Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Divorce:
A court of law is the only way one can obtain a divorce decree, dissolution, legal separation, nullity or other form of terminating a marriage. Other than the termination of the marital estate, the court also has jurisdiction to resolve other issues that are intertwined in the existing marriage which include, but are not limited to: custody and visitation rights, division of property of the marital estate, spousal support, child support, restraining orders, etc. 

Property and Debt Division:
Marital property attained during marriage, regardless of whose name it is under, can be divided. Marital property can include real estate (including a home bought in contemplation of marriage), pension plans, vehicles, bank accounts, income tax refunds and/or household furnishings. However, property that is inherited by one spouse is not considered marital property, i.e. a family business or estate. If you are contractually bound with your ex-spouse on a debt, the creditor can require the entire payment of that debt from your share of the community property even though the divorce decree assigns the debt to your ex-spouse. Depending on the terms of your divorce decree, you may be able to have certain support obligations under the divorce decree determined to be non-dischargeable by the bankruptcy court or in state court. 

Child Custody:
Custody is the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare. Custody usually refers to a combination of physical custody and legal custody. Many factors influence an award of custody and the way a case is presented in court can have a large impact on the result for you and your children. If you are awarded the children as a primary custodial parent, it has far reaching consequences both to you and to their well-being and development. 

Child Support:
Child support is a periodic payment made to a custodial parent from a non-custodial parent to help compensate a child's living expenses, i.e. food, clothes, etc., and any other related debts. When one parent is awarded sole custody, as in the event of a divorce, the non-custodial parent is required to fulfill his or her child support obligation by making set payments, whereas the custodial parent meets his or her support obligation through the custody itself. When parents are awarded joint custody in a divorce, however, the support obligation is shared and is based on a ratio of each parent's income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. 

The obligation to support minor children cannot be waived by either parent and is a right enjoyed by the child, not the parent. Each state has guidelines that factor the amount of child support, such as the amount of time spent with the child, the income of both parents and the standard of living the child is accustomed to. The court may allow deductions for items such as catastrophic medical expenses and travel expenses for visitation. 

Jurisdictional Issues:
When faced with a relocating custodial parent, the court will general require that parent to give the other parent a minimum amount of notice prior to the anticipated move. This notice gives the non-custodial parent an opportunity to go to court and seek orders restraining the relocation of the child. 

These so-called move away cases have gone back and forth on allowing and disallowing a move by the custodial parent with the minor children for over 20 years. While the best interests of the child have always been central to the decision, the uncertainty has made this area murky. Prior to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, when parents sought an advantage in a custody tug-of-war, they would move to a "friendly" jurisdiction (that is, a region with a history of rulings favorable to their position). However, after the UCCJA was adopted by all 50 states, family law courts were forced to defer jurisdiction to the home state, and this custody battle tactic lost favor.

Spousal Support (Alimony):
Alimony is temporary or permanent financial support paid from one separated spouse to the other, either in one lump sum or in installments. Alimony is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and above the money provided by child support. Alimony differs from child support because it is at the discretion of the judge. Child support is usually determined by state-sanctioned guidelines. 

There are several factors a judge considers when deciding whether to grant alimony. These differ from state to state, of course, but they usually involve things like the parties' relative ability to earn money, both now and in the future; their respective age and health; the length of the marriage; the kind of property involved, and the conduct of the parties. In general, about the only time a judge will award alimony in most states is where one spouse has been economically dependent on the other spouse for most of a lengthy marriage.

If you or a loved one is involved in a divorce or child custody case and you need the help of an experienced East Brunswick Family Attorney, call Jeffrey Goldblatt today at 866-768-1143, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule free consultation.

Professional Profile

If you or a loved one is involved in a divorce or child custody case and you need the help of an experienced East Brunswick Family Attorney, call Jeffrey Goldblatt today at 866-768-1143, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free initial consultation.

ADDRESS OF FIRM:
Jeffrey Goldblatt, Esq.
4G Auer Court
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Phone: 866-768-1143
Hours: M-F, 8:00AM-5:00PM 

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Jeffrey Goldblatt, Attorney

Jeffrey W. Goldblatt has over 25 years experience as a New Jersey divorce and matrimonial law attorney.  Located in East Brunswick and Freehold, New Jersey, his offices have handled a variety of divorce cases-from the most simple to the extremely complex.  Serving Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Mercer, and Union counties, Mr. Goldblatt personally handles all aspects of the case, from inception to completion, and has done so for the past 25 years. By handling thousands of cases, he has garnered a tremendous amount of experience in all facets of family law. He is also an accomplished negotiator who frequently resolves matters without going to trial. However, if a trial becomes necessary, he diligently represents the interests of his clients in any litigation.

Areas of Practice:

Family Law

Divorce

Child Custody

Child Support

Domestic Violence

Criminal Law

Juvenile Criminal Law

Drug Crimes

Traffic Violations

Driving While Intoxicated

Automobile Accidents and Injuries

Social Security Disability

Bar Admissions:

New Jersey, 1975

U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1975

Florida, 1980

California, 1982

Education:

Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York, 1975
J.D.

Rutgers University, 1971
B.A.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Middlesex County Bar Association

Member, Family Law Committee

Monmouth County Bar Association

Member, Family Law Committee

New Jersey State Bar Association

Member, Family Law Committee

American Bar Association

Member

National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives

Member

Past Employment Positions:

Marlboro Township Prosecutor

Marlboro Township Public Defender, 2003