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My ex started working a full time overnight position leaving our 12 year old daughter home alone on his nights which are Wed, Thursday and every other Friday. He kept this a secret until my daughter finally told me. I'm highly concerned and I live 6 minutes away, however he's so... View More 
answered on Jun 18, 2024
In deciding whether to modify custody, the Court considers whether there has been a change in circumstances and whether a change to the custody schedule would be in the child’s best interests. A judge may decide that your ex leaving the child alone at night is a change in circumstance and that... View More
The father took a paternity test. We have never lived together. His mother says that their family can help out in various ways--transportation, childcare, and so on. Does it make sense to see how that goes? Will it still be possible to file for child support later if this goodwill arrangement... View More
answered on Jun 3, 2024
Child support in New Jersey is considered the right of the child, meaning that it cannot be waived by either parent. Parents can file for child support at any age, so even if they agree not to seek support for the time being, they can still file later. However, child support will normally be... View More
He pays me directly, he modified child support when my oldest son graduated college, without contacting me, and without filing a motion. Also, I have never received any cost-of-living adjustment over the last nine years.
answered on Jun 1, 2024
Generally speaking, a party seeking to modify child support based on changed circumstances (like one child graduating from college) should file a petition in Court requesting to change or terminate support. While it may be that your child would be considered emancipated, the proper course is to... View More
answered on May 28, 2024
Thank you for your question. Self-represented litigants can submit requests to postpone a hearing via New Jersey's online filing system, JEDS. In addition, it's common to request a postponement (also called an adjournment) of a hearing if the Defendant needs additional time to prepare a... View More
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answered on Apr 18, 2024
If your partner filed for divorce, typically they would have you “served”, meaning you would be given a copy of the divorce complaint and any ancillary documents. If your partner has an attorney, you can also contact their office to inquire about the status of any complaint/filing. If your... View More
I have been unemployed for +1yr but have recently taken a +50% decrease in salary to work. My x-wife and I have a great relationship and both agree to new terms. I just don't know how to file paperwork to make this happen.
answered on Apr 18, 2024
When spouses agree on a modification to their Final Judgment of Divorce (such as an agreement to modify alimony) they can memorialize that agreement in writing and file what’s called a consent order with the Court. Before filing, both parties should sign the written agreement indicating they... View More
Honor her wish without me fighting for my daughter to be close to both of us. I’m willing to let her go but not permanently. How should I handle this
answered on Apr 18, 2024
This sounds like a difficult decision at an emotionally charged time. I would strongly recommend taking a pause before consenting to the move. When parties are going through a divorce, it can sometimes feel easiest in the short term to just agree and minimize conflict. However, long-term, just... View More
My son turned 19 last June 2023. He is not going to college and working full time and I noticed my Child support amount has been the same for the last 9 months. When i inquired with Child Support they told me I have an "unallocated " support order which I was unaware of . I have a second... View More
answered on Apr 5, 2024
Thank you for your question.
Typically, child support in New Jersey concludes once the child reaches the age of 19 or is otherwise legally emancipated. However, under certain circumstances, child support can be extended past the age of 19 up until the age of 23. One such circumstance is if... View More
The case worker interviewed my children at school. Didn't contact or attempt to show up to my home for 6 days, she stated it w because she was not concerned, after speaking with children and did not see any need for emergency steps. said it's open and shut, she had no concerns The CPS... View More
answered on Mar 19, 2024
From your description, it sounds like DCPP (the Department of Child Protection and Permanency, New Jersey's child protective services branch) is conducting an initial investigation into allegations of possible abuse or neglect. If this is an initial investigation, you are not necessarily... View More
I am a single mom. I rent a home. My son, 33, is not on the lease nor does he pay rent. I took him into my home in June 2022 after he was shot while trying to purchase drugs in Paterson. Since then, he has been doing crack cocaine and is an alchoholic. When I ask him to leave and move out, he... View More
answered on Mar 12, 2024
In New Jersey, ejectment is the legal process for removing non-tenants (like friends and family members) from your property. Generally, a non-tenant is someone who lives on your property but does not pay rent or have an oral or written lease agreement. If someone is paying rent or has a written... View More
We went to court last week. While in court the father told the judge he will put our daughter on his insurance to help with therapy costs. The Orders states "father offers to add child to insurance to help with out of picket therapy costs". Now he's saying he's not required to... View More
answered on Mar 12, 2024
From the way the Order is written, it does not appear to bind Father into placing the child on his medical insurance. It merely states that Father "offered" to place the child on his insurance, not that the Court mandates him to do so. However, there may be a creative legal argument that... View More
Married 8 yrs living together 16. 2 kids 9 & 11 yrs old. The house is only under my husbands name but was bought right after my youngest son was born but before we got married, he doesn’t work(hasn’t for a few yrs) I pay the mortgage (I give him the money cash) and also pay bills thru my... View More
answered on Mar 12, 2024
Abandonment or desertion is a fault-based ground for divorce in New Jersey. It is defined by statute (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2) as "willful and continued desertion" for a term of 12 months or longer. One way to establish abandonment as a fault-based ground for divorce is by providing proof that... View More
award me joint custody of our daughter? I've been accused of doing drugs, which I disproved over and over with clean hair follicle tests, having my child withheld whenever the father feels like changing the schedule. Also, when my daughter was a baby and I asked the judge when I can raise... View More
answered on Mar 12, 2024
In order to file for a modification or change to a preexisting custody order, the moving party needs to demonstrate that circumstances have changed since the prior order and that the current custody/parenting time schedule is no longer in the child's best interests. Depending on the facts and... View More
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