Appellate Division States, “When the predicate act is an offense that inherently involves the use of physical force and violence, the decision to issue an FRO ‘is most often perfunctory and self- evident!”

ISSUE:  What constitutes “proving” Domestic Violence and what must the trial court do when the plaintiff ‘proves’ that domestic violence charge in family court? Submitted by New Jersey Domestic Violence Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Ruling:  When a predicate act of Domestic violence has been proven the issuance of a Final Restraining order will be perfunctory and…

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Thermostats, Locks and Lights: Digital Tools of Domestic Abuse

Submitted by New Jersey Domestic Violence Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. SAN FRANCISCO — The people who called into the help hotlines and domestic violence shelters said they felt as if they were going crazy. One woman had turned on her air-conditioner, but said it then switched off without her touching it. Another said the code numbers…

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If the judge said the plaintiff did not satisfy the New Jersey domestic violence act evidentiary burdens, then how can she impose the restraining order against me anyway?

MC vs. GT Submitted by New Jersey Domestic Violence Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. If the court makes a ruling that the evidence has failed to prove a violation of the act, and the parties are not credible, the court then cannot impose the restraints authorized by law regardless of the evidence. In this New Jersey Appellate…

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Family Court Finds Emotional Abuse Equally Harmful as Physical Abuse

Submitted by New Jersey Domestic Violence Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Words can hurt. It is a reality understood by most people but an empty statement if the courts are not willing to protect New Jersey’s citizens from verbal abuse. In J.C. v. B.S. the Chancery Division of Ocean County did just that back on September 14,…

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Cell Phone Texts as Proof of Evidence in Domestic Violence Hearings

Submitted by New Jersey Domestic Violence Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In early October 2015 the Superior Court New Jersey Family Part Law Division Ocean County addressed the introduction of texts existing on cell phones as proof of evidence in a domestic violence hearing. In the modern context of harassment many courts have had to wrestle with…

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