THRESHOLD ISSUE: IS THE MARITAL RESIDENCE AN ASSET THAT IS SUBJECT TO EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION? In most New Jersey cases the home is considered joint marital property and will be subject to equitable distribution at divorce. How do we determine if the home is marital property? The main issue we look…
MEETING OPTIONS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS: The Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen understands your concerns regarding the spread of the Coronavirus, and now offers different meeting options to our clients and those seeking legal representation. All meetings, including initial consultations, can be handled either through the phone, FaceTime, Zoom, or in person.
New Jersey Divorce Lawyer Blog
When is a Plenary Hearing Required in a New Jersey Family Law Case
Family law cases are complex legal matters that often involve mountains of paperwork. Just as one party to a case will have reams of papers on his or her case, family law judges are often inundated with paperwork of their own. Motion papers make up a significant portion of the…
CAN YOU TRANSFER OR DISPOSE OF PROPERTY BEFORE DIVORCING?
Approximately one in three spouses — 31 percent, according to Business Insider — confess to lying to their partners about money. Whether this occurs before or after divorce begins looming on the horizon is unclear, but it’s safe to say that financial trust is not absolute in marriage. You might…
The Role of Life Insurance in a Divorce
Those receiving child support or alimony payments rely on that money to pay for their living expenses. Even if the person who pays those support payments (called the payor) always pays on time, a question arises of what will happen to the recipient of those funds in the event of…
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE DIVORCE JUDGEMENT
Whether you divorce by settlement agreement or a judge orders divorce terms after a trial, the resulting judgment is a legally binding court order. Your settlement agreement is incorporated into your judgment. If your ex doesn’t abide by its terms, either for custody or child support, you have a few…
Can A Final Restraining Order Be Dissolved In New Jersey?
Final Restraining Orders (FRO’s) are permanent in the State of New Jersey, which means that they do not have an expiration date. Without going to court to request a change in the FRO, it will continue to be valid indefinitely. In order to remove, modify, or dissolve a FRO the…
May a Court Impute Income when Calculating Alimony If the Party is Already Employed Full Time?
The calculation of alimony payments upon divorce can be a tricky undertaking. In New Jersey, a family court judge will look at the financial lives of both spouses, and then apply an appropriate set of factors to determine an appropriate payment amount. Of course, the judge must have access to…
Is a Child Emancipated When He or She No Longer Resides with Either Legal Parent In New Jersey?
Under New Jersey law, emancipation of a child occurs when the dependent relationship between the parent and the child ends. The term emancipation is used largely in the context of child support, as the emancipation of a child signals the end of the requirement of a parent to pay child…
NEW RULES FOR DIVORCE AND ARBITRATION IN NEW JERSEY
Arbitration is increasing in popularity in New Jersey divorce cases due to its ability to significantly reduce the cost and length of the legal process. New rules that were adopted in 2015 ensure that New Jersey courts are able to review and enforce arbitration awards in divorce cases. COURT RULE…
How to Find the Right Marriage Counselor for You
Perhaps you and your partner are having major issues in your marriage, or maybe the two of you just want to work on your communication skills. In either case, it might be advisable to reach out to a marriage counselor for help. Many people begin looking for a counselor via an online search,…