Blog | M. Hart Divorce & Family Law

11/12/13

How the proposed New Jersey Alimony Reform Law Could Affect You

If you are presently going through a divorce and alimony is an issue or you are already divorced and are either paying or receiving alimony, then you could be affected if the proposed alimony law now pending in the New Jersey legislature passes. There is speculation that the law could pass as soon as within the next few months and quite possibly during the “lame duck”...

11/4/13

How to Tell Your Children About Your Divorce

Telling your children that you and your spouse are getting a divorce is likely to be one of the most important and difficult communications you are likely to have in your life. It is therefore very important to be prepared. First, be prepared to handle your child’s reaction in a sensitive and respectful manner. Before you have this conversation, you should educate yourself about the...

10/23/13

3 Things That Could Keep You From Getting What You Want During a Divorce

If you are thinking about divorce or have already started the process, it can feel as though you are about to enter a scary and foreign world in which a judge dictates how much alimony or child support you will pay or receive or when you will spend time with your children. This does not have to be the case. Believe it or not, you have...

10/14/13

What Happens if I Move Out of the Marital Home Before the Divorce is Final?

If you are thinking about separating or divorcing your spouse, it is common to wonder whether you would relinquish rights to the marital home if you move out. It may very well be healthier emotionally for one of you to move out during this tumultuous time, especially where there are children. You can feel secure in the knowledge that if you do decide to move out, you would...

10/7/13

How To Pay Less for Your Divorce

The age-old question for many going through divorce is “how much will it cost?” While it’s difficult to predict the actual costs with any degree of certainty, below are 3 things you can do to keep the costs from spiraling out of control: 1. Hire a lawyer who is settlement oriented and practices exclusively in divorce and family matters. 2. Become familiar with the marital assets,...

9/23/13

How much does divorce cost?

If you are thinking about divorce or have already started the process, you might be wondering whether this divorce will cost you a fortune as you add up all the dollars being spent – over the course of a seemingly never-ending process. In answer to the question “how much will my divorce cost?” there is both good news and bad news. The bad news first: the...

9/13/13

How Long Does Divorce Take?

If you are thinking about divorce or have already started the divorce process, you might be wondering how long your divorce will take to be finalized. The answer essentially depends on the actions and attitudes of both you and your spouse as well as each of your attorneys. You should first ask yourself how much time, energy and money do you each want to spend fighting over...

9/4/13

What Really Happens In Divorce: Myths vs. Reality

It’s common to feel afraid to get a divorce when there is so much information out there that is, well, just plain scary. It’s like getting to the edge of a cliff and being afraid to jump off. Fortunately, most, if not all of this “information” is simply not true. You might call it pure myth. Some of the most common myths I’ve heard include: I will have...

8/18/13

Need Strength? Tap the Power of Community

When facing an extremely stressful life-changing event like divorce, it’s common to feel scared and isolated. You might ask yourself how you can hold on to the strength to keep going each day. Community is the glue that can help you hold it together. What is a community – the kind that can provide strength, support, courage and companionship? It’s where each member shares a...

8/9/13

Behave Yourself – Your Children are Watching: Co-parenting with Your Ex

It’s common to feel anger, resentment, and hurt towards your ex. Your child’s happiness and sense of security, however, could be at stake unless you are able to successfully separate these negative feelings from how you behave in front of and towards your child. Remember, children are like sponges. They are constantly watching and absorbing what we do and how we relate to others. This...