Temporary Restraining Order

Recently, the Appellate Division in the unpublished decision of A.V. v. A.V., Docket No. A-2045-07T1, decided February 18, 2008, reversed and remanded the trial court’s denial of defendant-appellant’s motion to dissolve a Final Restraining Order and award of counsel fees.

In this matter, the parties had been married for approximately 5 years. Two children were born during the marriage, although one is now acknowledged not to be the biological child of defendant. The domestic violence matter arose when defendant learned of plaintiff’s extra-marital affairs in the summer of 2005. During a series of arguments regarding plaintiff’s infidelities and defendant’s discovery of them, the intensity of which rose until the parties got into a physical altercation. Defendant then obtained a TRO against plaintiff. Five days later, plaintiff filed a cross complaint and approximately one month later, the matter went to trial for the determination of an FRO.

At trial, the court entered an FRO against defendant. The parties then continued with their divorce proceedings. During the divorce, information came out, which contradicted other information and testimony plaintiff had given during the domestic violence trial. After the FRO was entered, plaintiff retained custody of the minor children, however approximately one year later, DYFS removed the children from plaintiff’s home and placed defendant’s biological child with him. Subsequently, the parties resolved the issue of custody and parenting time.

In November 2007, defendant filed a motion seeking to dissolve the FRO, in which he argued that he and plaintiff were in communication regarding their child and that there had been no problems since the FRO was entered two years ago. Defendant noted that plaintiff did not claim that she was in fear of him or that there was any reason to continue the restraints in the FRO. Plaintiff opposed his application arguing that if the FRO was dismissed, the cycle of violence would continue. She also claimed, without providing any evidentiary support, that defendant intended to jeopardize her immigration status and negatively impact her ability to regain custody of the other child removed by DYFS.
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Continue Reading Dissolving a Final Restraining Order

In a recent unpublished decision from the Appellate Division, McAteer v. Guzenski, Docket No. A-1540-07T3, decided January 21, 2009, the Court held that N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(b)(16) dictates that when an individual is found to have committed an act of domestic violence, a court may also issue an order prohibiting that individual from possessing any other weapon.

When domestic violence arises in a situation that is protected under the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Act, (i.e. marriage, dating relationship, living together, etc.) individuals will disclose what weapons he/she believes or knows the aggressor to have in their possession.  Thereafter, when the Temporary Restraining Orders (“TRO”)  is served, a person’s weapons are seized by the police department.  More often than not, when the Final Restraining Orders (“FRO”) is entered, a judge will include a provision prohibiting the aggressor from retaining possession of those weapons listed.   If the TRO is  turned into an FRO , thus making the restraints permanent, the sheriff’s department or local police authority will retain possession of these items.  At some point, they may even be auctioned for sale.

In this recent unpublished decision, the parties dated for approximately three weeks.  At the end of these three weeks, plaintiff advised defendant that she wanted to end the relationship.  Unsatisfied with her notification, defendant began engaging in acts which the trial court found to be harassment and which raised to the level that required the entry of an FRO.  These acts included telephoning the plaintiff’s grandmother and threatening to call DYFS on plaintiff (consequently DYFS appeared the next day, however it was never proven that defendant did in fact make the call), calling and text messaging plaintiff at inconvenient hours, calling plaintiff names, and posting a message about plaintiff on his MySpace web page.  After a trial in this matter, where both parties were represented by counsel and the court heard testimony not only of the parties but of their witnesses as well, it was determined that defendant did in fact commit an act of domestic violence and that his actions warranted the protections of an FRO.  Inclusive in the issuance of the FRO, the court advised defendant that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and other weapons and that because there was a finding of domestic violence, there was an automatic prohibition against owning any firearms or other weapons.  The weapons involved in this case included martial arts weapons, i.e. a large sword, throwing spikes and stars, a crossbow, staffs, a spear, many knives and nunchucks.

Defendant testified that he never threatened to hurt or harm the plaintiff and that he only used these weapons when practicing marital arts.  Nonetheless, the court ordered a prohibition against defendant carrying or owning these weapons as a result of the entry of the FRO.…

Continue Reading Return of Weapons When a Final Restraining Order Is Entered

Can an act of domestic violence by one parent against the other constitute sufficient “changed circumstance” to warrant a Court’s re-examination of an existing custodial arrangement? New Jersey law requires that…

Continue Reading Single Incident of Domestic Violence Can Constitute Sufficient “Changed Circumstance” To Warrant Re-Examination of Custodial Arrangement