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Questions Answered by Richard Diamond
3 Answers | Asked in Domestic Violence and Criminal Law for New Jersey on
Q: How can I get domestic violence charges dropped in NJ?

I am being charged with domestic violence after a dispute with my fiancé that escalated, and I am not entirely sure of the exact charges. There was one witness to the incident, and there have been previous instances where the police were called due to my fiancé acting out of control. My fiancé... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Mar 24, 2025

It sounds like there may be 2 separate components to your inquiry.

The first is the domestic violence matter which will have a return date before a superior court judge. In the complaint ( several pages back), it will list the return date. If your fiancé wants to dismiss the dv complaint,...
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2 Answers | Asked in Agricultural Law, Divorce and Business Law for New Jersey on
Q: Is my spouse entitled to my inherited farm in NJ after 43 years of marriage?

I inherited a farm from my grandmother about 50 years ago, and the farm is solely in my name. I have been married to my spouse for 43 years, and we live on the property together. Occasionally, we rent out one of the two houses on the property. There have been no loans or prenuptial agreements... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Mar 7, 2025

While statutorily an inheritance is not subject to division in a divorce, there are a million exceptions to that can apply and this is where you need to sit down with an experienced family law attorney to examine the history of this property, any improvements, pay down of any mortgage obligations,... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Domestic Violence for New Jersey on
Q: Can a simple assault domestic violence charge be dropped?

I want to know if a charge for simple assault related to domestic violence can be dropped.

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Mar 4, 2025

I'm guessing you / your partner was criminally charged with simple assault through the police department, AND there was a domestic violence complaint filed as well through the municipal court judge or superior court judge sitting in the family part.

If my understanding is correct as...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Gov & Administrative Law and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: Can I sue for breach of confidentiality for a child abuse report in NJ?

I reported my son to Child Protection Services in Hackensack, New Jersey, on December 7th for suspicion of child abuse. They disclosed my identity to him and in court papers, despite being told that my report would be confidential. Since then, my son has not allowed me to see my grandson and has... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Mar 4, 2025

As a general statement, when someone makes a claim of child abuse to DCPP, it is viewed as confidential. I'm not sure what occurred in your setting and whether the DCPP rep actually told your son that you had reported him, or if your son guessed the reporting came from you and you then... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody and Employment Law for New Jersey on
Q: Can a parent legally drug test a child at home without a court order during a custody battle?

I am currently involved in an ongoing custody battle for my 18-month-old child. There was a drug test previously requested in the case, but the father refused to take it. Now that there is a new judge assigned to the case, I am concerned that the father might try to drug test my child at home... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Feb 18, 2025

You said that the prior judge directed the father to submit to a drug test but that the father failed / refused to submit to the test.

Now, there is a new judge assigned to the matter and you are fearful that the father will privately drug test your 18 month old child.

I presume...
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Domestic Violence for New Jersey on
Q: Can I press criminal charges in NJ if someone texted me that I will soon be shot in the face?

My ex was very abusive during our relationship. Both physical and sexual most of which I have proof of. He is very irresponsible and we often have issues because of him saying he is going to do one thing and doesn’t do it. I filed two TROs against him. One I dropped because I couldn’t find a... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Jan 13, 2025

From your submission, you already filed a domestic violence complaint against your ex for the recent text messages and presumably, the matter will go to trial, during which presumably your ex will attempt to use that text against you in trial. My suggestion is that you schedule a consultation with... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for New Jersey on
Q: How to relinquish parental rights and not pay child support?
Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Dec 18, 2024

There are settings where one parent is willing to release the other parent from financial responsibility for the support of their child in exchange for the other parent's termination of relationship with the child (generally, when the other parent has a longer-term relationship, and that... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Animal / Dog Law, Appeals / Appellate Law and Domestic Violence for New Jersey on
Q: In Huson, County N.J. how can some desperate person make up a story that they live with you....without any form of proof

get a T.R.O on you and have me the homeowner (Disabled on a fixed income) removed from my home and put to the streets with nowhere to go while escorting this stranger into your home, granting all access to all your family valuables and private documents, the entire contents of your home as well as... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Dec 13, 2024

I have no idea what happened to you but to have you removed from your home under a domestic violence temporary restraining order, the person had to appear before a local municipal court judge or a superior court judge and certify as to as specific facts, starting with the representation that he /... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Adoption for New Jersey on
Q: If you have a 30 year old restraining order can you adopt a grandchild

Both girls were removed almost 2 years ago one of them is with the biological father the 2 year old is being bounced around and I her biological grandmother would like to have her here in Florida but my husband has these two thirty year old restraining orders . Can I still get her?

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Dec 11, 2024

It would be irresponsible for any family law attorney to give you a suggested answer to your question without a whole lot more information, especially since you said that you live in Florida and presumably the grandchildren live in New Jersey.

My suggestion is that you schedule a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Banking and Divorce for New Jersey on
Q: Can a PoD designation ever be reversed or nullified in the state of New Jersey? If so, how?

