Divorce

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…

When New Jersey couples divorce, ex-spouses may feel grateful for their newfound freedom from the confines of an unhappy marriage. Among the choices divorced individuals make for themselves are career changes, major lifestyle shifts, and of course decisions about starting new relationships. That said, ex-spouses who share children face challenges when it comes to relocating themselves and their children to a different state.

Divorce negotiations and court proceedings often leave participants emotionally and financially drained. Even when the terms of a settlement agreement or final judgment are not ideal, parties may feel relieved to end such a painful process and look forward to moving on with their separate lives. Many of these same people discover that settlements and final judgments often need to be modified to better serve the family and the ever-changing needs of affected children.

While the histrionics and high drama featured on the long-running TV program Divorce Court may make for entertaining television, the fact is that real life divorces in New Jersey bear little resemblance to their televised counterparts. One popular staple of this show is the elaborate dressing down of spouses offered by the program’s “judge,” who can be seen tossing litigants out of her “courtroom,” calling them “scandalous individuals,” “liars,” and “bad dudes.” Sadly, many people entering the divorce process think that their spouse will be put in his or her place in a similar manner, with the divorce trial serving as the ultimate means to teach their X-2-B a well deserved life lesson.