Children

Custody: What You Should Know Before You Leave New Jersey

January 22, 2007 | Kearns Rotolo Law

As the custodial parent you might think that since the children are under your care and control that as long as you provide them with a warm loving environment it does not matter whether you relocate to another state.

This is not the case. New Jersey law prohibits a custodial parent from moving with the parties’ children outside the state without court order or the non-custodial parent’s consent.

If the non-custodial parent does not consent to the move, the custodial parent must file a motion asking the Court to relocate. The Court will consider whether the children will suffer from the relocation, whether a relationship will be maintained with the non-custodial parent, and whether regular visitation is possible.

Child Support & Your 401(k)

January 20, 2007 | Kearns Rotolo Law

http://www.childsupportweb.com

Does it sound reasonable for a parent to seek a downward modification of his/her child support obligation when he/she has substantial assets sitting a 401(k) account that are not considered in the child support calculation? What about the child’s right to financial support?

retirement%20picture.JPG A party’s contribution into a 401(k) account and the income generated in a 401(k) are not used in the child support calculation as it is not considered available to the defendant over an extended period of time. The assets are not ordinarily accessible and the party withdrawing from the account would face an exorbinant tax burden for withdrawing money prior to retirement.

Forrestall v. Forrestall, 389 N.J.Super. 1, 910 A.2d 621 (2006).

Divorce & Custody Battle – Britney Spears & Kevin Federline

January 20, 2007 | Kearns Rotolo Law

In the divorce between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Ms. Spears seeks legal and physical custody of their two sons, Sean and Jayden, with visitation rights for Mr. Federline.

Britney%20%26%20Sean.jpg Britney%20%26%20Kevin.jpg Britney%201.jpg Britney%20upset%20w-Sean.jpg

New Jersey Emancipation

January 18, 2007 | Kearns Rotolo Law

So, you don’t want to pay child support anymore. What do you need to know?
To start, you should ask yourself the following questions:

1-How old is your child?
2-Does your child attend high school?
3- Does your child work? Full-time or Part-time?
4- Does your college attend college?

5- Does he or she reside with your ex-spouse?

The answers to these questions will determine whether you should file a motion for emancipation.

Paternity – Anna Nicole Smith – The Deadline Draws Near

January 5, 2007 | Kearns Rotolo Law

On or before January 23, 2007, the paternity of Dannielynn will be concluded.

Anna%20Nicole%20and%20H.K.%20Stern.JPG .

Former Playboy Playmate, TV reality star, and TrimSpa spokesperson, Anna Nicole Smith (born Vickie Lynn Hogan) is disputing the decision and attempting to fight the Court appointed order from U.S. Judge Robert Schnider, that she submit her four (4) month old daughter, Dannielynn to a DNA test to establish paternity.

New Jersey Child Support and Visitation: Is There a Connection?

December 28, 2006 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Let’s face it – sometimes non-custodial fathers are delinquent in their child support payments. What is a custodial mother’s recourse? Perhaps, the custodial mother can call the probation department or file a motion to enforce litigant’s rights. There are many ways to enforce support orders and/or agreements.

May the custodial mother prevent her ex from seeing his children? Quite simply, the answer is ‘no’.

Make no mistake about it, a father’s refusal to pay child support is frowned upon. However, it is not up to the custodial mother to decide in what manner to best enforce support, especially if the actions affect children. This issue should be handled by the Courts.

Support: Using Interest Earned from Inheritance in Calculation

December 26, 2006 | Kearns Rotolo Law

In New Jersey, inheritance is viewed as separate property and is not subject to equitable distribution irrespective of when the inheritance is received. Nonetheless, inheritance can play a major role in assigning child support and alimony obligations. Keep in mind, inheritance monies should never be intermingled with joint assets. Always keep your inheritance separate from joint assets to avoid it being subject to equitable distribution.

For example, if the payee has stayed home to raise children and tend to the home, she (typically’) may not receive all she believes she is owed if she has inheritance monies. The fact that inheritance cannot be divided between the parties, does not prevent the interest earned from investing the inheritance being calculated into support obligations. By this, the payee may actually become a “payor” as well, and be forced to contribute to her support or the support of her children through the interest received on her inheritance.

Support: How New Jersey Treats Underemployment

December 24, 2006 | Kearns Rotolo Law

UNDEREMPLOYMENT

In some circumstances, a party who is obligated to pay alimony and/or child support may change their employment, earn substantially less than before, and seek to have either obligation decreased on the basis of decreased income.

The New Jersey Courts will not overlook this event; it is not a matter of happenstance. In fact, New Jersey Courts may impute income to the payor up to the amount the payor earned at his/her prior employment.

In Mowery, the Court held it is not merely the present earnings of the payor, but the potential earning capacity that is the essence of this factor. Mowery v. Mowery, 38 N.J. Super. 92 102 (App. Div. 1955).

Custody: Changing the Custody Arrangement

December 23, 2006 | Kearns Rotolo Law

More often than not, divorce decrees and settlement agreements are dispositive of physical and legal custody of the children born of the marriage. In most situations, the parties have joint legal custody while one party maintains sole physical custody. The non-custodial parent is awarded parenting-time.

In some situations, the custody agreement which was awarded or agreed to is no longer in the child’s best interests. In order to change the custody arrangement in effect, a party must file a motion for modification of custody.

An award of custody is always subject to modification at any time upon a showing of substantial change in circumstance. The primary considerations of the court are the best interests of the child. The court looks to the bona fides of the party seeking modification upon changed circumstances, and will not view a custody agreement entered into by the parties, even in open court, as binding. Sheehan v. Sheehan, 51 N.J.Super. 276 (App. Div. 1958).