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.
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.
Nor will it affect custody or parenting time.
Now, we can discuss whether those realities are fair, good, reasonable, or unreasonable.
But they are, nonetheless, the truth.
A lot of people find this to be unfair.
I understand.
But it's been this way for all of the 38 years that I've practiced divorce law in New Jersey.
ADULTERY AND "MR. SENSITIVITY"
I remember vividly my first adultery case.
It was September 1987. I was just hired 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 38 years and over 5000 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 did not 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.
He looked right at the new 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!" (Actually, he didn't really use the 3 letter word "sex". He used its 4 letter cousin. Anyway...)
Then he turned around and stormed back out (he was very knowledgeable, but sensitivity was not his strong point.)
But he was correct...
THE BOTTOM LINE
Divorce is a challenging and emotional experience.
If your spouse committed adultery, you have some serious soul-searching to do to determine if counseling is the route that you wish to take or if divorce might be in your future.
I'd be happy to provide you with the names of some New Jersey family counselors who have proven to help prior clients if you would like.
Just call my office at (732) 845-9010, and my assistant, Valerie will be able to help you.
THERE'S A LOT MORE FREE HELP WHERE THIS ARTICLE CAME FROM
If you are considering separating or filing for divorce, the most important thing for you to do before doing anything else is to learn how to protect yourself, your children, and your assets.
I'll show you how you can do it.
I've specialized in New Jersey divorce law for 38 years, and I've successfully represented hundreds of both women and men where adultery was a factor in their divorce.
I "get it" and I'm here to help.
My DIVORCE SMARTER course will teach you how to get a fair divorce result.
Every divorce case is different.
My emails will teach you, in an easy to understand way, everything that you need to know to help you make the right decisions based upon the particular facts of your situation.
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
