Blog
1/15/22
How to Avoid Court in Your New Jersey DivorceDivorce is never easy. And the thought of going to court can make it that much worse. It might help to know that court is not your only option – in fact, the vast majority of New Jersey divorces settle out of court. Settling out of court generally is where you and your spouse sign a comprehensive legal agreement that resolves all of the issues...Read More1/7/22
Why We Need Social Connection Now More Than EverThe According to the Harvard Study, now over 80 years old, embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier. And close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives, the study revealed. Similarly, according to Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work and author of several #1 New York Times...Read More12/17/21
How to Calm Down in 90 Seconds or LessOur emotions are caused by our thoughts but are experienced as physical sensations in the body. For instance, when we become angry, our heart rate increases, body temperature rises, and we might clench our fists. Or when we become anxious or fearful, we might experience “butterflies in the stomach” with rapid breathing or shortness of breath. But did you know that emotions don’t last longer than...Read More12/11/21
Four Powerful Ways to Mend a Strained RelationshipDo you have a strained relationship with a family member or someone else you love? Or perhaps you’re stuck in a rut with a work colleague and can’t seem to turn things around. It’s not uncommon to experience strained or estranged relationships in our personal and professional lives. You might know the feeling. You struggle to carry on a conversation because mistrust or resentment simmers...Read More12/4/21
Beware of the Free Lawyer ConsultationFrom time to time, I get calls from people struggling with a family law issue and want to know if I offer “free consultations.” Common family law issues include: How does property get divided in a divorce? What are my rights if I decide to divorce? How can I collect child support from my ex? What if my spouse wants a divorce but I don’t?...Read More11/19/21
How to Get What You Want in any Negotiation in Business and LifeWhether we know it or not, we are negotiating all the time. From salary negotiations or business deals to buying a home or a car or negotiating bedtimes or curfews with our kids. Knowing how to effectively negotiate is a critical life skill that can yield dividends in every area of your life. But many negotiations become stuck between competing positions to get as much...Read More11/13/21
Six Powerful Actions to Overcome Negative Bias and Improve Your RelationshipsAs human beings, our brains default to focus more on negative experiences than positive ones. Psychologists call this Negativity bias drives our thoughts, feelings, and actions. And this can have a profound effect on our relationships – with our spouses, kids, extended family members, employees, bosses, business partners, and colleagues. For example, negativity bias makes it more likely to magnify your partner’s faults or...Read More11/6/21
What Divorcing Spouses Can Do When Virtual Court Stalls SettlementDivorcing spouses should not rush to court these days. Once you file a divorce complaint with the court, you’re on the court’s timeline and required to attend mandatory settlement conferences and mediation to try to reach an agreement on issues like But since the start of the pandemic, mandatory court settlement appearances are held virtually with little success. The problem is that there is...Read More10/29/21
The Zoom Effect on Divorce Settlements in New JerseyDivorcing spouses and their attorneys have been appearing in court remotely since the start of the pandemic. According to some New Jersey family court judges, court appearances will not resume in person until sometime in late 2022. In the meantime, more and more divorce cases are not settling. When divorcing spouses and their attorneys physically go to court for a motion or settlement conference, for...Read More10/18/21
The #1 Reason Couples Divorce According to a Divorce LawyerAs a divorce and family lawyer for over 20 years, divorcing spouses come to my office deciding to call it quits for wide variety of reasons. But there really is one common thread I see over and over again. It’s the breakdown in the ability to effectively communicate with each other. And this tends to differ between men and women. Men, for instance, often talk...Read More