My sister recently died in a nursing care facility in NJ. Her husband deserted her two years previous and because of the uninhabitable state of the rented marital home that the landlord did not repair as well as her illnesses, she had to move to a facility. She could not drive or operate a... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Dec 4, 2024

Depending on the status of the divorce matter, there may be a proper basis to undo his receipt of monies in her accounts but im not sure that the process and expense will be worth it, given the cost of retaining counsel, review of the status of the divorce matter, etc to justify the payment of a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption, Appeals / Appellate Law and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: On Nov 12 2024 the Appellate Court Judge ordered that my great granddaughter(currently pending adoption) shall not be

removed from NJ. On Nov 25 the adoption agency opposed decision as her guardian & ICPC and had her removed to live with adoptive parent in Georgia

How can they over rule judge's order?

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Dec 4, 2024

No competent lawyer worth his salt could answer your question without reviewing the underlying order and pleadings from the trial court and the submissions to the appellate court and its order and its statement of reasons. My suggestion is that you retain a family law attorney to review all of that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: I don't want to change the custody schedule, but do I have grounds to file emergency custody for violating?

Me and my coparent has joint custody and a custody agreement through a civil restraint. Not filed through family court. We have a 3-4 weekly schedule. My coparent just took our child on an out of state vacation that I did not agree to. The only guild lines that our agreement have are "As for... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Dec 1, 2024

Probably the one thing that you and your ex need to do is print out the holiday schedule and identify the rotation between you and your ex. I presume that the holiday schedule includes Thanksgiving, which was on Thursday the 28th and probably, under the holiday schedule, it says that same starts on... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Domestic Violence and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: I received papers from a fake custody lawsuit from my ex husband, whom I have a restraining order against.

Is it a violation of the restraining order? I prepared a full counterclaim, but then I called the family court and there was nothing filed. He faked a lawsuit to communicate with me, wrote a lot of absurd things. Is it harassment?

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Nov 21, 2024

The fact that the court system has told you that it does not have his application in the system (at this moment) does not mean that his application is a fake.

Presuming that he legitimately filed an application but failed to pay the filing fee or failed in any of a million other ways, the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Civil Litigation and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: How to splitting the car with my ex-girlfriend

The car was bought for 45,000, with her contributing 30,000 and me contributing 15,000. Now that we've broken up, I intend to sell the car. However, since the car was originally purchased primarily for her work needs and still requires its use, we decided that she would keep the car and sell... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Oct 29, 2024

Since there is no written agreement between you and your ex as to its current value, percentage ownership interests, usage, and what is to take place with the vehicle in the event you and your ex break up, you are in a grey area - since there is no right or wrong answer to your question.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Support for New Jersey on
Q: My kids mother served me court papers crowe v DeGioia 90 NJ 1982. I am married now. What does this mean?

I was never married to her. We have 2 boys together,18 and 14. I just filed a modification because my oldest is going to the military. I will continue paying for the youngest. However she served me with court papers for Crowe v Devious 90 NJ 1982. I am now

married for the last 8 years.... View More

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Oct 27, 2024

You filed an application with the court seeking a downward modification of your child support obligation based on your oldest child entering the military. alleging that he is now emancipated and therefore your child support obligation needs to be recalculated for the benefit of your younger child.... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: if a marrried couple getting a divorce and dont have assets property etc will there be spousal and alimony
Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Oct 21, 2024

It depends. The fact that there may not be assets to divide, does not mean that there is no potential entitlement to support. The starting point of that inquiry is whether there is a difference between the party's income settings, who occupied what role in the marriage and how long the parties... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: With the unborn child support act, is father of child required to pay this retroactively to me?

I have a child that is 2 years 8 months. I am not together with the father. He is on the birth certificate. He did not pay for any prenatal care or for the birth. At the time I was working and had insurance and he was not working as he was studying full time.

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Sep 21, 2024

As far as I am aware, the "Unborn Child Support Act" was introduced in 2022 as proposed federal legislation.

The bill never made it out of committee.

It was then reintroduced in 2024 and, as far as I understand, has not been approved by Congress.

Even still,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: Does a provision in a PSA requiring me to pay “permanent alimony” for the rest of my life invalidated by statute?

The statute, 2A:34-23b, enacted prior to the PSA replaced “permanent alimony” - the outmoded term used in the PSA - with “open durational alimony,” along with various equitable factors to be considered in determining alimony.

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Aug 30, 2024

In September of 2014, the alimony statute in NJ was changed to delete the word "permanent" and replace it with the words "open durational", so I start off with the presumption that the statute controls as to termination events as long as the language in your agreement does not... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for New Jersey on
Q: After filing for divorce my spouse is countersuing for a home which has been gifted to me in another country

Also for funds we transfered in 2012 in a European bank account which the money has been spent by both parties

Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Sep 9, 2024

When a party to a divorce claim that an asset is immune from distribution, it is his / her burden to prove its immunity. You cannot simply say that I got this asset as a gift or I got this asset from an inheritance and therefore she has no claim to share in it. You have to provide a complete... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Divorce for New Jersey on
Q: Is there a different process for seeking an annulment versus a divorce?
Richard Diamond
Richard Diamond
answered on Jun 13, 2024

An annulment means that there was a fraud that went to the heart of the marriage and for court purposes, you need to be able to prove that fraud, and the longer the marriage lasted, the more difficult it will be to prove a fraud.

If the purpose of your inquiry is for religious reasons, you...
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