The average age of U.S. couples getting divorced for the first time is 30. The average length of a first marriage is about 8 years. About 41% of first marriages end in divorce. The divorce rate is much higher for second and third marriages. We can do the math backwards from these statistics and infer that […]
In New Jersey, child support awards are based on a calculation that considers each parent’s income and the amount of parenting responsibility each parent has for the child or children. Because child support awards are based in part on calculations of income, it is important that the divorce judge has all available information about how much your […]
When a couple is getting divorced, whether after a twenty year marriage or a 72 day marriage, one of the issues that must be dealt with as part of the divorce proceeding is the distribution of the wedding gifts, or any gifts to either spouse during the marriage. At Lyons & Associates, P.C., we specialize in all aspects […]
When will a Bench Warrant issue for child support arrears? This is a question often worried about by a payor that is in over his head financially and behind in his child support obligation. First, rest assured, you will be notified several times before a warrant is issued for your arrest. In the instance where a payor […]
At Lyons & Associates, P.C., we specialize in all aspects of family law, and we often work with forensic accountants. When people think of the word “forensic,” they usually think of crime scenes and TV shows like NCIS or Dexter. However, “forensic” can be applied to financial documents too – and the professionals who do […]
In shared parenting child custody situations, the divorce and family law courts talk about the “PPR” and ”PAR.” What do these acronyms mean and why do they matter? PPR means “parent of primary residence.” PAR means “parent of alternate residence.” The PPR is the parent with whom the child lives during the majority of an […]
At Lyons & Associates, P.C., we specialize in all aspects of matrimonial and family law. The most important document in any divorce is the Case Information Statement or “CIS”. The “CIS” is a sworn financial affidavit that sets forth five categories of relevant information including personal data, income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. New Jersey Court Rule 5:5-2(a) requires […]
New Jersey law requires parents to attend a one-time class about parenting. The seminar costs $25, which you pay as part of the divorce petition filing fee. Both parents are required to attend, usually separately. If either parent does not attend, the divorce court judge may consider that fact when making decisions about child custody and […]
GAL stands for guardian ad litem. “Ad litem” means “for the suit,” meaning for the lawsuit. A guardian ad litem is an advocate appointed by the court to act on behalf of another party. Guardians ad litem are sometimes used in child custody and divorce cases, though less commonly in New Jersey than in other states. New Jersey law distinguishes between a guardian […]
In most divorce cases, the most difficult issue to resolve is the custody of and visitation with minor children. Ideally, you will be able to come to an agreement about this with your ex-spouse. You can, however, defer the decision to the Court. If you do, though, the court may order a child custody evaluation, which can […]
