Divorce
“In NJ, do we have to wait until the end of our divorce case to evaluate and distribute our retirement assets?”
In New Jersey, a divorcing couple is required to divide their jointly acquired marital assets and debts, and, for the most part, to divide them evenly. This includes assets —such as pension plans and 401k’s that one or both of the parties will receive upon retirement or the other party’s death. New Jersey is an…
Read MorePutting Off the NJ Separation and Divorce Can Sometimes Hurt You
In an ideal world, a couple deciding to separate and divorce could work together to amicably and harmoniously achieve their social and financial goals. Unfortunately, that is not always possible. For most couples, even in a less than ideal situation, there are some things they can do to increase the chances of an uncontested divorce.…
Read MoreNo Good Deed Goes Unpunished: May a NJ Divorcing Spouse Sue the Generous In-Laws for Family Support or Equitable Distribution?
Let’s revisit a 2005 divorce action, Idleman vs. Idleman, in which a wife sued her husband’s parents for family support. Doug Idleman was seriously ill, too sick to work. His parents generously supported the couple’s lavish lifestyle for the last two years of the marriage. They paid the mortgage on the parties’ $775,000 home in…
Read More“Why Should I Want a Divorce Coach?”
On the social science scale of stress, most adults report that divorce is the most stressful event of their lifetime, just short of death of a loved one. There are endless details to manage, as well as emotional challenges. If children are involved, things are endlessly messy from start to finish, and for years to…
Read MoreJohnny has Three Parents: Is that Even Possible in NJ?
There was a time in society when parentage was difficult to prove. With the benefit of DNA testing, paternity is easily and accurately determined in most cases. Now, it is parentage itself that is subject to redefinition. A recent New Jersey case illuminates these changes and foreshadows a great deal more complexity. In the subject…
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