Over two years have passed since the emergence of Covid-19, but co-parenting disputes over vaccinations remain. In June of 2022, the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children between 6 months and 4 years old, and the Moderna vaccine for children 6 months to 5 years old. Following this announcement, the CDC recommended everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated against Covid-19. This expanded access to vaccination raises new questions for parents deciding when, if, or how to vaccinate young children. The decision to vaccinate may be more complicated for parents who are separated or divorced and cannot agree on Read More

First and foremost, we hope that all of you are staying safe and healthy in these difficult times, as we cope with the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Please be assured that we are working hard to keep your matters moving forward, while placing a premium on the safety and security of our clients and staff. As many of you may know, most Courts are still proceeding with virtual hearings.  Our office is equipped with Zoom conferencing so that we can continue to meet the needs of our clients, whether your case involves litigation or mediation.  All of our attorneys are trained mediators Read More

By: Allison Schrader Dunn Under what circumstances may a party determined to be a child’s father in paternity proceedings be held liable for retroactive child support? Like most family law matters, the particular facts of each case will dictate whether an award of retroactive child support, child support for the period before the adjudication of paternity, is warranted. The New Jersey Parentage Act permits a child, the biological mother, a legal representative of the child, or any person with an interest recognized as justiciable by the court, to bring or defend an action for the purpose of determining the existence Read More

By: Marisa Lepore Hovanec and Mark Friedman In 2014, federal legislation commonly known as the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was passed allowing states to create tax-advantaged savings programs for individuals with qualifying disabilities. These savings programs, now known as 529A ABLE accounts (ABLE accounts), operate similar to traditional 529s in that interest and earnings accrue tax-deferred and distributions are tax-free if used for qualified expenses. However, the definition of a “qualified expense” in ABLE accounts is much broader than with a traditional 529 plan. With a traditional 529 plan, qualified expenses (and penalty-free withdrawals) are limited to Read More

On September 10, 2014, Governor Chris Christie signed into law the groundbreaking New Jersey Family Collaborative Law Act. Although collaborative law has been practiced in New Jersey since 2005, the Act helps solidify some of its basic principles and effectively extends the attorney-client and work-product privilege to qualified collaborative practitioners. Collaborative divorce is a process that brings together lawyers, financial experts, and mental health experts in an effort to help couples divorce in a civil, dignified, and cost-effective manner, without going to court. It focuses on the well-being of the entire family. The key is making sure that you retain Read More