Do Sperm Donors Have Parental Rights? Fact or Fiction: Whoever’s name is on the birth certificate is the legal parent of that child, regardless if that person is genetically related to the child or not. FICTION. While parentage laws vary from state to state, in New Jersey, biology is the strongest determinate of legal parentage.…
How does overtime pay factor into child support? The Appellate Division just answered this decision in Ferrer v. Colon; a child support matter where both parents were police officers that typically earned a base salary, overtime pay, and income from second jobs. The case was approved for publication on June 9, 2020, meaning that it…
A common issue that arises when calculating child support is when a party has a child from a different relationship and how that factors into a given child support award. Within this basic scenario, there are three general avenues to which child support would potentially be adjusted (this list is not exhaustive): 1. One party…
On May 5, 2020, the Appellate Division in Gormley v. Gormley concluded that when the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) has determined that if a party is permanently disabled, a presumption of disability is established and the burden shifts to the opposing party to refute that presumption. In other words, when the SSA declares you an…
In a case of first impression, the Appellate Division recently addressed how to define a “dating relationship” under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (the Act) in today’s day and age. While it may not be surprising to those currently on the dating scene, the Appellate Division held that the exchange of countless (nearly 1300)…
On April 28, 2020, the Appellate Division issued a publish opinion that can only be described as a cautionary tale for any counsel seeking to represent a client on a matter to which that counsel does not have sufficient experience or expertise. The Appellate Division addressed this issue in the contested adoption case: In the…
Now that we are six weeks or so into this quarantine, there is no question that as the days blend from one to the next we have figured out our own ways to break up the monotony and get through this. As many video calls with friends and family as possible (oftentimes with drinks in…
The Appellate Division’s recently published (precedential) decision in Amzler v. Amzler provided much needed clarity on a question of first impression regarding early retirement and related applications to modify or terminate alimony obligations established prior to the 2014 amendments to our alimony statute. Specifically, the Appellate Division was presented with the question of whether N.J.S.A.…
We are certainly living in troubled times. The existence of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every aspect of life as we are practicing self-quarantine, social distancing and basically an overall disruption to every aspect of existence. That being said, time marches on. This includes the wheels of justice—notoriously slow under normal circumstances but even slower…
Recently, our very own Vikki Ziegler was featured on a segment by British media giant the Daily Mail, where she discussed why the US divorce rate might skyrocket as the COVID-19 pandemic forces couples into quarantine. In case you missed Vikki’s appearance, here’s what you need to know. Why Does Vikki Think the Divorce Rate…
COVID-19 has greatly impacted the world as we know it. Obviously, the serious health implications notwithstanding, this pandemic has caused nationwide panic, confusion and, in some cases, hysteria (e.g. toilet paper shortages). So too, it has also affected our country financially. In that regard, COVID-19 has not discriminated. From the business owner to the W-2…
Every year, the Super Lawyers organization selects a small number of outstanding attorneys across various categories to add to the Super Lawyers roster. Being recognized on the Super Lawyers or Rising Stars list is an honor—only 5% of a state’s lawyers are named to the Super Lawyers list, and only 2.5% are named to the…
Last week I wrote about the difficult parenting time issues facing all of us, but especially divorcing or divorced parents, in the midst of the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic. As we all continue to live through some level of isolation with our children and attempt to portray some sense of normalcy, each day passes with contrasting…
On Saturday, March 21st, Governor Murphy issued an Executive Order implementing what is in large part a lockdown designed to fight back against the coronavirus. As most of the approximately nine million New Jersey residents are directed to stay home, much of our focus turns to the children impacted by what is happening to all…
Never did I imagine I would be writing a blog post about parenting your kids in the time of a pandemic as the coronavirus sweeps its way around the world and has temporarily forced us into our homes. With companies shuttered, schools closed, and curfews in place for many, we are faced with the reality…
When is a supported spouse’s proof of a mutually supportive intimate personal relationship with another person enough to overcome the first step in the process towards terminating alimony? In the recently issued unpublished (not precedential) decision of Goethals v. Goethals, the Appellate Division reversed a trial court’s decision finding that the payor failed to fulfill…
