Domestic violence cases are emotionally charged and legally complex. For those experiencing abuse, the process can feel overwhelming and uncertain. For those facing allegations, defending themselves can be equally daunting. Understanding the legal protections available and how they might apply to their situation can be challenging for both sides. While many domestic violence laws are […] The post Does the Fifth Amendment Apply to Domestic Violence Proceedings? appeared first on Jacobs Berger, LLC ..read more

You’ve figured out custody and support agreements, and you’re finding your stride in a new routine.  Then, life throws a curveball.  Whether due to career changes, family obligations, or simple life circumstances and preferences, you or your co-parent need to or want to make a move out of state. The whole logistical house of cards […] The post Parenting Time Arrangement Considerations If A Parent Moves To Another State appeared first on Jacobs Berger, LLC ..read more

Remarriage is a topic that doesn’t always make it to the negotiating table when talking about child support—romance often isn’t on co-parents’ minds when they’re discussing potential payment schedules or how they’ll handle unreimbursed medical expenses.  But the reality is that more than half of divorced Americans will remarry at some point. That means, for many, the question of how remarriage might impact child support is likely to come up at some point.  (Note that even if you and your co-parent were never married, you still may have this question—divorce isn’t a prerequisite for e ..read more

“My spouse won’t sign the divorce papers.” If you’re initiating your divorce by filing papers as step one (which isn’t always the case), you were probably hoping to avoid this scenario. When one party refuses to sign papers or participate in the divorce process, it can lead to legal delays, extra expenses, and stress.  It can also leave you wondering whether their lack of cooperation will derail the process entirely.    But rest assured: with some proactive steps (and a few deep breaths or true crime podcasts, depending on what calms your nerves), you can keep your divorce ..read more

It’s not surprising news that money is a big source of stress for people. According to the CNBC Your Money Survey, 74% of working Americans say they’re stressed about their personal finances. A 2023 Bankrate report found that 52% of adults felt money had a negative impact on their overall mental health. Add in balancing divorce along with balancing your budget, and you may feel like the picture is bleak. It’s true that divorce can decrease household income, affect credit scores, and disrupt long-term financial plans and overall financial security.  But, there is a silver lining in what mi ..read more

If you learned how to drive before the era of smartphones and GPS, you probably remember the stress of trying to get somewhere you’d never been. Maybe you wrote down directions someone gave you. Maybe you printed them off of MapQuest. Or maybe you just crossed your fingers and hoped for the best. However you went about getting to your destination, it felt like your head was always on a swivel, not sure of where the correct turn was—that is, unless you had a trusted navigator.  That trusted navigator was essential for spotting your exit sign in time, following key parts of the directions ..read more

As with most aspects of family law, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to child support. Some families land on a straightforward agreement for an exchange of funds (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or any other cadence that suits their needs), while others may require a highly complex and detailed court order.  And some families may not want to establish a formal child support obligation at all.  The reasons for not wanting to establish child support are varied. Both parties may have the same financial means at the time of their separation or divorce, split parenting time equally with t ..read more

This post is the first in our series about what goes into calculating child support in New Jersey and the role that income plays. This blog focuses on the basic financial factors that go into the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines. To read the second blog, click here.  Figuring out child support obligations is a top priority for couples with children who are separated, divorcing, or never married. Whether you’re paying or receiving support, you need to understand what to expect so you can plan accordingly.  In general, the goal of child support is relatively straightforward: to redu ..read more

This post is the second in our series about what goes into calculating child support. This blog focuses on what is considered income and how it impacts child support awards. To read the first blog, click here. Child support isn’t an exact science—it’s a balancing act of all the different financial factors that go into raising a child. It never looks the same between families because every family is different.   Numerous factors are part of this balancing act: parental finances, parenting time, age and number of children, childcare costs, healthcare costs, and other child support obli ..read more

This post is the first in our series about what goes into calculating child support in New Jersey and the role that income plays. This blog focuses on the basic financial factors that go into the New Jersey Child Support Guidelines. To read the second blog, click here.  Figuring out child support obligations is a top priority for couples with children who are separated, divorcing, or never married. Whether you’re paying or receiving support, you need to understand what to expect so you can plan accordingly.  In general, the goal of child support is relatively straightforward: to redu ..read more