On May 4, 2007, Evanka Buttafuoco filed a divorce petition against Joey Buttafuoco citing “irreconcilable differences”. Evanka listed the couple’s assets to be “consumer debt only”.
When asked about his divorce, Mr. Buttafuoco told The Post “All I can say is two words: I’m devastated. That’s all I can say. I’m very sad.”
Joey and Evanka were married on March 5, 2007. No children are shared by the couple.
On April 26, 2007, Bobby Brown filed a lawsuit against ex-wife Whitney Houston in an attempt to change the custody terms as to their 14 year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina. In addition to the shared custody, he is seeking child support and spousal support. A court date has been set for June 15, 2007.
Loveland v. Hauke, N.J.Super.A.D., 2007 (unpublished opinion).
This is a domestic violence case where the plaintiff alleged defendant acted with a purpose or intent to harass.
The plaintiff, in attempting to explain her fear, attempted to testify to incidents that were not outlined in her complaint. In fact, the plaintiff informed a police officer that there were no prior instances of domestic violence. Therefore, the plaintiff was not allowed to testify to any incidents before the incident at issue.
The Trial Court issued a Final Restraining Order. Defendant appealed.
N.J.S.A. 3B:12A-6 Appointment of caregiver as kinship legal guardian
New Jersey Courts can appoint a child’s caregiver the legal guardian of that child.
http://www.lsnj.org/keyRecentDevelopments/KinshipLegalGuardianship2.htm
http://www.kidlaw.org/admin.asp?uri=2081&action=15&di=969&ext=pdf&view=yes
A custody hearing was conducted on April 13, 2007 to determine the custody of Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead’s baby, Dannielynn. The Court had unfortunately adjourned without a decision, and will resume in one week’s time.
Despite this delay, Howard K. Stern reported that Mr. Birkhead is already doing a great job of changing his daughter’s diapers, and the transition of parenthood has already begun.
In a divorce where defendant was the recipient of a disability pension benefit from the New Jersey Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, plaintiff was not allowed to receive that part of the pension representing reimbursement for disability and economic loss. Larrison v. Larrison, N.J.Super.A.D.,2007, April 05, 2007.
The DNA results are in! On April 10, 2007, the paternity of little Dannielynn, daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith has finally been proven, it’s Larry Birkhead.
Mr. Birkhead emerged from the Bahamian closed-court hearing on April 10th, smiling proudly, pumping his fist, and throwing his hands in the air in expressions of excitement and apparent relief, telling the skeptical world “I told you so!” The March 21 DNA test confirmed what he had already felt in his heart, that he was in fact Dannielynn’s biological father.
In New Jersey, someone other than a child’s biological parent can be responsible for making child support payments.
Specifically, under the doctrine of equitable estoppel, persons who are not the natural parents may have an obligation to support those children as to which they are in loco parentis. Ross v. Ross, 126 N.J.Super 394 (J. & D.R. Ct. 1972).
The Star-Ledger reported yesterday that former New Jersey Governor, James E. McGreevey, who is in the midst of a divorce, has included among his request for relief the sole custody of the parties’ five year old daughter, Jacqueline. http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-11/11737647504550.xml&coll=1
The amended complaint seeks child support and provides Dina Matos McGreevey, the mother and soon-to-be ex-spouse, with visitation rights.
Presently, Governor McGreevey lives with his partner, Mark O’Donnell.
DISSIPATION OF MARITAL PROPERTY
One party may anticipate the marriage is failing, that divorce is imminent, and attempt to spend down marital assets. To that end, the wronged party may find themself in a position to receive little or nothing because of the ill will of the other party.
Similar to underemployment, the Courts will examine the circumstances surrounding the event. The party who has depleted assets will have to show the expenditure was for the joint marital venture and was not done to intentionally deprive the other spouse of equitable distribution.
The question ultimately to be answered in determining whether there has been a dissipation of marital property is whether assets were expended by one spouse with intent of diminishing the other spouse’s share of marital estate.
New Jersey Family Law Blog