As a New Jersey Divorce Attorney, I get many questions from potential clients about adultery.
There is a lot of confusion out there about how NJ divorce court judges treat people who have been unfaithful to their spouses.
I remember vividly my first such case.
It was September 1987. I was just hired toward the end of my clerkship with the NJ Family Court by a great law firm.
The Senior Partner brought a new potential client in to meet with me. Then he left.
My first client! (That was over 4000 clients ago...)
At some point during our consultation, the potential client asked me if it would hurt her case if her husband found out that she had a boyfriend.
I was a brand-new young lawyer and I didn't know the answer.
So I told her the truth: "...I don't know the answer to your question. But let's find out..."
I went back to the Senior Partner and told him the client's question.
He stormed back into my office and looked at the potential client and said, "You could have sex with the entire NY Giants football team and it won't affect your husband's alimony obligation to you!"
Then he turned around and stormed back out (he was very knowledgeable but sensitivity was not his strong point.)
But he was correct...
The fact is, some states "punish" someone who commits adultery.
New Jersey does not.
That is to say, in most cases, the fact that one side or the other committed adultery will not affect alimony, child support, property distribution, child custody or parenting time.
Let's take a look at this issue from 5 different angles:
1. This first article discusses ADULTERY AS WELL AS THE 8 OTHER NJ DIVORCE GROUNDS.
2. In fact, THE NJ GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE USUALLY DON'T REALLY EVEN MATTER. Sounds crazy? I'll explain why I say that here in this second article.
3. Any type of BETRAYAL IS DIFFICULT. I had a silly little experience with betrayal that I'll share with you here...but it was NOTHING compared to your spouse committing adultery...
4. When your spouse has committed adultery it can make you crazy and make you want to seek revenge. But YOU REALLY NEED TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT...
5. This fifth article takes you through THE ENTIRE NJ DIVORCE PROCESS and will be really useful to you if you are thinking about getting a divorce..
Understanding the very limited role that adultery really will play in your divorce case is painful but important for you to understand.
IF THIS ARTICLE WAS HELPFUL, THEN LET ME HELP YOU CONTINUE YOUR DIVORCE EDUCATION
I'll teach you how to protect yourself.
You'll learn how to make a fair deal.
I've written hundreds of brief articles, just like this one, on New Jersey specific divorce-related topics.
For example, DO YOU NEED MONEY from your spouse for your needs during the divorce case?
Or IS YOUR SPOUSE A NARCISSIST?
Do you want to move out and actually physically separate? Or is moving out going to hurt your CHILD CUSTODY CASE?
Is your spouse ABUSING ALCOHOL OR DRUGS?And if so, how can you protect your kids?
Should you talk to a divorce lawyer? And if so, how do you find a really good one? I'll give you a formula for finding just THE RIGHT DIVORCE LAWYER FOR YOU.
And finally...if either this article on adultery or any of the above articles were useful to you, then I want you to know that there are hundreds more articles just like these that I will share with you at no cost!
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This article is an easy read that takes you through the entire New Jersey divorce process in under 10 minutes.
I cannot tell you how many people have told me that this article has helped them make better divorce-related decisions that led them to a favorable divorce settlement.
It will help you, too, as will all of the other brief, easy to understand articles that I will send to you, one each day.
Start your free subscription to NJ DIVORCE EDGE 2023 right now...you'll be so glad that you did!
I cannot wait to start helping you get the "edge" in your New Jersey divorce case!
Until next time,
Steve
Steven J. Kaplan, Esq.
Specializing In Divorce
Throughout New Jersey
5 Professional Circle
Colts Neck, NJ. 07722
www.KaplanDivorce.com
(732) 845-9010
