family law

Skoloff & Wolfe Family Law Practice Named to U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Published on: November 19, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

skoloff wolfe best law firms 2021 Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., today announced that the firm is ranked in the 2021 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in the practice area of Family Law. Founded more than 50 years ago, Skoloff & Wolfe attorneys are leaders in the fields of family and matrimonial law, real estate property tax appeals, and business litigation.

Recognition by Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” is based entirely on peer review. The organization’s methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of colleagues and firms within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

The nomination process employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services, in the belief that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.

Jonathan Wolfe concludes term as Chair of ABA Section of Family Law

Published on: September 11, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

Jonathan W. Wolfe , co-managing partner of Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., completed his term in August as Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Family Law. Prior to his term as chair, Mr. Wolfe held numerous leadership positions in the ABA, including as a member of the ABA’s Executive Committee, Board of Governors and House of Delegates.

Under Mr. Wolfe’s guidance the Family Law section undertook several new initiatives to help promote the fair practice of family law for individuals and families of all means. These included a charitable fund to help promote access to justice, as well as to support the organization’s public service projects and educational programs. He also oversaw the section’s Covid-19 response by streamlining the organization’s online capabilities to help move ABA events to a virtual platform.

“I’m extremely proud that during my term the fund helped provide a way to recognize the outstanding family lawyers who work pro bono to help people who might otherwise be unable to afford professional legal representation,” Mr. Wolfe said. “Donations to the charitable fund are helping the Family Law section enhance diversity and inclusion in the profession. I am proud of the important work being done by our Section.”

Skoloff & Wolfe Attorneys Named to The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law

Published on: August 20, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

Skoloff & Wolfe attorneys Gary N. Skoloff, Jonathan W. Wolfe, and Patrick T. Collins were selected among The Best Lawyers in America© for family law.

Gary N. Skoloff, one of the founders of Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., was selected by his peers for inclusion in the list for the thirty-fifth time, a record of sustained excellence that speaks to his reputation as one of the nation’s leading family law practitioners. He is the author of New Jersey Family Law Practice, now in its fifteenth edition, which is widely regarded as one of the foremost treatises on New Jersey family law.

Mr. Skoloff’s experience as a family law practitioner makes him a highly sought after family law attorney for accomplished individuals and their spouses in virtually every field, including finance, real estate, professional sports, entertainment, law, and medicine. He has held multiple leadership positions in professional organizations both on state and national levels, and he is a frequent lecturer on family law topics. Mr. Skoloff has repeatedly provided his insights for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and he was an adjunct professor of Family Law at Seton Hall Law School. He also served as the president of the Rutgers Law School Alumni Association.

Family Law Attorney Listed as One of The Best Attorneys in Essex County NJ

Published on: July 23, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

Livingston, NJ – Thomas J. DeCataldo Jr., Esq., of Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., in Livingston, recently was named one of the best attorneys in Essex County, NJ, in the practice of family law by Morris/Essex Health & Life magazine. An online peer-vote process of area attorneys conducted by DataJoe Research of Boulder, Colorado, revealed which attorneys’ peers in their practice area would seek out for particular legal needs. The polling covered more than 35 specialties.

This accolade is the latest of several for DeCataldo, who was recently named a 2020 New Jersey Rising Star by New Jersey Super Lawyers. Rising Stars must be 40-years-old or younger or have been practicing for less than 10 years. Like Super Lawyers, Rising Stars is also based upon peer recognition and professional achievement, with winners representing the top 2.5 percent of up-and-coming lawyers in the State of New Jersey. In the most recent listing, Skoloff & Wolfe had seven attorneys named Super Lawyers and two who were selected to Rising Stars.

Since graduating from law school, Mr. DeCataldo has dedicated his practice to family law. He is an accomplished speaker and has authored numerous articles on the legal issues and consequences surrounding divorce and other family law matters. Prior to joining Skoloff & Wolfe, Mr. DeCataldo clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. McCormack J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, in Essex County. He is an active member of various professional and bar associations and sits on several committees and boards.

Richard F. Iglar, Skoloff & Wolfe Matrimonial Attorney, is new President of AAML NJ Chapter

Published on: July 7, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

Richard Iglar, AAML New Jersey Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., today announced that Richard F. Iglar, a partner at the Livingston, New Jersey law firm, was sworn in as President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) New Jersey Chapter. Mr. Iglar is a Fellow of both the AAML as well as the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Earlier in 2020 he was selected as a “Super Lawyer” for the tenth consecutive year.

“I’m honored to be a leader in a professional organization that is committed to reaching the highest levels of excellence in the practice of family law,” Mr. Iglar said about his new role. “When we work hard and commit to rigorous and zealous representation on behalf of our clients we can achieve great things.” As president of the AAML New Jersey Chapter, he becomes an important voice speaking on behalf of the leading practitioners in the field of family law throughout the state. The AAML is comprised of approximately 1600 family law attorneys who are recognized for their outstanding achievements by judges and other attorneys for their high level of skill, knowledge, competence and integrity and trial experience.

