Blog | M. Hart Divorce & Family Law

2/19/19

Four Tips for Successfully Negotiating While Preserving the Relationship

Whether you need your co-parent to agree on financial obligations for your children, ask for a raise from your boss, or debate with your teenager, knowing how to effectively negotiate is key for preserving relationships. After all, using strong-arm tactics might win you the battle in the short term, yet ultimately lose you the war, or more specifically, valuable relationships. So, how can you get...

2/11/19

Can I Use a Divorce Mediator to Get a New Jersey Divorce?

When you’ve decided to divorce, chances are you don’t want to spend a pile of money to hire lawyers and fight out your divorce in court. Therefore, you might look to divorce mediation to save time, money, and headaches. The first thing to do, however, is to consult with one or more competent lawyers who focus only on divorce and family law. In your consultation,...

2/4/19

Six Little-Known Yet Powerful Ways To Reduce Emotional Harm To Your Children In Divorce

As a family lawyer for over 20 years and a former child of bitterly divorced parents, I can personally vouch for the emotional toll divorce can have on children. And the wealth of research backs up the aspects of divorce that make it so difficult for children. Below are 6 little-known yet powerful ways you can actively reduce emotional harm to your children in divorce:...

1/30/19

8 Tips for Keeping Your Marriage Happy, According to Divorce Lawyers

Communication has to be more than just talking—it needs to be about actively listening. “Listen to understand where the other person is really coming from,” Michele Hart, of M. Hart Divorce and Family Law in Morristown, New Jersey, tells Brides. “Listening is at the heart of close relationships with others. Instead of thinking of your own response, put aside for the moment your own judgments, opinions, thoughts, and expectations...

1/28/19

Is Your Spouse Entitled to Half Your Retirement in a New Jersey Divorce?

It’s common to assume your spouse is automatically entitled to “half” of your pension or other retirement assets if you divorce. This is really not accurate, however. First of all, in New Jersey, marital assets including retirement assets, are distributed “equitably” upon divorce, which is not necessarily 50-50. This means that distribution to your spouse is based upon consideration of 15 or so statutory factors, which...

1/22/19

Nine Tips for Saving Money and Aggravation in Your New Jersey Divorce

Divorce is not easy. But it doesn’t have to involve knock-down drag-out fighting with your spouse or cost you an arm and a leg. Here are 9 tips that can save you money and aggravation in your New Jersey divorce: 1. Do you want to buy a new home? Maintain and grow your business? Will your children live with you or do you want...

1/14/19

Four Immediate Actions to Protect Your Online Privacy if Separated or Considering Divorce

It’s very common for divorcing spouses to have shared access to computers, devices or online accounts, even after they physically separate. If you’re separated or considering divorce, it’s essential to take immediate steps to protect your online privacy. This can avoid driving up conflict and legal fees in divorce. Two important reasons to protect your online privacy during divorce: 1. Your spouse’s access to confidential communications...

1/8/19

Five Insider Tips for an Amicable Divorce

As a practicing divorce and family lawyer for over 20 years, I’ve seen how easy it is for divorcing spouses to get caught up in the emotional conflict that often comes with divorce. When you have children, it’s important to keep in mind that you and your spouse will be connected for the rest of your lives through your children. And the best way to...

1/2/19

Three Tips for Settling Your Divorce Out of Court

It’s common for divorcing spouses to speak with one another to decide who gets what in the divorce. Divorce negotiations can be difficult, however. They can quickly become emotionally charged, especially when there is a lack of trust between spouses. The key to successfully negotiating your divorce, therefore, is to respond instead of reacting. There’s a big difference between reacting, which involves an emotional knee-jerk reaction,...

12/18/18

The Number One Way for Entrepreneurs to Avoid Divorce

It’s no secret that running a successful business is hard work and takes relentless commitment. Not unlike running a successful marriage. So how can you have both? How can you as an entrepreneur avoid divorce? As a practicing family law attorney for over 20 years, I see marriages unravel when couples stop communicating. This article reveals how entrepreneurs can be particularly vulnerable and the number...