Blog | M. Hart Divorce & Family Law

3/19/21

Hardwiring for Personal Connection: Use this Neuroscientist’s 5 Steps to Change Your Brain

As human beings, we crave love and connection with others. As We feel personal connection when we have shared experiences, relatable feelings, or similar beliefs or opinions. It is when there is a sense of “oneness” and belonging to something greater than ourselves. Yet all too often, connection with others has been lost or is missing – whether as a direct result of the pandemic...

3/12/21

Marriage Crossroads: Should You Stay or Divorce?

You might feel like you’re living in limbo in your marriage. Maybe you feel that while the marriage is not good, it’s not quite bad enough to divorce. You just don’t know how to move forward. It seems you’ve come to a crossroads in your marriage. You don’t know whether to divorce or stay married. And if you decide to stay married, how can you...

3/5/21

Being the Change When Times Are Tough

When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” ~Viktor Frankl Challenges are part of life. We are constantly being hit with new challenges that take many different forms: Difficult people. Losing a job. Marital difficulties and divorce. Sometimes things just suck. And that’s when it can be easy to sing what I call the “if only” blues – if only he didn’t do...

2/27/21

Four Simple Tips for Deeper Personal Connection with Others

To truly connect with others, you might think of a card game. You flip over your card to see what is really there. And to see is to really listen to the other person and see things as they appear from the other side. We are often quick to judge and label others. After all, labels can help us feel safe and make sense of...

2/19/21

Divorce and Kids: What Your Children Are Likely Thinking and the Four Answers They Need

Divorce can be tough – and when you have kids, you might tend to worry about how they’ll handle this difficult transition. As a family lawyer for over 20 years and a former teen of divorced parents, I know all too well the many ways divorce can affect children. Here are four of the most common thoughts and fears that children have about divorce – even...

2/12/21

What To Expect in Your New Jersey Divorce

It is a common misconception that divorce means going to court and having a judge make important decisions about child custody, alimony, or how to divide the marital assets. To the contrary, the overwhelming majority of divorce cases in New Jersey are actually settled by mutual agreement. Therefore, when you and your spouse have agreed on decisions including When the court enters a Judgment...

2/5/21

Three Powerful Tips for Connecting Better with Others in Every Area of Your Life

Social connection is an essential human need. According to research professor and best-selling author, Connection is having shared experiences, relatable feelings, or similar beliefs or opinions. It is when there is a sense of “oneness” and belonging to something greater than ourselves. In my work as a family lawyer, I sadly see over and over again how easy it is for couples and families...

1/30/21

The One Way to Achieve Greater Personal Connection When We Need it Most

As human beings, we crave love and connection with others. As global pandemic restrictions and social distancing approach the one-year mark, maintaining that essential connection requires focus and effort. We are not currently able to participate in group activities like sports, theater, or in-person classes that naturally promote connection. What exactly is connection? Essentially, connection is having shared experiences, relatable feelings, or similar beliefs or...

1/22/21

Level Up Your Negotiating Game with a Cue from Improv

Whether we know it or not, we’re negotiating all the time – from business partners, vendors, investors, and employees to spouses, or kids, or other family members. Negotiation is essentially the process by which we reach agreements. The most successful negotiators are able to think on their feet to instantly respond to new information. This is where improv (short for improvisational theater or performance) can...

1/15/21

Two Powerful Ways to Strengthen Your Romantic Relationship

When we look solely to the other person to fill our needs in a romantic relationship, things can quickly fall apart. I was guilty of doing this myself in previous relationships. And now, people often come to me about divorce after many years of pent up resentment from unfulfilled needs in the marriage. Because, as I have found, depending on our significant other for satisfaction,...