Protecting The Legal Rights Of Unmarried People In New Jersey

At The Law Firm of Michael S. Rothmel, LLC, our team champions the unique bonds of unmarried families, recognizing that being unmarried can create certain legal obstacles. Knowing your rights and responsibilities is crucial in these situations. Our law firm, based in Mount Holly, New Jersey, serves clients in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties. Founding attorney Michael S. Rothmel counsels both men and women, providing balanced support in all family legal situations.

Rights And Responsibilities For Unmarried Couples

You may not realize it, but New Jersey law treats married and unmarried couples differently. This difference impacts several areas.

For instance, financial support can be a point of contention and confusion for unmarried parties. There may be questions regarding so-called palimony. Unlike alimony or spousal support, palimony requires a written agreement for financial support between unmarried partners. Without this agreement, courts generally do not recognize claims for palimony.

Another critical issue involves the division of assets. Figuring out what to do with property when a relationship ends can be confusing, but in general, there are two issues to address:

• Property ownership: New Jersey is not a “common law” state. Therefore, when an unmarried couple separates, property generally belongs to whoever purchased it, not necessarily who used it during the relationship.
• Joint ventures: In situations where you both contributed significantly to property, a court may order a “partition” to split the property fairly. This usually involves selling the property and dividing the proceeds proportionally to each partner’s contributions to the asset.

Understanding these rights and responsibilities helps protect your individual interests.

Unique Considerations For Unmarried Parents In Mount Holly

Raising a child as an unmarried parent can be filled with legal hiccups and obstacles. Some of the specific issues you might encounter include:

• Custody and visitation rights: Determining where a child lives or who gets to spend time with them (custody and visitation) is stressful for every parent. These situations can be especially challenging for parents of newborns trying to manage feeding schedules, sleep routines and the mother’s recovery.
• Grandparent rights: When parents are unmarried, grandparents may petition the courts for access to their grandchildren. To do so, they must prove that visitation is in the grandchild’s best interest.
• Paternity issues: Determining the legal father of a child is critical for custody, visitation and child support. Unmarried fathers must either complete a Certificate of Parentage with the mother or take a DNA test to confirm biological fatherhood to legally establish their role and rights.
• Child support: Calculating and modifying child support payments can be complex for unmarried parents. Considerations include income, custody arrangements and health insurance coverage.

We understand that these are complicated legal matters, especially when you are no longer in a relationship or lack the legal framework associated with marriage. Attorney Rothmel offers personalized consultations to fully grasp your individual circumstances and goals. He provides skilled representation, advocating for your rights, whether in negotiations or litigation. We strive to minimize conflict and facilitate amicable resolutions whenever possible.

Contact Us To Get The Answers You Need

If you’re an unmarried partner or parent facing legal challenges, reach out to The Law Firm of Michael S. Rothmel, LLC, today. Call us at 609-288-2187 or complete an online request to schedule a consultation.