Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC2026-05-29T13:16:19Zhttps://www.ccmlawyers.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1604915/2025/03/cropped-cmcSiteIcon-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[How to handle the mortgage in a New Jersey divorce]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=477002025-07-31T04:41:36Z2022-05-10T17:52:50Ztwo common steps when it comes to handling your mortgage after a split.
Option 1: Sell the home and split the profits
Unless you are dealing with a particularly bad real estate market, give some thought to placing your once-shared home on the market. When someone buys it, you and your ex may pay off the old mortgage debt and then split whatever remains between you. This should give you a nice little nest egg to use in the future and may come in handy in your hunt for a new place to live.
Option 2: Have one of you refinance the mortgage
If one of you wants to buy out the other party and keep the family home you once shared together, that party has the option of attempting to qualify for a new mortgage on his or her own. If this works, the party who wants to keep the house may refinance and free up enough money to buy out the other.
If the party who wants to keep the home is unable to qualify for a new mortgage alone, you may need to revisit selling the home.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Divorcing with pets: who gets custody of the dog?]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476972025-07-31T04:44:18Z2022-05-06T17:42:07Zdog custody.
Is split custody good for your dog?
While your dog is part of the family, you have to remember that dogs have different needs from children. Likewise, they have a further understanding of the world. They may not understand a custody schedule or why you want to rotate them from house to house. Sharing custody may cause dogs more harm than good. They may become stressed when one-half of the couple leaves. While this does not necessarily mean that one spouse cannot visit the dog, you do not want to treat your pup like one of your kids.
Who should have the dog full time?
When it comes to who should have custody of the dog, you may want to think about the dog's best interests. Often, pets bond strongest with one person. Additionally, you have to think objectively about who may take better care of the animal. In some cases, people determine which keeps the dog during a divorce ahead of time. For example, when you adopt a pet, you and your spouse can decide the name on the adoption paperwork.
Your pup is a part of the family and determining who should have custody can become a complex issue. The law sees the dog as property, but you can work with your spouse to agree in the pet's best interests.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Parental teamwork paves the way to a workable child custody plan]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476942025-07-31T04:44:25Z2022-04-18T19:26:23ZPennsylvania parenting
Most judges in Pennsylvania require divorcing parents to submit a child custody plan or parenting plan. If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse are able to work together to create such a plan, you can avoid having to go to court to battle over custody concerns.
Important points
Every child custody plan is unique, but all will include basic child-raising details. To begin with, name the primary residence for your child. Go on to describe the day-to-day visitation schedule you and the other parent work out. You can change or expand upon this schedule to allow for holidays, vacation time, birthdays and other special occasions. Your plan should also explain how you will go about making major decisions concerning your child’s education, healthcare, discipline and other important considerations. Also, include how you and the other parent will communicate about upcoming plans or issues involving your child.
The view of the court
You and the other parent should build your child custody plan around your work schedules as well as your child’s schedule. With legal guidance, you can ensure a well-written plan that leaves nothing out. Always bear in mind that the judge who reviews your plan will want to confirm that these guidelines for your coming role as co-parents cover essential points and serve the best interests of your child.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Are electric vehicles too quiet to be safe?]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476912025-07-31T04:44:30Z2022-04-04T23:12:13Z175 pedestrians died in motor vehicle accidents in the Garden State in 2019 alone.
While electric vehicles are likely to have less of an impact on the environment than those with internal combustion engines, the news may not be so positive for pedestrians. That is, because these vehicles are comparatively quiet, they may endanger walkers, joggers and runners.
The sound of silence
Even though many sounds contribute to noisy cities, gasoline-powered vehicles are louder than you may think. Most pedestrians know to listen for approaching engines before crossing a street or stepping into the road. In addition to their eyes, ears keep pedestrians safe.
For those who are blind or have partial vision loss, noisy vehicles are particularly helpful. As electric vehicles become more common, it is important for all pedestrians to exercise additional caution when walking near traffic.
