The concept of “paternity” is defined as the state of being someone's father in a biological or legal sense. A child's paternity is typically noted on the birth certificate, but it can also be listed on a final decree of adoption issued by the county's Surrogate Court. Such documents establish ...
Children are normally dependent on their parents or guardians to make decisions on their behalf. There are, however, many unfortunate cases in which children are the victims of abuse and/or neglect. Other cases involve children who are caught in the middle of a custody dispute, and feel that th...
If you are involved in a contentious divorce, you may be in the process of gathering evidence for a divorce hearing. This evidence may include photos, voicemails, video footage and financial statements. You may also have come across suspicious or incriminating emails, chat logs and computer files...
No one wants to get involved in a prolonged, messy divorce, but there are situations where fighting for your rights requires going to trial. For example, cases involving sensitive situations such as domestic violence or drug abuse often involve spouses who are not on speaking terms. There are als...
Divorce cases shouldn't be about winning or losing, but if you're headed for court, you know that the judge can only rule in favor of one party. Whether you are the complainant or the respondent, you're probably wondering what your chances are in court. This question is hard to answer, since divo...
Divorces in New Jersey are filed as “fault” or “no-fault”, depending on the circumstances. Fault-based divorces are based on grounds of misconduct, which can include adultery, desertion and extreme cruelty. Adultery, in particular, is taken very seriously, which is evident in the fact that it's ...
In New Jersey, divorcing couples who cannot come to an agreement may need to present their case at a formal hearing. However, the courts present couples with numerous methods to settle their differences before going to trial. These methods include the Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel (MESP), a ...
Divorces in New Jersey are filed as “fault” or “no-fault”, depending on the circumstances. Within each of these categories are “grounds”, or legal reasons under which the court would grant the divorce. No-fault is the easier category since it only encompasses the grounds of separation or irreconc...
Just about anyone who's gone through a divorce will tell you that it's in your best interest to hire an attorney. Finding the right divorce lawyer, however, seems like a daunting task. It doesn't help that the state's divorce laws are so confusing, and that there are numerous options for divorce...
If you have decided that it's best to end your marriage, you may be wondering how long you should wait before filing for divorce. Depending on your situation, there may be a mandatory waiting period before you can file a complaint. For example, a “no fault” divorce can only be filed after you and...
The decision to divorce is followed by many life changes, which can be extremely difficult for children to accept. The biggest struggle for most kids is the idea of splitting their time between two parents and two households. This struggle is intensified when children are consciously or subconsci...
In New Jersey, calculations for child support are based on numerous factors, including the number of children, percentage of parenting time, and each parent's gross taxable income. These factors are plugged into a formula set by New Jersey Courts Rule 5:6A, which is explained in detail at http://...
Although a final judgment should be the last step in a divorce, former spouses may continue to clash if one party refuses to comply with the order. In many cases, former spouses are resentful of having to pay high amounts of alimony or child support, or not having primary custody of the children....