An issue that often arises in family law practice is whether a party can avoid having to pay a counsel fee award to the other party by filing for bankruptcy and attempting to discharge the debt. In Bisbing v. Bisbing, III, a recently published (precedential) decision, however, the Appellate Division concluded attorney’s fees awarded in…
As we begin to emerge from the worst of the pandemic and look to return to some normalcy, we as family law attorneys need to recognize how the resulting changes to child custody and parenting time issues impact on how we will represent the best interests of our clients and their children going forward. A…
The recently published Appellate Division decision of W.M. v. D.G., provided much needed guidance as to the manner in which non-dissolution custody matters between unmarried parents are to proceed in the trial court. The case presented issues several complex issues involving custody, psychological parentage, and the appointment of a law guardian for a minor child.…
Oftentimes parties will agree to settlement terms that are memorialized in a written settlement agreement spanning ten, twenty, thirty pages or more depending on the complexity of the issues and marital estate involved. While we do what we can as practitioners to avoid potential pitfalls, loopholes and ambiguities in the agreement language, occasions do arise…
The journey through the family courts is a long and arduous one which will almost always leave emotional and financial scars. If you are unable to settle your case, the journey ends with a Final Order or Judgment, which is rarely viewed with complete satisfaction by either party. For those that are truly dissatisfied with the trial…
With all of us gladly kicking 2020 to the curb and welcoming 2021 with open arms (from a six-foot distance, of course), how has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted how we think about divorce as a potential new year’s resolution? I have written before about how people often wait until after the holiday season concludes to…
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…