Stepchildren are not only the product of divorce. Statistics show that stepkids are frequently the cause of divorces. Okay, it's unfair to blame the children. More accurate to say that frictions within blended families and the challenges of stepparenting make it more...
Month: January 2018
Alimony and divorce are complicated by the new tax law
The landmark tax reform bill put more money into most Americans' pockets through changes in tax rates and withholding. But it could have the opposite effect for future divorces, shrinking income at a time when it is most needed.Under current law, spousal support is...
Prenups’ popularity on the rise, and logically so for many couples
Talk about an uphill battle for a little respect and acceptance.Perhaps no other legal instrument has faced a greater in-your-face slog for perceived legitimacy and utility than the oft-reviled prenuptial agreement. Killer of love. Nemesis of passion. Marriage...
A court won’t be amused if your spouse is hiding marital wealth
If your dissolving New Jersey marriage features high assets and an impending former partner's clear animosity directed toward everything you do and say, you might reasonably be harboring some serious concerns.Namely, about wealth. Even more specifically, you might...
Do paternity laws apply to gay and lesbian couples?
Just as same-sex marriage inevitably led to same-sex divorces, same-sex marriage inevitably led to custody disputes among gay and lesbian couples.An Arizona woman is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm her claim for sole custody of her son. Such a ruling would...
Problem NJ mortgage loan servicer will pay millions in settlement
New Jersey-based PHH Mortgage Corporation -- the nation's ninth biggest non-bank entity that services residential mortgages -- has been in business for years with the stated goal of helping homeowners.Instead, it has hurt a number of them, and will now pay a price for...
A bit of alphabet soup relevant to real estate: HOAs and CC&Rs
The acronyms in today's blog post headline above are shorthand descriptors for important entities and concepts in one singular real estate realm.Namely, that is planned community developments, most typically comprising condos and townhomes. Although such communities...
Many divorces are started right after New Year’s
Many lawyers will tell you they get tons of inquiries about divorce after the holidays. For various reasons, the January "divorce month" phenomenon is a real thing. Actual divorce filings begin ticking up right after New Year's, climbing through Valentine's Day, and...



