Will You Marry Me…And Can We Have A Prenup, Please?

How to ask for a prenuptial agreementWith almost 50% of marriages ending in divorce, and many of those divorces leading to protracted battles over assets, having a prenup can prevent arguments should the marriage end. But how do you tell your fiancée you want one without sounding dubious about your wedding vows? Or that you love your money more than you love him? Here’s how to bring up the subject without killing the romance. Read more

Your Guide To Feeling In Control Of Your Divorce — And Your Life!

feeling in control of your divorceDivorce can make you feel like you’re lost in a foreign land without a map. The familiar guideposts – home, finances, social circle, station in life – either vanish or morph into something that you don’t recognize. Even if you loathed your spouse, you might prefer the comfort of being a plus-one to navigating a whole new life and making decisions as a single person. Read more

Why Is January Called Divorce Month?

Why is January called Divorce Month?

January 1st rings in more than the New Year; it also marks the beginning of Divorce Month. What earned the first month of the year this unusual nickname? According to the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, the number of people filing for divorce jumps by 30% nationwide in January compared to preceding months. As for why so many couples make divorce their New Year’s resolution, here’s a look at some of the most common reasons. Read more

Decided to Divorce? Four Questions to Ask Yourself Before Moving Out of the Family Home

Should you move out of your home during divorce?

When spouses make the decision to separate or divorce, the next step typically involves one spouse moving out of the family home. But is this next step the right step? If you are the spouse thinking about moving out, make sure you have considered all the potential legal ramifications of leaving your home.

Should you stay or go? Here are four questions you need to be able to answer before making a move:
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Divorce And Social Media: Why What You Post Can Come Back to Haunt You

divorce and social media

Your fondness for posting vacation photos on social media platforms may come back to haunt you during a custody battle. At least, that’s what happened to a psychiatrist in New York in 2015. After she and her husband split, she posted Facebook photos of herself enjoying the sights in Italy and Boston. Her husband claimed these pictures were evidence that her traveling schedule kept her away from home too often and that he, the primary caregiver for their 4-year-old son, should be awarded full custody. The judge ruled that the wife’s social media profile should be allowed as evidence and ordered her to release her login information.

This story demonstrates how even the benign use of social media can have potentially devastating consequences in custody proceedings.  With most people having at least some social media footprint, divorce cases like this one are likely to become more frequent in family court. Here are some social media do’s and don’ts to consider when going through divorce. Read more

Post-Season Financial Preparedness: Who Owns the Holiday Gifts?

holiday gifts and divorce

If you were lucky enough to receive a particularly high-value gift over the holiday season, and you are also married or soon-to-be-married, then you may want to take a moment to consider the ownership of that gift. While no one wants to think about the possibility of divorce during happy times, those happy times often present the best opportunity for planning. Financial preparedness is like insurance—if you wait to think about it until you need it, you could be too late.

So what are the rules in New Jersey regarding gifts and divorce? Read more

7 Steps To Filing For Divorce In New Jersey

filing for divorce in new jersey

You’ve made the decision to divorce, so what can you expect next? The divorce process will require you to divide all marital assets and debts, establish alimony and child support if applicable, and determine custody arrangements for your children. To get the process started, you first need to file the appropriate forms and paperwork. Here are seven important steps to take during this initial stage of divorce: Read more

Answering Older Children’s Questions About Divorce

older kids and divorce

One of the most difficult tasks of divorce is telling your children you’re splitting up. Before you sit down to give them the news, it’s important to anticipate questions they might have and be prepared for how to answer them. Read more

How To Protect Children of Divorce From Depression

children and divorceUp to 25% of children whose parents divorce have emotional and behavioral difficulties, as compared to 10% of children from intact homes. How do you know if your child is one of the 25% — and how do you help him? Read more

New Jersey Divorce Chronicles Part 12: Will Sharon and Robert Go to Trial?

help for divorce issues
In our last installment of our ongoing divorce case study series, we saw Melissa and Jason making good progress with the division of their marital assets and debts in mediation. Meanwhile, the disappointing recommendations Sharon got from the Marital Early Settlement Panel (MESP) in Part 8 just seemed to get worse for her in Part 10. Read more