Somerville Family Law Blog

If you are a fan of the popular reality show "The Bachelor," then you know that getting asked to accept a rose at the end of each episode means that the lucky ladies chosen are one step closer to possibly getting engaged to a man they met just days or weeks ago. Sometimes deciding which women get to receive a rose is a simple feat, but when the bachelor can't make up his mind, host Chris Harrison is there to offer some relationship advice.

Of course, many engagements on the show don't pan out in reality. And now Harrison is facing some relationship troubles of his own. According to People Magazine, Harrison and his wife of 18 years announced that they will be getting a divorce. The two have a 9-year-old child and a 7-year-old child together.

Like many other couples who have divorced after long marriages, Harrison and his wife both said that the decision was tough and they still have "love and mutual respect" for each other. Although the decision to divorce is never easy and may be an emotionally painful decision to make, the divorce process does not have to be as painful.

The process of formally dissolving a marriage in Somerset County, New Jersey, is challenging enough without additional problems. However, many couples in the U.S. are creating more stress in these situations by publicizing divorce proceedings on their social media pages. That can be a big mistake, according to those in the legal community, who say that social media can actually sabotage your divorce agreement.

A recent study conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers says that most attorneys have seen a recent increase in the number of cases using social media as fodder for divorce disputes. People going through the divorce process fail to realize that even seemingly harmless photos and location updates can cost them child custody, parenting time and even alimony in some cases.

In other words, social media sites can provide a playbook of evidence that can harm both parties, sometimes even after the divorce settlement has been finalized.

Thanks to the power of the Internet and ever-changing new technology, visitation rights for parents in the U.S. are becoming easier and more convenient if one parent is living far from the other.

Nowadays, a number of situations could occur that may force custodial parents in New Jersey to move and find new living arrangements after divorce, taking their children with them. Perhaps a new job opportunity has presented itself. Or maybe the parent must find new housing that is more affordable. It is estimated that as many as 10 million children in the U.S. who have divorced or separated parents are not able to see the non-custodial parent on a regular basis.

However, with the use of web cameras, social media websites, email, text messages and programs like Skype, parents are able to communicate more easily and more often with their children in a variety of ways. In cases of divorce or separation, these tools are also being used more commonly in family courts so that parents who live far away from their children can still have virtual visitation rights even if they cannot have physical custody or visitation rights.

Last weekend, the Star-Ledger published a powerful opinion piece written by a guest columnist who explains the real fears some New Jersey women face if they wish to seek a divorce. The woman explains that in the Orthodox Jewish community, women typically marry at a young age because their parents choose a spouse for them. The guest columnist had a marriage arranged for her when she was 19 years old.

Like many other married people who become unhappy with the way their relationship has turned out with a spouse, the woman said that she considered filing for a divorce from her husband. But unlike many other New Jersey couples who may feel like their interests will be protected by state laws during a divorce, the guest columnist said that she felt trapped by Orthodox laws and customs. She was told by several rabbis in the community that she would lose any child custody rights if she divorced her husband.

The woman explains that in the Orthodox community, it is a severe offense if a woman fails to follow certain traditions. Additionally, if a married woman with children chooses to leave to the community and divorce her husband, she could lose custody of her children during the divorce process. Like any other New Jersey family court judge, an Orthodox Jewish court judge will analyze many factors when determining child custody arrangements, even religion.