As a seasoned attorney, as soon as my law firm is hired to handle a divorce case, my associate attorneys and I immediately ask our client questions regarding the present status of their finances. A typical question that we may ask is, “is your spouse suddenly interfering with respect to your access to joint funds which prevents you from enjoying the lifestyle you did during the marriage?” Other client’s offer information such as their spouse, who has been traditionally been responsible for the monthly mortgage payment has suddenly stopped doing so. Once we learn that the other spouse has made any significant changes ranging from paying bills, blocking access to money that interferes with “day-to-day living to attempts to hide money, our lawyers immediately explain that New Jersey divorce law (i.e., pendente lite) dictates that both parties’ must maintain the “status quo” of the marriage. Let[s say, for instance, we advise our client that this is a violation of New Jersey divorce law. If so, we then explain that we shall prepare and file a motion for pendent lite relief so that a judge of a New Jersey family court shall issue an order mandating the other spouse to instantly return to the status quo of the marriage. When appropriate, we move for legal fees from the other spouse for this lawyer’s necessity in having to file the pendent lite motion in the first place. Following, please find information regarding the scope of different issues that the law of pendente lite encompasses as how the Family Part of the Superior Court of New Jersey handles such applications.
[Read more…] about What Does Pendente Lite Relief Mean In A New Jersey Divorce?