On August 6, 2014, the Appellate Division published the decision in KAF v. DLM., in which the Court clarified the standard that family courts are to apply when considering applications by a third party seeking custody and/or visitation and claims that he or she is a “psychological parent” to a child who already…
On July 28, 2014, the New Jersey Appellate Division approved for publication the case of R.K. v. F.K. (Docket No. A-4165-11T4), which further clarified the issue of how courts in New Jersey are to determine applications to modify existing custody and parenting time arrangements. In August, 2007 the wife obtained a temporary…
In a recently published opinion, dated February 19, 2014, the Appellate Division analyzed and reversed a trial court’s decision declining to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to New Jersey’s version of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (commonly referred to as UCCJEA). In this particular case, designated S.B. v. G.M.B.,…
Prophetically, Karen Willitts in her blog on January 3, 2014 entitled “Grandparent Visitation in New Jersey”, discussed the state of our law as it relates to the rights of grandparents to seek visitation with their grandchildren pursuant to New Jersey statute, N.J.S.A. 9:2-7.1. In her well- researched blog, Karen pointed…
One of the most difficult – and most divisive – aspects of a divorce case is where there is a bona fide dispute between the parties as to what the custody and parenting time arrangements should be for their minor children. Frequently, a client will insist that the children be…
As stated by the New Jersey Supreme Court, “The emotional attachments between grandparents and grandchildren have been described as unique in that the relationship is exempt from the psycho-emotional intensity and responsibility that exists in parent/child relationships. The love, nurturance, and acceptance which grandchildren have found in the grandparent/grandchild relationship …