NEW JERSEY DIVORCE MEDIATOR

It was error for the New Jersey divorce judge to emancipate the parties' 20 year old daughter based on her poor college grades. Early struggles at school do not make a child "independent" under New Jersey family law principles. Rather, the child may rely on her parents even more than in times of success. The judge also failed to make adequate findings as to the father's ability to contribute to his daughter's college expenses, and the Newburgh v. Arrigo factors should be considered on remand.  Keno v. Pilgrim, New Jersey App. Div., August 17, 2006