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…
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…
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…
Well that’s it. Just like that the decade is over and the “Roaring” 2020s are here. Before we can discuss where we are going, however, we need to look back to where we’ve been in the last decade. Smartphones took over. Regular television was largely replaced by Netflix and other streaming services. Social media became…
The entertainment industry is buzzing with Golden Globe nominations just being announced. One movie with a significant amount of nominations is Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. It has gotten rave reviews and has additionally been the talk of the matrimonial law community. **CAUTION – SPOILERS AHEAD** Without getting into too much detail (because it is worth…
Going through one of the most difficult times in your life during the holidays is tough, but it can be tougher when you are alone and away from your children. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or New Year’s, these are all holidays where gathering with family and spending quality time together is…
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,…
As many of you may know, our very own Vikki Ziegler recently appeared on the Dr. Oz Show discussing the concept of a “sleep divorce”. What is sleep divorce you ask? Snoring, body heat, restless legs, wanting more space, needing the room at a certain temperature, light sleep, different schedules. These are just some of…
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…