By Kisha M. Hebbon | Published September 11, 2023 | Posted in Family Law | Tagged Tags: adoption, biological parents, parental consent, stepparent adoption |
In 2014, New Jersey changed the structure of post-divorce alimony awards. Instead of traditional permanent alimony, courts now grant open durational alimony, which is meant to be a more flexible arrangement. This type of spousal support does not have a fixed end date. Rather, it ends when the parties agree, when the court enters an Read More
Read MoreIn child custody cases, New Jersey family court judges have a duty to focus on what is in the best interests of the children. To inform their custody decisions, judges consider multiple factors, including the preferences of children who are of sufficient age and capacity. Depending on the circumstances, those preferences can be highly persuasive Read More
Read MoreOne of the defining characteristics of narcissists is that they manipulate other people for their own personal gain, oblivious to the harm they inflict. Divorcing a narcissist can thus be incredibly stressful and difficult. You may feel scared, overwhelmed and stressed. Whether your spouse has been diagnosed as a narcissist or just exhibits such behavior, Read More
Read MoreWhile college costs are not generally a part of child support in New Jersey, you may still be required to contribute toward these educational expenses. The amount and requirements will vary depending on the circumstances. Child support does not necessarily end when a child turns 18. New Jersey law does not consider a child emancipated Read More
Read MoreAlthough your last will and testament should be the cornerstone of your estate plan, a living trust is an additional tool that can help with the transfer of your assets after you pass away and allow you control over those assets while you live. A living trust is a form of revocable trust. You as Read More
Read MoreThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to present difficulties for parents sharing custody and visitation rights. Parenting arrangements can become particularly contentious when parents have differing opinions on the risks of COVID or how best to protect a child from exposure. One parent may believe that the other is creating a greater risk of exposing a Read More
Read MorePets hold a special place in many of our hearts. For some people, they are akin to family members or best friends. During a divorce or separation, deciding who gets a beloved pet can be challenging, especially when the parties aren’t on amicable terms. Unfortunately, there is no such principle as “pet custody” in New Read More
Read MoreIn this day and age, more and more families are blended. People with children from other relationships enter marriage or a second marriage, creating stepparent-stepchild relationships. While a stepparent may play a significant role in the new family unit, he or she has virtually no parental rights in the event the marriage is dissolved or Read More
Read MoreDivorce and bankruptcy sometimes go hand in hand. Marital problems are often caused at least in part by financial stressors. Many couples experiencing marital problems also bear a heavy debt load and are considering filing for bankruptcy relief, either before or after the divorce proceedings. The timing of the two legal matters — and whether Read More
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