Jeralyn L. Lawrence

Jeralyn L. Lawrence is the founder and Managing Member of Lawrence Law, where she focuses her practice entirely on divorce and family law. She’s a Past President of the New Jersey State Bar Association and one of the small number of attorneys certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney. Jeralyn handles the full range of family law matters—divorce litigation, mediation, arbitration, custody and parenting time disputes, support and alimony issues, separation and property settlement agreements, adoption and guardianship questions, domestic violence and sexual abuse matters, and claims involving domestic partnerships and palimony. Along with being a seasoned courtroom advocate, she’s also trained in collaborative divorce and serves as a mediator and arbitrator, which gives clients more than one path to resolution depending on what their case needs. Her practice spans everything from straightforward disputes to complex, high-net-worth cases, including matters involving public figures and other high-profile clients. Beyond individual cases, Jeralyn has been a consistent voice in shaping family law in New Jersey. She has argued before the Supreme Court of New Jersey on behalf of major legal organizations, including the NJSBA and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, on issues such as child welfare agency matters and how courts should handle alimony modification requests based on cohabitation. She’s also appeared as amicus in the Appellate Division. Her leadership has been recognized through her election as NJSBA President and appointments by the Supreme Court to statewide committees, including Disciplinary Oversight, Wellness, and Family Practice. She earned her B.A. from Kean University and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Seton Hall Law, graduating second in her class and leading the Family Law Clinic as Student Director.

of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and has been certified by the Academy as a Family Law Arbitrator.

To complement the breadth of her matrimonial, divorce and family law practice, Jeralyn involves herself in various professional engagements outside the firm. She frequently serves as a speaker and panelist at divorce and family law programs and seminars and she can be found on twitter @JeralynLaw. She has been admitted to the rosters of Mediators for Economic Aspects of Family Law Cases and of Custody and Parenting Time Cases for Somerset County. She serves on the Matrimonial Certification Committee that oversees the statewide matrimonial attorney certification process. Jeralyn spends her spare time as an attorney volunteer at the Resource Center of Somerset and the New Jersey State Bar Military Legal Assistance Program, wherein she provides pro bono legal assistance to New Jersey residents who have served overseas or active duty of the armed forces after September 11, 2001.

Jeralyn was honored by NJBiz as one of New Jersey's 2011 Best 50 Women in Business. She was also selected as the 2009 Kean University Distinguished Alumna , the preeminent award for alumni, by the Kean University Alumni Association. She was honored as an Outstanding Woman in Somerset County for 2008 by the Somerset County Commission On the Status Of Women. In 2007, she received the Young Lawyers Division's Professional Achievement Award and the Annual Legislative Recognition Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is also a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and a member of the Central New Jersey Inns of Court. While in law school, Jeralyn was awarded the New Jersey Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers' Award, in addition to serving as Student Director of the Family Law Clinic. Recently, Jeralyn was granted Fellowship to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the pre-eminent family law association in America.

Jeralyn has been selected as one of New Jersey's Super Lawyers in the Family Law section, an honor she has received for several years. She was also named among Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers , as well as Top 50 Female New Jersey Super Lawyers . In addition, Jeralyn has been selected by her peers as one of New Jersey's Top 10 matrimonial lawyers under the age of 40. She has also been recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of 40 accomplished and promising attorneys in the State of New Jersey under the age of 40.

Jeralyn is a member of the NMM Women's Forum Steering Committee.

Publication

• Quoted, N.J. Alimony Reform Measure Is Panned by Family Lawyers , New Jersey Law Journal , November 26, 2013

• Adultery: The Loophole Residency Requirement , NJICLE Seminar Materials , Hot Tips in Family Law 2013/2014, Rules Are Made to be Broken: Exceptions, Dissents, and Loopholes, November 11, 2013

• Quoted, Paying the Price , NJ BIZ , November 11, 2013

•Quoted, Judiciary Corrects Counties That Charged Family Litigants Too Little , New Jersey Law Journal , October 31, 2013

•Quoted, Slain Waldwick woman's baby faces uncertain future , The Record , October 25, 2013

