You’ve Received a Finding of “Not Established.” Now What?

When the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) receives an allegation of abuse or neglect, they are mandated by law to investigate it. The investigation will end in one of four findings: Substantiated, Established, Not Established or Unfounded. “Established” and “Substantiated” are both considered findings of abuse or neglect and allow the accused party…

Appellate Division Addresses Custody and Parenting Time Related Sanctions and the Intrastate Relocation Standard in New Decision

Appellate Division Addresses Custody and Parenting Time Related Sanctions and the Intrastate Relocation Standard in New Decision

In a significant new decision, A.J. v. R.J., ___ N.J. Super. ___ (App. Div. 2019), the Appellate Division addressed both sanctions for violations of custody/parenting time Orders and confirmed that the interstate relocation standard established in Bisbing v. Bisbing must be applied to both interstate and intrastate relocation applications. Background The case stems from Plaintiff,…

Robert Epstein to Speak at Hot Tips Event

Robert Epstein to Speak at Hot Tips Event

Every year, attorneys from across New Jersey gather for the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Hot Tips in Family Law event. Throughout the program, leading matrimonial lawyers give fast-paced advice on pertinent legal issues. This year, Bobby is speaking about legal ethics and attorney misconduct. MISCONDUCT UNDER RULE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 8.4 In the highly…

Cohabitation statute

Appellate Division Finds That Alimony Payor Must Still Fulfill Initial Burden of a “Change in Circumstances” Before Being Entitled to Discovery from Payee Under New Jersey’s Cohabitation Statute

Our blog has featured many articles on the topic of cohabitation, where a former spouse paying alimony can seek to modify his/her alimony obligation if the payee former spouse cohabits with another person in a “mutually supportive, intimate personal relationship in which a couple has undertaken duties and privileges that are commonly associated with marriage…

Navigating the FD Docket: Court Forms and Procedures for Parents Who Were Never Married

The Courts in New Jersey have a specific set of forms and procedures for unmarried parents who are going through child-related legal disputes such as custody, parenting time, child support, college contribution, medical expenses, extracurricular activities, and camp expenses.  The cases are handled by the Family Division and are referred to as “non-dissolution” matters and…