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Blog Category: Family Law

Christmas, COVID, & Parenting Time…

Dec 4, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

Many holiday seasons, I have received panicked phone calls from clients worried that their (former) spouse is threatening to withhold parenting time on the holidays.  Sometimes it is a matter of...

Reversal of Domestic Violence Restraining Order Denial

Dec 3, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

If a NJ trial court denies a request for a Final Restraining Order (FRO) in a domestic violence matter, is it worth pursuing a reversal with the Appellate Division?  The Appellate Division grants...

“Mediate First” Provisions: Pros and Cons

Oct 16, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

Many marital settlement agreements contain clauses often referred to as “mediate first” provisions.  These clauses, often embedded in boiler plate language, are sometimes overlooked or not...

Is a Term Sheet a Valid, Binding Agreement in a Family Law Matter? Beware!

Aug 5, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

Many times, whether in mediation or inside the conference rooms of a courthouse, we are negotiating the terms of a settlement.  This can be for a divorce, child support, custody, parenting time, or...

How a Disability Determination May Affect Alimony or Child Support

Jun 22, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

In the recent case of Gormley[1], the NJ Superior Court Appellate Division clarified the case of Gilligan2, which was being misinterpreted to state that a party who receives social security disability...

Lessons Learned from the Pandemic

May 28, 2020 | Written by: William J. Rudnik, Esq. |

As a certified matrimonial law attorney, I am usually very busy and focused on my clients, and I do not often have time to ponder life in general.  The COVID-19 pandemic has afforded me some time to...

Should I Initiate Divorce During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Apr 20, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

If you were thinking about getting a divorce before March 2020, you may have felt that the time was “right.”  The economy was seemingly doing well, unemployment was low, stocks were high, you...

Divorce & Coronavirus (COVID-19): Co-Parenting During Quarantine

Mar 24, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

We are all living in an unprecedented time as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  This is new territory for divorced parents dealing with New Jersey’s “stay at home” order and...

Divorce FAQs

Mar 11, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

This article will address the following frequently asked questions:  How long does it take to get a divorce in New Jersey? Do I need to hire an attorney to handle my divorce? Can my spouse and I use...

Can a 20-Year-Old Prenuptial Agreement be Enforced?

Feb 10, 2020 | Written by: Diana N. Fredericks, Esq. |

Prenuptial agreements (prenups) can be valid and enforceable in the State of New Jersey.  In the recent case of Steffens[i], the Appellate Division held that a 20-year-old prenup signed in 1994, the...