• Advice to the Prospective Divorce Client , The CONNECTION Magazine - Warren-Watchung Edition , September 2013

•Interviewed, Cross-examination: A look at family collaborative law, New Jersey Law Journal: The Bar Report , July 22, 2013

•Quoted, Family Bar Braces for New Law Governing Prenuptial Agreements , New Jersey Law Journal , July 2, 2013

• Ten Things Divorcing Parents Should Never Say to Their Children , The CONNECTION Magazine - Warren-Watchung Edition , June 2013

• Changes in Circumstances: Navigating the Procedural Pathway When Addressing Support Obligation Modification , NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, October 10-14, 2012

• Imputation of Income , New Jersey Women's Journal , November/December 2011

• Grandparent Visitation , New Jersey Women's Journal , September/October 2011

• The Differences Between Divorce Litigation and Divorce Collaboration , NJICLE Seminar Materials , 2011

• Imputation of Income , New Jersey Women's Journal , November/December 2011

• Grandparent Visitation , New Jersey Women's Journal , September/October 2011

• The Differences Between Divorce Litigation and Divorce Collaboration , NJICLE Seminar Materials , 2011

•Quoted, Your Divorce To-Do List , Always New You , August 2011

• Parent Coordinator , New Jersey Women's Journal , May/June 2011

• What Impact Does a Child's Income Have on Child Support , New Jersey Women's Journal , March/April 2011

• The Imputation of Income and Its Impact Upon the Dependent Spouse - A Historical Analysis from Khalaf to the Present , 2011 NJICLE Family Law Symposium, January 2011

• Standard Provisions of a Marital Settlement Agreement , New Jersey Women's Journal , November/December 2010

• What to Consider When Considering Divorce , New Jersey Women's Journal , September/October 2010

• Twenty Cases Matrimonial Attorneys Mst Know When Handling a Domestic Violence Matter , NSBA Mid-Year Meeting, 2010

• Trends in Domestic Violence: The New Jersey Judiciary is Expanding Its View on Who is a Victim of Domestic Violence as Defined by the Domestic Violence Act , NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, 2010

• Prenuptial Agreements , New Jersey Women's Journal , July/August 2010

• The Differences Between Divorce Litigation and Divorce Collaboration , NJICLE Basic Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce, June 17, 2010

• Child Support and the Special Needs Child , New Jersey Women's Journal , May/June 2010

• The Difference Between Divorce Litigation and Divorce Collaboration , NMM Matrimonial Law Alert , May 2010

• College Contribution , New Jersey Women's Journal , March/April 2010

• Dispelling Divorce Law Myths , New Jersey Women's Journal , January/February 2010

• Redacting Personal Identifiers in Divorce Cases , New Jersey Women's Journal , November/December 2009

• Is a Ten Year Marriage Still Considered Long-Term: An Overview of the Different Types of Alimony and the Judicial Progression Subsequent to Hughes

• Advice to Prospective Client , New Jersey Women's Journal , September/October 2009

• How to Make the Family Bar More Family Oriented , NMM Article

• Emotionally Healthy Divorce , New Jersey Women's Journal , July/August 2009

• Domestic Violence , New Jersey Women's Journal , May/June 2009

• Palimony , New Jersey Women's Journal , March/April 2009

• How to Make the Family Bar More Family Oriented , NMM Article

• Collaborative Law , New Jersey Women's Journal , November/December 2008

• Ten Things Clients Should Never Say to Their Children , New Jersey Women's Journal , September/October 2008

• Relocation , New Jersey Women's Journal , July/August 2008

• Alimony , New Jersey Women's Journal , May/June 2008

• New Jersey Child Support Guidelines , New Jersey Women's Journal , March/April 2008

• Grounds for Divorce , New Jersey Women's Journal , January/February 2008

• Domestic Violence , New Jersey Women's Journal , November/December 2007

• College Contribution , New Jersey Women's Journal , September/October 2007

• Grandparent Visitation , New Jersey Women's Journal , July/August 2007

• Ten Things Clients Should Never Say to Their Children , New Jersey Women's Journal , May/June 2007