The manufacturer's burden
Even though state legislators have been slow to regulate the sound production of electric vehicles, many car manufacturers install pedestrian alert systems on their vehicles. These systems emit a series of tones when pedestrians are present.
In the future, regulators are likely to impose sound-emitting requirements for electric vehicles. Until that happens, pedestrians may continue to be in danger of suffering catastrophic injuries. Furthermore, pedestrians must learn to recognize vehicle alerts.
Ultimately, if you suffer a life-changing injury in an accident involving an electric vehicle, it may be beneficial to pursue financial compensation to help you through your recovery process.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Could mediation be the best divorce option for the two of you?]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476232025-07-31T04:44:35Z2022-03-18T15:30:30ZA form of ADR
Divorce mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution. Sessions take place outside of court and no judge will be present. You and your spouse will meet with a trained mediator, a neutral third party, whose goal is to assist you in reaching a settlement agreement. The mediator will not take sides but will keep your negotiations on track, provide access to legal information as needed and offer recommendations to help resolve any sticking points that arise.
Mediation advantages
No doubt one of your chief concerns is your financial future. The divorce will likely reduce your income stream and you will need to construct a new budget. A traditional divorce in court can be very expensive. However, because mediation is a much quicker process than litigation, it is usually much less expensive. In addition to the savings in time and expense, mediation is less stressful than a sometimes-contentious divorce in court. You and your spouse will also control the outcome of your divorce rather than having to abide by the decisions of a judge.
Family benefits
Experience shows that mediation is easier than litigation for children to manage. It is a more relaxed divorce option that focuses on respect, teamwork and communication. The communication skills you learn during mediation will be useful in the post-divorce world as you build your new family structure and continue to raise your children.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Don’t Google or Waze and Drive – Navigation by Cell Phone Can get you Ticketed]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476212025-07-31T04:44:39Z2022-03-10T21:44:34ZA-1324-20 - STATE OF NEW JERSEY VS. MICHELANGELO TROISI (2019-22, MERCER COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (njcourts.gov) the driver admitted that he had his cell phone in his hand, he used his phone for GPS purposes, and that he took his eyes off the road to do so. The Municipal Court in Princeton, the Law Division, and Appellate Division all agreed that this violated the statute. As a result of Troisi’s appeal a published decision binding on all municipal courts statewide now exists supporting ticketing any driver that does the same.
The municipal court imposed imposed a $206 fine and court costs of $33. Troisi pursued an appeal on his own. He sought to have a higher court agree that he was "engaging in [an] activation process . . . within the plain meaning of the statute[.]" None of the Courts agreed.
The Municipal Court judge found that "punch[ing] in six numbers . . . as a password to get access to the phone and then . . . [finding] the Google Map[s] app to open it up . . . was precisely the kind of conduct that the statute [intended] to prevent." The municipal court judge interpreted the exception for activating, deactivating, or initiating a function of the phone as allowing the use of one hand to push a button, "but certainly not to do all of the functions that defendant testified [he did]" because it would "make[] no sense . . . whatsoever to say that the legislature intended that a driver could do all these functions and still pay attention to the road.” The Law Division agreed rejecting defendant's argument and finding his actions were in excess of what was contemplated by the statute’s reference to activation, deactivation or initiation of a function of the phone.
The Appellate Division found support for the lower courts’ interpretations in the plain language of the statute and in the Legislature’s intent when it was adopted.
Be warned, be safe.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Drawing attention to other distracted driving risk factors]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476182025-07-31T04:44:44Z2022-03-02T14:09:06ZEating, passengers and other distracted driving risks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines many different risk factors that lead to distracted driving. For example, trying to reach for food or eat can divert a driver's attention, and other passengers in the vehicle can prevent a driver from paying attention to the road. Using a GPS, adjusting the radio, reading a map and looking at distractions alongside the road can also interfere with driving.
Some distractions result in the loss of mental focus, while others involve taking hands off of the wheel or eyes off of the road. All of these distractions are dangerous.
