New Jersey Family Law Blog

Coping with Divorce’s Most Common Fears

June 5, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Like all endings, divorce is a highly emotional process, and one of the strongest emotions it elicits is fear – fear over how people, particularly your children, will react … fear over money and financial stability … fear over what the future holds. But fear, when not confronted, can lead to inaction and, when it comes to unhealthy relationships, inaction may not be the best solution for anyone involved.

Looking at these fears head-on and considering the options for handling them can ease some of the stress and struggles couples experience during the divorce process. For a look at some of the more common fears associated with divorce and some mechanisms for coping with them, read “4 Common Divorce Fears (and How to Cope).”

How to Break the News of Your Divorce to Your Kids Regardless of Age

May 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Once the decision to divorce is made, the next important step for a couple is to break the news to their children. But how do you tell them that the family structure as they know it will no longer look the same, while reassuring them that they will continue to be loved and cared for by both parents?

Obviously, the age of the child will have a lot to do with the words you choose and the details you offer when explaining your decision to divorce. For some guidance, read “An Age-by-Age Guide to Talking to Kids About Divorce.”

Managing Post-Divorce Conflicts with Your Ex

April 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

You divorced your ex to escape an unhealthy relationship but divorce itself is not a magical remedy for the issues that plagued your marriage. Chances are whatever behaviors led you and your partner to separate will still exist after the divorce. The trick is to not let these issues continue to impact your life.

Learning how to manage conflicts with your ex post-divorce is the first step to a fresh start on your new life. For some guidance on how to do this read, “6 Tips to Help Deal with Post-Divorce Conflict with Your Ex.”

When Co-Parenting Doesn’t Work

March 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

It’s no secret that children do best when both parents are involved in their lives. This holds true for children of divorce, too, and it’s the reason many divorced parents choose to co-parent as part of their custody arrangement.

Co-parenting allows parents to continue working together to raise their children even after their marriage ends. But it requires cooperation and the ability to put up a united front in matters pertaining to the children. This isn’t something all parents can do, especially if they have a tumultuous relationship and have just gone through a contentious divorce. When co-parenting continues to expose children to tension between their parents, it could have a harmful rather than healing effect.

So, what are parents to do when they want to remain active in their children’s lives but simply cannot work with their ex? Consider the alternatives, one of which is parallel parenting. To learn more about this parenting arrangement, read “What Is Parallel Parenting?”

It’s Tax Filing Time: How Will Your Divorce Impact Your Returns?

February 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

It’s that time of year again when most of us are sitting down to prepare our income tax returns, or at least thinking about it. If you are newly divorced, don’t neglect to consider the impact that change may have on your tax returns.

One of the biggest changes may be in your filing status. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to check the ‘filing single’ box, though. Filing status is determined largely by your marital status as of December 31 of the tax year you are filing for. So, unless your divorce was finalized in 2022, you still need to select one of the married options when filling out your returns this year.

Filing status isn’t your only consideration. There may be changes in reportable income and deductions that you should be aware of, as well. To learn more, read “Do You Know How Divorce Will Affect Your Taxes?”

Deciding A Course of Action When Your Marriage Is Over

January 1, 2023 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Most couples facing the end of their marriage immediately think divorce, but there may be another option available—an annulment. While a divorce is the legal process for dissolving a marriage, an annulment—also a legal procedure—deems the marriage null and void as if it had never occurred in the first place. An annulment is often quicker than a divorce, however, it is not available to everyone. Very specific requirements, including time limits, must be met before an annulment can be granted and those requirements can vary by state.

Before you decided whether to seek an annulment or a divorce, it is important to understand the differences between these two legal procedures, as discussed in, “Annulment Vs. Divorce: What’s The Difference?” If you are still uncertain which course of action to pursue, your Family Law attorney can advise you.

How Inflation May Influence the Divorce Rate

December 1, 2022 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Economists are trying to determine what impact, if any, inflation has on the rate of divorce. Financial problems—a lack of income, rising expenses, disagreements about spending/savings habits—have long held a place on the list of top reasons for divorce. That being the case, it could be assumed that rising inflation and its associated financial stresses could lead to an increase in the divorce rate, but the numbers don’t necessarily support that.

Studies show that although financial stresses can increase marital conflicts in some cases, for most couples inflation has the opposite effect of strengthening their family and marital bonds. For a closer look at what these studies show read, “Rising Inflation Impacts Annual Divorce Filings.”

Getting Through the Holidays Post-Divorce

November 1, 2022 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Adjusting to life after divorce can be difficult, especially around holidays that put so much emphasis on family and traditions. As hard as it is for couples to make these adjustments, imagine how much harder it can be for children who are struggling to understand the changes their families are going through.

Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away. For suggestions on how you can make this and the holidays that follow a little less stressful for your children—and hopefully yourself—read “Your Child’s First Thanksgiving After Divorce.”

When Will My Divorce Be Finalized?

October 1, 2022 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Divorce is not a decision most people come to lightly. Many couples will invest significant time—often years—trying to resolve conflicts and fix problems in relationships they believed would last a lifetime before concluding that divorce is their only answer. So by the time they reach that decision, it’s understandable that they just want the whole process to be over. But divorce doesn’t happen overnight.

How long the divorce process takes depends on numerous circumstances unique to the individuals involved: Is the divorce a contentious one? Are children involved? What circumstances led up to the divorce? How many assets are involved? Even where a couple lives can impact their divorce proceedings. For more on how these and other circumstances can affect the timing of your divorce, read the Forbes Advisor article, “How Long Does A Divorce Take?”

Step-By-Step Guide to Protecting Your Credit Post-Divorce

September 1, 2022 | Kearns Rotolo Law

For most people, a healthy credit score is essential to getting by in today’s world. And divorced couples are no exception.

While divorce itself won’t necessarily destroy your credit, it can impact your finances. As you build your post-divorce life, it is more important than ever to protect, and perhaps even improve, your credit rating. For guidance on how to accomplish this, read “Protecting and Improving Your Credit Before, During and After Divorce.”