• Custody and Parenting Time , New Jersey Women's Journal , March/April 2007

• Disputing Passive Increases in Value , New Jersey Lawyer , January 8, 2007

• The Uncontested Divorce Hearing , New Jersey Women's Journal , January/February 2007

• What to Consider When Considering A Divorce , New Jersey Women's Journal , November 2006

•New Jersey Family Lawyer , Junior Editor

• The Grandparents' Ruling Gains Favor , New Jersey Lawyer , September 8, 2003

• Reasons Why To Hire A Divorce Attorney , Garden State Woman 2005-2006 Financial Resources Guide

• Using the Real Estate Expert and Your Client's Testimony to Dispute Passive Increases

News

• Jeralyn L. Lawrence Elected President-Elect of the Somerset County Bar Association

• Jeralyn L. Lawrence Elected to Serve on Local Women's Political Caucus Board

• Jeralyn Lawrence Installed as Chair of Family Law Section of State Bar Association

• Jeralyn Lawrence Speaks at New Jersey Association for Justice 2014 Boardwalk Seminar

• Jeralyn Lawrence Named Among Top 100 New Jersey Super Lawyers & Top 50 Women New Jersey Super Lawyers

• Jeralyn Lawrence Receives TOP 10 Attorney Award

• Twenty-Eight Norris McLaughlin Attorneys Recognized by New Jersey Super Lawyers 2014

• Jeralyn Lawrence Quoted in New York Post on Minor's Lawsuit for Financial Support

• Jeralyn Lawrence a Speaker at Third Parties in Family Law Seminar

Presentations

•The Child Support Guidelines: How to Advocate to Deviate, NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, December 14, 2013

•Child Custody in the 21st Century, NJICLE's Central CLEfest, Iselin, NJ, November 25, 2013

•Hot Tips in Family Law 2013/2014, Rules Are Made to be Broken: Exceptions, Dissents, and Loopholes, NJICLE, New Brunswick, NJ, November 11, 2013

•Child Custody in the 21st Century, NJICLE's South CLEfest, Atlantic City, NJ, August 16, 2013

•Family Law for Paralegals & New Attorneys: A 2013 Update, NJSBA Paralegal Committee, New Brunswick, NJ, August 1, 2013

• Bench Bar Seminar , NJSBA Annual Meeting, Atlantic City, NJ, May 17, 2013

• Sheridan and the Innocent Spouse , NJAJ Educational Foundation, Inc. Boardwalk Seminar 2013, Atlantic City, NJ, April 18, 2013

•Hot Tips in Family Law: Marriage in 2013, NJICLE, November 12, 2012

•Work-Life Balance: Is it in the Cards? NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 13, 2012

•Change in Circumstances - Modification of Support When Lady Luck Deals Your Client a Bad Hand, NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 12, 2012

•Collaborative Law Training, NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, March 16, 2012 (Day 1)

•Collaborative Law Training, NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, NJ, March 17, 2012 (Day 2)

•Hot Tips in Family Law 2013/2014: Rules are Made to be Broken, NJICLE, November 11, 2013

•Understanding the Neurobiology and Symptoms of Chemical and Other Addictions: Implications for Children, Families, & Custody, AFCC, October 12, 2013

•Hot Tips in Family Law: Marriage in 2013, NJICLE, November 12, 2012

•Work-Life Balance: Is it in the Cards? NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 13, 2012

•Change in Circumstances - Modification of Support When Lady Luck Deals Your Client a Bad Hand, NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 12, 2012

•Collaborative Law Training, NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, March 16, 2012 (Day 1)

•Collaborative Law Training, NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, March 17, 2012 (Day 2)

• Basic Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce , NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, April 9, 2011 (Day 1)

• Basic Interdisciplinary Collaborative Divorce , NJICLE, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, April 16, 2011 (Day 2)

• Imputation Issues , NJICLE & NJSBA Family Law Section, January 29, 2011

• Collaborative Divorce: An Essential Primer for All Family Law Practitioners , NJICLE , Edison, New Jersey, June 17, 2010

•NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention, May 19-21, 2010

•2010 Family Law Symposium, January 29, 2010, Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Brunswick