Mr. Iglar is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney. He is a frequent contributor of articles on family law to legal journals as well as the media. He has appeared on television and radio and his legal commentary has been featured in print media.

Matrimonial Attorney at Skoloff & Wolfe Designated to Represent the NJSBA Family Law Executive Committee

Published on: June 8, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

thomas decataldo NJSBA Thomas DeCataldo, a partner in Skoloff & Wolfe’s matrimonial department, was recently designated to represent the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Executive Committee as a co-author to an amicus submission filed with the Supreme Court of New Jersey in the published decision of S.C. v. New Jersey Department of Children and Families.

The NJSBA asked the Supreme Court of New Jersey to require that DCF eliminate the finding of ‘not established,’ when investigating allegations of child abuse, arguing that the standard, which only requires ‘some evidence of abuse and neglect,’ but falls short of requiring further involvement of the Division, is too amorphous and leads to arbitrary results because there is no objective or measurable standard to differentiate between findings of ‘not established’ and ‘unfounded.’ The NJSBA also expressed concern that a ‘not established’ finding could tarnish a person’s reputation, or have a prejudicial impact on parties to child custody disputes.

The Court agreed that the standard for making findings of ‘not established’ is vague, amorphous and incapable of any objective calibration, and that it has led to shortcomings in fairness for parents and guardians involved in investigations. Although the Court declined to eliminate the classification entirely for procedural reasons, it instructed the Division to clarify the standard and ensure future findings are backed by credible evidence. A copy of the Court’s May 27, 2020 opinion is available here.

Retirement Assets and Divorce in New Jersey

Published on: April 27, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

Couple Discussing Retirement Assets for Divorce — Skoloff Wolfe lawyers attorneys
Retirement funds are often among the most valuable assets a divorcing couple owns, although before retirement they are often not given a whole lot of thought. How they are treated is one of the most important considerations to be dealt with in a divorce case, and in order to do that, the rules of the road need to be understood by both attorney and client. How such funds are distributed may be one of the most consequential decisions to be made in the divorce process, and there is a lot to know.

Understand the Different Types of Retirement Accounts that are Considered in a Divorce

In order to know what to do with retirement assets, it is important to first understand what it is that you, or your spouse, own. Basically, there are two styles of retirement plan: the defined benefit plan, which guarantees the owner an income stream in a predetermined amount each month, starting from a fixed age through the end of the pensioner’s life; and the defined contribution plan, which has a fixed value at any given point in time, just like a bank or brokerage account. Defined contribution plans are usually in one of two forms: the 401(k) account, which is funded by withholdings from an employee’s paycheck and contributions from his or her employer; and the Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), which is either funded with a worker’s savings, “rolled over” from a 401(k) with a prior employer, or both. There may be multiple accounts if the person has had multiple employers. A person going through a divorce needs to be certain to know how many accounts they and their spouse have, and what kinds of accounts they are.

Divorce and the Family Business

Published on: April 22, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

A couple who owns a family business together going through a divorce
A family business is typically a closely held corporation—a business which is not publicly traded and for which there is no open market. Where the interest was purchased during the marriage, its value will be subject to division in the divorce. The major question which presents itself, however, is how will the value be determined.

Determining Fair Value of a Business During a Divorce

Brown v. Brown, 348 N.J. Super. 466 (App. Div. 2002) determined that the governing standard of value to be applied is “fair value,” and not “fair market value.” Fair market value is the amount at which property would change hands between a willing seller and a willing buyer when neither is acting under compulsion and when both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Fair market value takes into consideration a discount for lack of marketability or liquidity which is a discount based on the inability to sell an ownership interest in a business. Fair market value also takes into consideration a minority interest discount which is a reduction in value due to the lack of control which can be exercised by an owner with only a minority interest.

Parenting Time Exchanges During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Practical Guide for Separated & Divorced Parents

Published on: March 25, 2020 | Skoloff & Wolfe

By: Thomas DeCataldo

Divorced parents COVID-19
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has caused the tragic loss of life and spurred international panic. Adding insult to injury, the economic impact of this health crisis has thus far been devastating, with stock markets collapsing and many struggling to keep businesses afloat while being unable to work or attempting to do so remotely. As a result of the tumult caused by this virus, divorcing couples and separated parents find themselves attempting to cope with several accelerants to an already stressful situation.

Against this backdrop, in recent weeks many parents questioned the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on custody and parenting time arrangements, whether entered formally as Court Orders or informally by agreement of the parties. The pandemic presents many hotbed areas for disagreement among separated or separating parents, particularly for those in high-conflict situations.