or refrain from doing) a certain thing. Several elements must be present in order for a valid contract…
Are you concerned about the safety of your child during parenting time? During this more than troubling time, where it feels like there is no safe shelter from the Corona Virus, all parents are having extreme concerns about the safety of their children, and their other family members, when…
My grandchild has lived with me for several years, but his mother wants him back now. What are my rights? Until 1993, grandparents in New Jersey were not permitted to seek the right to visit with a grandchild as long as the child’s immediate family unit was intact. Currently, a grandparent…