Statistics on distracted driving
Over the course of 2018, estimates suggest that 400,000 people suffered injuries in traffic collisions involving distracted drivers. Distracted driving also claimed more than 2,800 lives in 2018, and those not riding in vehicles (such as pedestrians and bicyclists) made up for roughly 20% of the people who died in distracted driving accidents.
If a distracted driver hit you, it is essential to hold them answerable, especially if the crash left you seriously hurt.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[NIL’S ARE NOT ONLY FOR COLLEGE STARS – NEW JERSEY PERMITS HIGH SCHOOL NIL’S]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=476152025-07-31T04:44:48Z2022-02-28T19:42:49ZAmateurism - NIL proposal - 2nd Reading (njsiaa.org)
Everyone involved must check the FAQ’s carefully to see what is permitted and what is not. njsiaa-nil-faqs-final.pdf
The very thing that may spark the interest in having the athlete “endorse” a product, restaurant, or other business – their popularity on the sports field and association with the local team – may be what IS NOT PERMITTED, see below.
May a student-athlete use school logos while engaging in NIL activities? A student-athlete’s NIL activity and his or her participation in interscholastic athletics must remain separate. Student-athletes are prohibited from making any reference to a member school or the NJSIAA when engaging in any NIL activity. For example, while marketing a product or service, student-athletes may not wear a team jersey or otherwise display the school’s name, mascot, or logo. Likewise, student-athletes may not endorse or promote any third-party entities, goods, or services during school-based team activities – which means student-athletes may not wear the apparel or display the logo, insignia, or identifying mark of an NIL partner during any school-based team activities.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[Can a dog attack lead to sepsis?]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=475972025-07-31T04:44:53Z2022-02-22T16:17:25ZWhat is sepsis?
According to the Mayo Clinic, sepsis can be life-threatening. The condition happens when your body's immune system overreacts to an infection, causing it to attack your organs and tissues. If you have sepsis, you should treat the condition as a medical emergency and seek immediate treatment.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
The easiest way to know whether you may have sepsis is to monitor your vital signs. If your blood pressure increases or decreases, you should go to the emergency room. This is especially true if your blood pressure changes come with a rapid heart rate or an altered mental state.
Who is at risk of developing sepsis?
Sepsis can happen to anyone who is fighting an infection. Nevertheless, if you have one or more of the following underlying conditions, you may have a heightened risk:
Diabetes
Cancer
Heart disease
Kidney stones
While diagnosing and treating sepsis can be expensive, you cannot put a price tag on your physical health. Ultimately, you may be able to pursue financial compensation from the dog's owner to help you pay for the medical care you need.]]>On Behalf of Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC<![CDATA[How can doctors treat animal bites?]]>https://www.ccmlawyers.com/?p=475942025-07-31T04:44:59Z2022-02-12T01:31:15Zfamily pet.
While some animal bites may result in mild injuries, others result in severe complications.
When does an animal bite require medical attention?
Serious animal bites include any bite with localized redness, pus, warmth or red streaks. An infection may also manifest with a fever or pain. If you require stitches, have any foreign objects in the wound or suspect nerve or blood vessel damage, you need to see a medical professional. Animal bites do pose a risk for infection.
How can a doctor treat an animal bite?
At the first appointment, the doctor will inspect the site. He or she has to check for any debris within the wound itself. Following the exam, physicians may order an x-ray. Dogs, in particular, have massive bite pressure and can damage nerves and bone. Likewise, the x-ray may show any foreign materials within the wound.
Next is the irrigation process. Without adequate irrigation, the wound may become infected. If you have any tears in the skin that the doctor cannot repair, he or she may need to remove the dead or infected tissue.
Your wound care depends on the type of injury. Puncture wounds do not require stitches, but you need to keep the sutures clean and dry if you do have stitches. Unsutured wounds may require other forms of care.
Following an animal bite, you may need to take antibiotics to prevent infection.]]>