Agenda / Content Covered

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1. Overcoming Discovery and Evidence Obstacles in Family Law
   9:00 - 9:45, Thomas Sidoti
   1. Smart Phone, Text and Social Media Evidence - Uncovering Critical Information
   2. Balancing the Need for Information and the Cost
   3. Spoliation Pitfalls
   4. Subpoenas for Cell Phone Records and Social Media - Confronting Common Defenses
   5. Authentication and Admission Evidence Challenges
2. Complex Assets: Finding, Valuing and Dividing
   9:45 - 10:30, Louis G. Guzzo
   1. Commingled Separate and Marital Assets
   2. Real Property Interests
   3. Valuing and Dividing Family Business Assets
   4. Finding Hidden Assets, Income and Debt
   5. Using Forensic Accountants and Business Valuation Experts
   6. Prenuptial Agreements: Proving/Disproving Validity
3. QDROs: Solutions to Common Challenges
   10:45 - 11:30, Judith A. Deer
   1. Different Plans, Different Methods of Division, Different Difficulties
      1. Defined Benefit Plans
      2. Defined Contribution Plans
      3. Government Plans
   2. Settlement Agreement Challenges
      1. Do They Align with QDROs?
      2. Are Tax Consequences Factored in?
   3. Complications that Cause Malpractice Allegations
4. Child and Spousal Support: Top Issues that MUST be Addressed
   11:30 - 12:15, Mitchell L. Mullen
   1. UIFSA and Jurisdictional Issues
   2. New Tax Laws Affecting Support
   3. Imputed Income
   4. Analysis of the Current Child Support Model
   5. Arguing Spousal Support
   6. Enforcement Options
   7. Modification and Termination Procedures and Tactics
   8. Case Law Update
5. Domestic Violence in a Pandemic World
   1:15 - 1:50, Mitchell L. Mullen
6. High-Conflict Custody and Parenting Time Concerns
   1:50 - 2:35, Cary B. Cheifetz
   1. Negotiating/Drafting Pitfalls: Avoiding Provisions that Lead to Disputes
   2. Custody Evaluations Reports - How, What and When to Challenge
   3. UCCJEA and Relocation - Key Challenges
   4. Temporary Orders for Custody - Getting What You Want
   5. Custody Concerns in Same-Sex Couples
   6. When to Modify or Terminate the Parenting Plan
7. Parental Alienation and Abuse Allegations: Key Hurdles for Proving/Disproving
   2:35 - 3:15, Louis G. Guzzo
   1. Proving Alienation: Mental Health vs. Court Views
   2. Witness Examination: GALs, Parenting Coordinators and More
   3. Key Challenges in Admissibility of Evidence and Testimony
   4. Fighting Against False Allegations
8. Ethics in Family Law
   3:30 - 4:30, Cary B. Cheifetz
   1. Managing Client Expectations
   2. Limited Scope Representation
   3. Dealing with Difficult Clients
   4. Researching and Preventing Conflicts of Interest
   5. Communication with Adverse Party

CARY B. CHEIFETZ is a founding member and partner of Ceconi & Cheifetz, LLC, in Summit, New Jersey, where he devotes his practice to matrimonial and family law related matters, mediation, arbitration, and serves as an expert witness on family law. Mr. Cheifetz is a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been appointed as the chair of CLE for the New Jersey Chapter of the AAML. Mr. Cheifetz is also an assistant secretary of the AAML Foundation and serves in this capacity for AAML on a national level. He also is a past chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Section, a member of the Family Law Section of ATLA-NJ and director of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Cheifetz is a member of the American, New Jersey State, Essex County and Bergen County bar associations. He also is past president of the Essex County Bar Association. Mr. Cheifetz is a former chair of its Family Law Executive Committee and a member of the Essex County Judicial Selection Committee. He is a former member of the Supreme Court Board of Attorney Trial Certification (Matrimonial Law Committee), as well as a past member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Family Part Practice. Mr. Cheifetz was a co-managing editor of the New Jersey Family Lawyer. He earned his B.A. degree from George Washington University and his J.D. degree from New York Law School.

JUDITH A. DEER is a licensed New Jersey attorney and president of All Pro QDRO, LLC based in Livingston, New Jersey. Ms. Deer has been practicing in the field of pensions and qualified domestic relations orders since 2004. She has been recognized as an expert in her field by many New Jersey courts and practitioners, having been appointed as an expert, testifying in court, lecturing on the subject and writing topical articles. Previously, Ms. Deer was engaged in the field of civil trial law where she tried many cases to jury verdict. She continues to be accessible to judges and attorneys alike to answer inquiries and assist in their cases.

LOUIS G. GUZZO is a sole practitioner in the Law Office of Louis G. Guzzo, where he concentrates his practice in all issues relating to family law including divorce, custody, child support, adoption and domestic violence matters. He serves as an early settlement panelist for Burlington and Camden counties, and is a member of the Camden County (member, Family Law Committee), New Jersey State and American bar associations. Mr. Guzzo is also a member of the Thomas S. Forkin Inns of Court. He earned his B.S. degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law.

MITCHELL L. MULLEN is the managing member of Mullen Law, LLC, where his main areas of practice include family law and mediation, which includes divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, domestic violence, step-parent adoption, and guardianships. He is a certified legal specialist in matrimonial law, Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1998. Mr. Mullen is a member of the Camden County Bar Association; American Association for Justice; New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Section, member; Burlington County Bar Association; and New Jersey Association for Justice. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, 1990. Mr. Mullen earned his B.S. and B.S.B.A. degrees, magna cum laude, from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts; and his J.D. degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law - Camden, Camden, New Jersey.

THOMAS SIDOTI is an attorney with Sidoti Law Firm, LLC. Mr. Sidoti has focused his practice on family and matrimonial law, ably resolving complex divorce matters and highly contentious custody disputes. He has experience guiding high-net-worth individuals through the divorce process and dealing with complicated asset division issues as well as alimony and child support issues. Mr. Sidoti has had success trying cases to conclusion, winning favorable custody, alimony, and child support terms for his clients, as well as significant counsel fee awards. He is also an experienced appellate lawyer; his successful arguments reversed an adverse trial court decision regarding emancipation and termination of child support. He is also a New Jersey Supreme Court certified matrimonial attorney. Mr. Sidoti is a member of the Justice Virginia Long Family Law Inn of Court, an active member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Hudson County Bar Association Family Law Committee, and the Bergen County Bar Association. He also serves on the Hudson County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel. Mr. Sidoti received his B.A. degree from Rutgers University and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.