•Rights and Responsibilities of Adults in Nontraditional Families, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Mid-Year Meeting, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, November 5-9, 2008

•What Everyone Should Know About Divorce, Child Custody and Grandparents' Rights, New Jersey State Bar Foundation, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, October 23, 2008

•Settlement - Civil Restraining Orders, Hot Tips in Family Law 2008: Back to Basics , New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section in association with the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Brunswick, New Jersey, September 20,2008

•2008 Family Law Symposium, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section, Iselin, New Jersey, January 25-26, 2008

•Are Best Practices Forcing Litigation to Go 'Sideways': 'To Whine or Not to Wine' Recent Court Rule Amendments for Civil and Family Cases, Family Law Section Meeting , Annual Mid-Year Meeting, New Jersey State Bar Association, Santa Barbara, California, November 8, 2007

•Family Court Rules: Overview and 2008 Update, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, October 23, 2007

• Imputation Issues , NJICLE & NJSBA Family Law Section, January 29, 2011

• Collaborative Divorce: An Essential Primer for All Family Law Practitioners , NJICLE , Edison, New Jersey, June 17, 2010

•Norris McLaughlin & Marcus Attorneys to Speak at the NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention, May 19-21, 2010

•Jeralyn speaks at 2010 Family Law Symposium, January 29, 2010, Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Brunswick

•Rights and Responsibilities of Adults in Nontraditional Families, New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Mid-Year Meeting, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, November 5-9, 2008

•What Everyone Should Know About Divorce, Child Custody and Grandparents' Rights, New Jersey State Bar Foundation, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, October 23, 2008

•Settlement - Civil Restraining Orders, Hot Tips in Family Law 2008: Back to Basics , New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section in association with the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Brunswick, New Jersey, September 20,2008

•2008 Family Law Symposium , New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section, Iselin, New Jersey, January 25-26, 2008

•Are Best Practices Forcing Litigation to Go 'Sideways': 'To Whine or Not to Wine' Recent Court Rule Amendments for Civil and Family Cases, Family Law Section Meeting , Annual Mid-Year Meeting, New Jersey State Bar Association, Santa Barbara, California, November 8, 2007

•Family Court Rules: Overview and 2008 Update, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, October 23, 2007

•Divorce Law, Child Custody and Grandparents Rights, New Jersey State Bar Foundation, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, October 16, 2007

•Hot Tips in Family Law 2007: Factors, Grounds & Tests, Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section, September 29, 2007

•Custody Conversations - Fun with Dick and Jane Skits and Panel Discussions, New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section, May 16, 2007

•The ABC's of an Effective CDR Presentation - From the Presenter's Perspective, Boardwalk Seminar 2007 , Association of Trial Lawyers of America-New Jersey Educational Foundation, Atlantic City, New Jersey, April 26-27, 2007

•What Everyone Should Know About Child Custody and Grandparents' Rights, New Jersey State Bar Foundation, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, January 10, 2007

•Hot Tips on International Family Law Issues, Mid-Year Meeting of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Rome, Italy, November 10, 2006

•Key Family Court Rules, 2006 Family Law Summer Institute , New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, July 26-27, 2006

• Ten Things the Client Should Never Say to Their Children , ATLA-NJ Educational Foundation's Boardwalk Seminar 2006 , April 28,2006

• Hot Topics Seminar , November 3, 2001

Accreditations

•Certified Matrimonial Attorney

•Certified Family Law Arbitrator

•Accredited Mediator

•Accredited Collaborative Law Attorney

•Graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy Member:

Professional Affiliations

•New Jersey State Bar Association

•Family Law Section

•Chair

•Executive Committee

•Associate Managing Editor, New Jersey Family Lawyer

•New Jersey Supreme Court

•Matrimonial Certification Committee

•Office of Attorney Ethics

•District XIII Attorney Ethics Committee

•Somerset County Bar Association

•President-Elect

•Somerset County Domestic Violence Working Group, Family Law Section

•American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

•Fellowship

•Board of Managers

•Association of Trial Lawyers of America

•New Jersey Women Lawyers Association

•New Jersey Association of Professional Mediator.