5 Costly Risks Of Representing Yourself In Divorce

You’ve decided to divorce. Now comes your next decision: Do you need to hire an attorney, or should you represent yourself?

In New Jersey, individuals involved in a divorce have the legal option to either hire an attorney or make the choice to go it alone in their matter.

Self-representation is usually tied to a desire to save on costs. In the short term, yes, representing yourself does save money up front. In the long run? Self-representation (technically called going pro se in your divorce) puts you at risk for expensive drawbacks that outweigh any initial savings.

Not sure what’s right for you and your divorce? Here are five factors to take into consideration when making the choice to hire an attorney or go pro se in your divorce. Read more

Why Do Couples Divorce After 20 Years of Marriage?

divorce after 20 year marriage

Move over, 7-year itch. Couples married for 20-plus years are now more likely to divorce than any other age group. According to a 2017 Pew Research study, the divorce rate among this demographic has doubled since the 1990s and is predicted to triple by 2030! Here are some reasons behind this growing divorce trend.  Read more

Kim And Kanye Battle Over Daughter’s TikTok Account — Which Co-Parent Should Prevail?

Kim Kanye Social Media Custody dispute

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are no strangers to the social media spotlight. But when it comes to their children’s use of social media, the two have become locked in a nasty standoff. The crux of it: Kim has allowed 8-year-old daughter North to post on Tik Tok through an account she and North run together. Kanye is vehemently opposed to his daughter using the popular video sharing app, venting in an all caps Instagram post that tagged Kim:

“SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST DIVORCE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT MY DAUGHTER BEING PUT ON TIK TOK AGAINST MY WILL ?”

Kim responded to Kanye’s public criticism in a statement of her own, posted in her Instagram stories:

Kanye’s constant attacks on me in interviews and on social media is actually more hurtful than any TikTok North might create. As the parent who is the main provider and caregiver for our children, I am doing my best to protect our daughter while also allowing her to express her creativity in the medium that she wishes with adult supervision—because it brings her happiness. Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye’s obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all. From the beginning I have wanted nothing but a healthy and supportive co-parenting relationship because it is what is best for our children and it saddens me that Kanye continues to make it impossible every step of the way.

I wish to handle all matters regarding our children privately and hopefully he can finally respond to the third attorney he has had in the last year to resolve any issues amicably.

Which co-parent should have the final say in whether or not their minor child can use TikTok? For answers, let’s look at legal rights around children’s social media use that can help Kim, Kanye and other battling co-parents find workable solutions. Read more

5 Key Steps To Take When It’s Time To Divorce

time to divorce

The decision to divorce will alter your life forever, so it’s critical that you plan your exit wisely. Ready to take the first steps towards a brighter future? The following tips can help you kickstart the divorce process with greater clarity and calm. Read more

Are Digital Mistakes About To Turn Your Divorce Into a Disaster?

digital mistakes in divorce

It was just a few years ago that digital meddling in divorce consisted mainly of spouses taking screenshots of questionable texts and tagged photos on Facebook. In our tech-saturated world of 2022, however, cyber snooping and other online misbehaviors  in divorce have become much more complex — and prevalent.

As Bari Weinberger explained in her latest article for the New Jersey Law JournalSocial Media & Cyber Warnings in Family Law Cases: Learnings for 2022, “Today’s issues reflect everything from digital privacy breaches to cyber-harassment to hidden cryptocurrency and more.”

Are you at risk for a suspicious or vengeful spouse doing you wrong online? You need to protect yourself. Here are some tips for avoiding this new generation of cyber missteps in divorce. Read more

5 Ways to Rekindle Romance in Your Marriage

rekindling romance in marriage

Have your marital flames burned so low that you’re afraid they’ll be extinguished forever? While sex waxes and wanes in most relationships, ignoring your erotic connection can create the dreaded “roommate”marriage, and cause some spouses to remedy their loneliness by looking elsewhere for physical and emotional fulfillment, resulting in infidelity and often divorce.

Could saving the romance save your marriage? For most couples, it can certainly help.

While attempts to re-connect sexually may feel awkward, allowing yourselves to drift apart will make it that much harder the longer you wait. Here are some tips to help you and your spouse rekindle the spark. Read more

FIRE Divorce: What Happens When An “Financial Independence, Retire Early” Couple Splits?

FIRE divorce

You and your spouse were on FIRE. You worked hard at your financial independence with the goal to retire early. You might already be retired right now, living off the dividends of your hard-earned nest egg and passive investments, and with little to no debt. Financially, your marriage was a success. Personally, however, things were far from ideal, and now you and your spouse have made the difficult decision to divorce.

When a FIRE marriage ends, does financial independence end with it? Read more

New Jersey Secures Same-Sex Marriage Protections With New Law

same-sex marriage equality

Marriage equality in New Jersey is now codified state law as Governor Phil Murphy announced last week that he signed a bill creating a long-awaited state law protecting same-sex marriage in the state. Read more

The Peter Pan Generation: How To Help Your Adult Child Transition To Adulthood

Peter Pan Generation

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Do you have an adult child who’s struggling to leave your nest? While the pandemic sent many young adults running back to their childhood home, the “forever child” Peter Pan generation has been around for a while. A 2016 Pew Research Study found that 32% of 18 to 34-year-olds were more likely to live with their parents than in any other living situation. That number soared to 52% during the pandemic, even more than during the Great Depression! 

With college campuses closing, businesses shuttering, and housing costs rising, the struggle to live independently is real. Bari Weinberger wrote about the legal aspects of parents financially supporting their adult children in her new article for the New Jersey Law Journal: Peter Pan Support When Can Parents Stop Financially Supporting Adult Children? But what about the emotional side of having your adult child move back in?

Here’s how to help an adult child back in the nest find their wings again. Read more

4 Ways Abusers Are Using High Tech To Stalk In 2022 — And What You Can Do To Protect Yourself

cyberstalking in 2022

Is your phone being used to spy on you? How about your car? As “smart” internet-enabled technologies continue to evolve, unfortunately, so too do the techniques abusive spouses use to twist these advances into manipulative tools of surveillance and cyberstalking. 

Should you be concerned for your safety? In 2022, you need to learn four new ways abusers are using high tech to stalk — and the steps you can to protect yourself. Read more