Life events and personal circumstances often create challenges that require adjustments to existing arrangements for child custody, child support, or alimony. These situations can be complex and emotionally taxing. The firm provides strategic guidance and representation for a variety of special considerations, including relocation, retirement, cohabitation, or significant changes in health or employment status.
When a parent seeks to move with a child, particularly out-of-state or a significant distance away, a review of existing child custody and parenting time agreements is often required. Primary custodial parents who wish to move out-of-state with a child generally need the consent of the other parent or a court order. Our family law team represents clients seeking permission to relocate, as well as in opposing relocation on behalf of a non-custodial parent.
Retirement can significantly alter a payor’s ability to continue paying spousal or child support. In terms of alimony, retirement can qualify as a “substantial change in circumstances” that warrants modification. We represent both payors and recipient spouses in these complex cases, in which the courts will assess factors including the payor’s age and retirement assets.
Under the current New Jersey statute, cohabitation of a supported spouse may trigger a termination or suspension of an existing alimony award. Our firm represents clients on both sides – those who are seeking to terminate alimony based on the ex-spouse’s cohabitation and those who are seeking to defend against an application seeking to terminate the client’s alimony based on an allegation of cohabitation.
Other special circumstances we have addressed on behalf of clients include modifications to address a child with special needs, as well as concerns about a parent’s fitness for reasons including substance abuse or mental health issues.