One of the more complex issues we see when addressing alimony and equitable distribution relates to inherited assets and the money (distributions, investment experience, interest, etc.) that emanates from them. Under New Jersey law, inherited assets remain the exempt, separate property of the spouse who inherited same. It cannot be distributed in whole or in
Grandparents May Not Be Entitled To Visitation Even With A Signed Agreement
Grandparent visitation is a unique area of family law that presents interesting case law every few years and seems to be growing with time and modern families. We have blogged about this issue, including the requirement to show harm to the child if the grandparent doesn’t have visitation and procedure for grandparent visitation applications,
Moving Child Support from Place to Place
I have previously written about the custody and parenting time issues that may be presented when a child is moved from state to state within the country. But what of child support?
In an interesting recent unpublished decision, Flynn v. Flynn, the New Jersey Appellate Division examined the question: in a case where multiple
How to Spring Clean Your Old Divorce Files
Ahhh, April. This month always feels like a fresh start for me. The sun emerges and it starts to truly feel like spring. April also happens to be my birth month, so I can’t help but feel refreshed and energized at the start of this season.
There’s a reason why “spring cleaning” is a thing,
Equitable Remedies for Ex-Spouses Who Lost Their Share of a Military Pension Due to the Military Spouse’s Receipt of Disability Benefits
Divorces involving a spouse in the military generally involve unique issues. In the recently published decision of Fattore v. Fattore, the Appellate Division held that the trial court cannot replace, “dollar for dollar”, an ex-spouse’s benefit from a military pension that was lost after the military spouse elected to receive disability benefits. Doing so
New Published (Precedential) New Jersey Appellate Division Decision Confirms that all Custody and Parenting Time Decisions Are Created Equal
In a new, published (precedential) decision, J.G. v. J.H., Judge Koblitz, of the Appellate Division confirmed and explicitly held what we all should have known before: No matter what type of case, the same rules apply with respect to discovery and investigation, and the trial court judge is under the same obligation to apply
Opposing an Application to Modify or Terminate Alimony Upon Retirement? Be Ready to Address Your Ability to Have Saved Adequately for Retirement.
In the wake of the September 10, 2014 amendments to N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23, the legislature clarified the circumstances under which an alimony payor’s obligation can be modified or terminated due to the obligor’s intended or actual retirement. Under the statute as amended, when faced with an obligor’s application to modify or terminate alimony due to good
You Know Why You Should Settle Your Retirement Alimony Case – Now What?
Last week, I blogged about whether you should settle your retirement alimony case and the ingredients that might go into that decision. To be honest, this “why you should or should not settle” question is only the beginning of what you might be facing when you decide it is time to retire and terminate your
Should You Settle Your Retirement Alimony Case?
There has been much ado about the new alimony statute. Obligors believe they are now in the driver’s seat when it comes to disposing of their alimony obligations. After all, the statute sends a message that alimony should at least be modified upon reaching full retirement age. Doesn’t it?
On the other hand, recipients believe
Parenting Time: Who Drives the Kids for Visitation?
Once a parenting time schedule is established, parents’ next concern is the logistics with pick-up and drop-off. Even with a parenting time schedule memorialized issues arise: lateness, inconvenient locations, interference with children’s activities, etc. Most times these issues can be resolved amicably without judicial intervention. But occasionally an application must be filed with the Court