Proud to Support our Community

The Durst Firm could not exist without the support of the communities in which we work. Each day, our friends and colleagues refer their friends, neighbors, family members and colleagues to us so that we can serve their legal needs. It is a responsibility we take seriously and we are grateful for the confidence you place in us when you refer clients to us.  To show our appreciation for the trust you have placed in us we are pleased to support our local communities. Please review our website for the community organizations the firm has supported.  We look forward to

Posted in Durst Firm News | Comments Off on Proud to Support our Community

Facing the prospect of divorce

Regardless of whether you are the spouse who initiates the divorce or the one who caught off guard, facing the prospect of a divorce can be a daunting reality. Take comfort in the fact that you don’t need all the answers. All you need is to know where / how to get the answers. There is a tremendous amount of resources available. But be careful to vet those resources, uncover any agendas and check the credentials of the source. Turn to the attorneys of The Durst Firm for answers to your divorce questions. We have the experience needed to guide you through the process. The Durst Firm: focused on family law.

Posted in Durst Firm News | Comments Off on Facing the prospect of divorce

Planning for summer vacation

If you are divorced and have children, chances are that you and your former spouse are entitled to extended blocks of parenting time during the children’s summer vacation. I know that many of the settlement agreements I draft have deadlines for each parent to identify the dates they wish to exercise their vacation parenting. Typically 60 days notice is required. Checks your PSA to determine the process you must follow. Do not make non-refundable plans until you consult with the other parent and confirm the dates you are seeking. Planning now can prevent headaches and disappointment later.

Posted in Durst Firm News | Comments Off on Planning for summer vacation

Is Court administered divorce arbitration coming to NJ?

There are several ways a NJ divorce case can get resolved.  The parties can reach an agreement between themselves or with the assistance of their attorneys. The Court system offers custody and parenting time mediation and the Early Settlement Panel Program.  Litigants can utilize mediation, arbitration or collaborative divorce.  In certain cases, the matter is litigated at a trial and the judge will render a decision.  There are pro’s and con’s of each approach and the the purpose of this post is to to compare the various resolution methods.  That will be a topic for future posts. At present, arbitration is avoluntary process and outside the court system.  This means the parties must agree to participate.  A proposed new rule seeks to better integrate the arbitration process into the court system.

PROPOSED NEW RULE WOULD CREATE ARBITRATION TRACK IN FAMILY CASES
The state Supreme Court’s Family Practice Committee is recommending rule changes to establish an arbitration track for family cases for certain family court matters. Many litigants in family cases already make use of arbitration but the suggested rule changes would expedite the process and better integrate it into the court case. The parties would get a year to resolve matters through arbitration, unless they could show “good cause” to extend the period and during that time, they would be entitled to scheduling consideration.

Posted in Durst Firm News, Durst on Divorce | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Is Court administered divorce arbitration coming to NJ?

Divorce and Taxes: What you need to know

A divorce will surely impact your tax filing.  The following points are based on my 14 years of experience as a NJ divorce attorney.  You should consult with an accountant or qualified tax preparer to determine how to best prepare your returns.  If you were divorced at any time in 2012 you will need to file individual returns.  In doing so, make sure that if you have children they are claimed as dependents in accordance with your settlement agreement.  Alimony is the most significant area of change.  If you are receiving alimony you must declare it as income. There is a specific line item for declaring your alimony.  You will need to include the social security number of the payor.  This is critically important because the payor will certainly declare the support they are paying as deduction.  Cross-referencing the two social security numbers is an easy exercise for the IRS.

Many people do not know that the legal fees associated with the alimony aspect of your case may be deductible.  Again, please consult with a tax professional.  This can result in a significant deduction even for the party receiving alimony.  Contact your attorney to best determine how to quantify this potential deduction before it’s too late.

Posted in Durst Firm News, Durst on Divorce | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Divorce and Taxes: What you need to know