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In 1976, in Marvin v. Marvin, the California Supreme Court ruled that actor Lee Marvin was financially obligated to support his live-in lover indefinitely, regardless of the fact they had never married. The term palimony was coined by one of the attorneys on the case. Today, while many New Jersey couples cohabit without the benefit of marriage, the law has evolved to protect the financially vulnerable partner when these relationships end, just as if a lawful marriage existed.

A post-nuptial agreement may seem like a less glamorous version of a pre-nuptial, but it carries equal importance. If a couple is married and did not execute a pre-marriage agreement regarding alimony and ownership of assets upon divorce, they still may create an agreement at any point during the marriage. Post-marriage changes in financial circumstances are often the driving force. Post-nuptial agreements have not been perceived as bearing the same weight as a pre-nup, but as they gain in popularity, the trend may change.

In most New Jersey divorces, children spend time with both parents. In some cases, the actions, history, physical, or mental health issues of one parent may create an unsafe environment for a child, and the courts may decide that unconditional visitation is not in that child’s best interests. In such cases the court may order supervised visitation or alternative parenting time in lieu of traditional parenting time.