Legal Question in Family Law in New Jersey

Re: girlfriend of ex cutting daughters hair

There's an easy way to be a divorced parent and a hard way. It takes two (or sometimes three or four) to make things easy. It only takes one to make things hard. The easy way is to discuss things like adults and come to agreements that satisfy (or at least do not seriously disatisfy) all concerned. The hard way is to retain lawyers to fight about everything from important issues (like college education) to not so important issues (like cutting a child's hair.) Remember, your ex is also your child's father. Maybe he wants to be there for the first haircut. Why not have both of you there and get some cuttings for both of you. Whether you like it or not, there will be some things now that you will miss, just as there will be some things that your ex will miss. But I guarantee that if you get along with his significant other, you will miss a whole lot less than you will miss if you do not get along with her. Further, it will be better for your child if everyone just gets along. You should be more concerned with what is best for your child and not what your "rights" are. If you always think about that first, you will make decisions that are correct. With all of that being said, if you cannot come to an agreement on this (or any other issue), you can retain a lawyer (at anywhere from $150-$400/hour) and litigate the issue. Then you will uphold your rights, but be poorer and possibly alienate your child, because the anger will almost certainly become known to her. You can make your own decision on which way to go. Good luck! Rob Gleaner