Shoplifting is a type of theft, just like robbery, fraud, and embezzlement. What sets shoplifting apart from these other types of theft is that it is committed specifically against retailers, rather than against individuals or groups. Because shoplifting is generally a nonviolent type of theft that results in the loss of relatively inexpensive items (generally $200 or less) and is frequently carried out by adolescents, many people think it is a relatively minor offense. But it is not. Shoplifting, like other types of theft, is a criminal offense that can result in serious penalties. If you have been charged with shoplifting, work with an experienced criminal defense attorney to determine a way to defend your case in court. Do not assume that you must simply take your penalties – in most cases, you can defend your case and have your…Read More
For many New Jersey families, college is seen as the gateway to adulthood. A teenager graduates high school and begins to attend college, whether locally or hundreds of miles away, and he or she ideally gains the maturity and knowledge necessary to function as an independent adult over the next four years. The notion of a child transitioning to adulthood brings up questions of emancipation. Emancipation is the event of becoming an adult and thus no longer needing financial support from one’s parents. In New Jersey, an adolescent is not automatically emancipated at age 18. Many young men and women continue to remain financially dependent on their parents into their mid- to late twenties, usually because of their enrollment in college. As a parent, you might be wondering if you are still required to pay child support for your adult…Read More
When it comes to dividing a divorcing couple’s property, there are two ways the court can handle this process: through equitable distribution or through community property rules. Equitable Distribution Is Not Equal Distribution Most states, including New Jersey, are equitable distribution states. That means that when couples in these states divorce, their property is not divided 50/50. Instead, it is divided according to a list of factors that are used to determine each partner’s financial and personal needs following the divorce. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: The length of the couple’s marriage; Whether one partner opted out of the workforce to care for the couple’s children; Each partner’s income; Each partner’s financial obligations following the divorce; The tax implications each partner will face after the divorce; The couple’s child custody and support arrangements; Each partner’s…Read More
When a married couple gets divorced, their marriage is dismantled. This means that the court, recognizing the couple’s legal union and their rights, works to break down the couple’s property according to equitable distribution rules and create a settlement that provides both partners with a fair share of their marital property. In contrast, an annulment is issued when the court recognizes that a couple never had a legal marriage to begin with. A divorce legally ends a marriage; an annulment invalidates it. Not every couple can get an annulment. To qualify for an annulment in New Jersey, you must be able to prove that your marriage is invalid according to New Jersey’s matrimonial laws. If you are unsure about the validity of your marriage, speak with an experienced divorce attorney. What Makes A Marriage Invalid? If one partner is already…Read More
Yes. For some couples, legal separation is the first step in the divorce process. For others, it is a permanent solution for a marriage that can not be fixed. Couples choose legal separation for a variety of reasons. For some, it is a way to “freeze” their assets before starting the divorce process. This can make it easier to take note of which assets are marital assets and which are not, expediting the property division portion of their divorce. For others, it is a way to exit a toxic relationship without divorcing, which is a sin in many religions. In other cases yet, a couple might not be absolutely certain that they want to divorce and instead decide to separate until they can determine if they want to remain in the marriage. All of these reasons are valid and all…Read More
For divorcing couples in New Jersey, the Early Settlement Panel (ESP) is a form of alternative dispute resolution. It gives couples the opportunity to determine the financial terms of their divorce settlements without having to go through the lengthy, expensive process of litigation. Many couples find divorcing through alternative dispute resolution to be an empowering experience. Unlike litigation, where the partners have little to no control over their divorce’s proceeding, alternative dispute resolution methods put the divorcing couple in control. To learn more about the early settlement panel and determine if it could be right for you, discuss it with your divorce attorney. The Early Settlement Process When a couple goes before the early settlement panel for a hearing, each party presents his or her case to the panel. The panel is made up of a team of family attorneys…Read More
Child support is money paid from one parent to another to help him or her cover the expenses that come with being a child’s primary caregiver. These expenses include groceries, housing, the child’s medical care, and any other needs the child might have, like school supplies and extracurricular activities. When a couple with one or more children divorces, an order for child support is generally part of the couple’s divorce settlement. But when does the need for this support end? Childhood does not last forever, but in many cases, a young man or woman is not self-sufficient when he or she turns 18. Child Support Is Terminated When your Child No Longer Needs It If you are a parent who is currently paying child support, you might be wondering when this obligation will be terminated. The answer is, there is…Read More
When a New Jersey couple divorces, the court divides their assets through a process known as equitable distribution. With equitable distribution, each partner receives a share of the couple’s marital property that meets his or her financial and personal needs following the divorce. This can mean that the partners will not necessarily walk away with an equal amount of assets. For property division through equitable distribution to work, the court must know the extent of the couple’s marital property. This means that all assets, such as cars, real estate, bank accounts, life insurance policies, and stocks must be reported to the court to divide. The court relies on both partners’ honesty for this – if one or both parties attempt to conceal assets, the court can not fairly divide them among the couple. There are a lot of ways an…Read More
Social media is everywhere. Think about how much it has changed your life in the past few years: where do you find out about events in your social circle? Engagements, weddings, new jobs, new babies? How do you share any type of big news of your own? If you are like most Americans, these interactions are facilitated by social media. As you surely know, social media can also be harmful. You might have found information that made you upset, shocked you, or caused you to have a dispute with a loved one via social media. You might also have been told to be very careful about what you post on social media because anything that can be perceived as offensive can harm your career and chances of being hired in the future. When you are going through a divorce, it…Read More
A deposition is an important part of the divorce process. It is used to determine the extent of an individual’s assets so the court can fairly and effectively divide a couple’s property during the divorce process. Going through a deposition is called being deposed. Although it might sound like a scary or uncomfortable process, it is a vital part of your divorce and will only be used to gather information to fairly distribute your shared property with your spouse. If you have any questions about circumstances particular to your situation and how they might play out in a deposition, talk to your divorce attorney. Expect An Interview In a lot of ways, a deposition is like a job interview. You dress professionally and answer questions about your finances and your marriage clearly and concisely. The individual who performs your deposition…Read More
