What Is a Guardian ad Litem (GAL)?
A GAL is a court-appointed attorney who represents the child’s best interests during a custody dispute. Judges use GALs when serious concerns—like parental alienation or abuse—arise. The GAL meets with both parties, interviews the child, and submits a report to the court. Learn more about GAL appointments from Nolo’s custody resources.How Best Interest Evaluations Help Determine Custody
Courts often order Best Interest Evaluations (BIEs) to assist in making detailed recommendations on custody and parenting time in New Jersey. A licensed psychologist conducts interviews with both parents and the child, observes interactions, and prepares a written evaluation. These reports often carry significant weight in custody decisions. For more on how BIEs differ from standard assessments, visit the APA’s guidelines on child custody evaluations.What Are Custody Neutral Assessments (CNAs)?
CNAs are preliminary evaluations that provide a snapshot of the dispute without extensive investigation. They’re typically conducted early in litigation and can help both parties better understand how a judge might view their case. While CNAs don’t replace formal evaluations, they can reduce unnecessary legal battles and guide more realistic negotiations.
Choosing the Right Approach
Each method has pros and cons. GALs are affordable and efficient, while BIEs are comprehensive but costly. CNAs offer speed but lack depth. Choosing the right option depends on your case’s complexity and budget. To see how these tools fit into real-life scenarios, read our article on post-divorce co-parenting.Conclusion: Navigating Custody and Parenting Time in New Jersey
If you’re involved in a dispute over custody and parenting time in New Jersey, understanding these evaluation tools can help you make informed decisions and prepare more effectively. Legal guidance is essential to protect your rights and your child’s future. Speak with a New Jersey custody attorney today
Thirteen Common Myths about Divorce in New Jersey
Speak to a New Jersey Divorce Lawyer Today Misinformation about divorce spreads quickly—especially online. However, when you start making decisions based on myths, you risk harming your case. This article tackles the most common divorce myths in New Jersey and explains what the law actually says. For more guidance, see…
New Jersey Custody Battles: Understanding Guardians ad Litem, Best Interest Evaluations Custody Neutral Assessments
Need custody guidance? Contact us today. When it comes to custody and parenting time in New Jersey, the court may use several professional tools to help determine what arrangement best serves the child’s interests. These include Guardians ad Litem (GALs), Best Interest Evaluations (BIEs), and Custody Neutral Assessments (CNAs). If…
How to Terminate an Alimony Obligation in New Jersey
Speak With a New Jersey Family Law Attorney Today If you’re seeking to terminate alimony in New Jersey, it’s important to understand when and how this is possible under the law. While alimony is meant to provide financial support after divorce, there are several situations—such as remarriage, cohabitation, or retirement—that…
An Overview of Domestic Violence Law in New Jersey
Domestic violence is a serious issue in New Jersey, and if you’re a victim, or if you’ve been wrongly accused, it’s important you understand what to expect from the law and the process. Watch the above video featuring New Jersey domestic violence attorney Jordan Rickards to learn more, and please…
Is New Jersey a 50/50 State for Divorce?
A common misconception is that New Jersey divorces necessarily result in a 50/50 division of assets and liabilities. That’s not really the case. In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards explains why. Below is a transcript of the above video. “Hey everybody. I want to go through one…
How Child Support is Calculated in a New Jersey Divorce
In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards discusses the major factors and variables that go into calculating a child support obligation in a New Jersey divorce. The following is a transcript of the above-video: Hi everybody. I wanted to do a quick video here on the basics of…
The Differences Between Legal Custody and Residential Custody in a New Jersey Divorce
There are two types of child custody in every New Jersey divorce: legal custody, and residential custody. In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards explains the very important differences. What follows is a transcript of the video above: “Hi, everyone. Thanks for tuning in. Nice to see you.…
Who Gets the Child Tax Credit in a New Jersey Divorce?
There is conflicting authority on who gets to claim the children for tax purposes in a New Jersey Divorce, and that causes a lot of confusion. In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards simplifies the issue and explains the general rules. What follows is a transcript of…
What Happens if You Abandon the Marital Home in a New Jersey Divorce?
There seems to be a lot of misinformation about the consequences of abandoning a marital home either during, or right before filing for divorce in New Jersey. In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards dispels some of the myths, and explains what you won’t lose, but what you…
The Seven S’s of Child Custody and Parenting Time in New Jersey Divorces
In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards discusses the seven primary factors that go into determining child custody and parenting time in New Jersey divorces, all of which happen to start with “S.” Below is a transcript of the video. “Hi. Nice to see you. The topic of…
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders in New Jersey Divorces
To move certain retirement assets from one spouse to another as part of a divorce in New Jersey, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or “QDRO” for short, is often needed. This is an unnecessarily complicated process, and it can be confusing and daunting for many people. This video explains what…
What is the “Alimony Danger Zone” in a New Jersey Divorce?
An alimony obligation can be a tough pill to swallow, but not all litigants are at equal risk. In this video, New Jersey divorce attorney Jordan Rickards explains who is at the greatest risk for the largest alimony obligation, and why. Below is a transcript of the above video: “Hi,…
