Blog | M. Hart Divorce & Family Law

9/24/18

Online Tools for Separated and Divorced Parents Designed to Reduce Stress and Legal Fees

In New Jersey, shared parenting arrangements are becoming the norm for separated and divorced parents of children of all ages. The traditional every other weekend arrangement is now being replaced by more shared parenting arrangements. Such arrangements can consist of rotating day and overnight parenting time each week and/or every other week. For instance, 3-3-4-4 days or 2-2-3 days are becoming more common, especially for younger children. New...

9/17/18

The Truth About Divorce

This is a pivotal time in your life. You want a divorce but you don’t know where to turn. Divorce goes right to the heart of our deepest insecurities. Feelings of failure, loss and abandonment can be overwhelming. You walk around in a cloud of depression and despair. You can’t think rationally. It’s almost impossible to make decisions that are best for you, much less...

9/10/18

Can I Save Money with Divorce Mediation Instead of Hiring a Divorce Lawyer?

This is a common question often asked by spouses considering divorce. If you’re like most separated or divorcing spouses, you don’t want to spend a pile of money to hire lawyers and fight out your divorce in court. You might therefore look to divorce mediation to save time, money, and headaches. Before jumping right into divorce mediation, however, take stock of these 3 tips: 1...

9/4/18

Do You Have to Go to Court for Your New Jersey Divorce?

While you do need the court to legally dissolve your marriage, you For instance, you don’t need the court to decide where your children will live, how much parenting time you will have with your children, how much child support or alimony you will pay or receive, or how your assets and debts will be divided. Instead, you can make such decisions with your spouse...

8/27/18

The 11 Most Costly Mistakes in Divorce and How to Avoid Them

As a family lawyer for the past 20 years, I’ve seen the same mistakes made time and time again by people going through divorce. And what many lawyers unfortunately don’t tell you (nor necessarily intentionally) is that these mistakes are costly and can be avoided. Therefore, I’ve compiled this list of 11 costliest mistakes in divorce if you’re separated or considering divorce and how to avoid them. Hiring the...

8/21/18

Simple Answers to the Most Often Asked Alimony Questions

Alimony is where one spouse makes regular periodic payments to the other after the divorce is finalized. Generally, New Jersey courts have the authority to decide if alimony is appropriate, and if so, the amount and duration of alimony payments by one spouse. The Only about 1% of all divorce cases filed in New Jersey, however, go to trial. The vast majority is settled out...

8/13/18

How to Tell Your Children You’re Getting a Divorce

It’s a common belief that it’s better for your children to stay in an unhappy marriage than to be subjected to divorce. Naturally you might want to avoid uprooting your children from the only life of family, friends, and home they’ve ever known. Below is what can affect children the most and offers simple tips to help them adjust. Emotional effects on children As a former...

8/6/18

Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Handle Your Divorce?

Many spouses considering divorce think their divorce should be simple and there’s no need to get lawyers involved. After all, it’s a common belief that lawyers mean fighting and expensive legal fees. What divorcing spouses often don’t realize, however, is that many key issues are often overlooked when reaching their own divorce agreements, only to land them in court after the divorce. And it’s far more expensive...

8/3/18

Three Actions to Take Right Now for an Amicable Divorce

If you’re considering divorce, here are 3 actions to take right now for an amicable divorce process. 1. Gather key documents about your marital finances. Knowing what you have will give you a head start on a plan for dividing marital assets. Here is a 2. Consult with one or more competent family law attorneys to find out what to expect. Resist all temptation to...

7/24/18

How to Protect Your Pre-Marital Retirement Plan in New Jersey Divorce

In New Jersey, only assets acquired by either spouse “during the marriage” are subject to being divided in divorce. It’s not uncommon, however, to start contributing to your retirement plan Perhaps you’re now separated or considering divorce. What happens to your premarital retirement plan? Does your spouse have a right to half? Contributions during the marriage The first thing to do is determine if you...