DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

By: Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq.

[Re!se": #$%&'%&$##(
Ne) *ersey "+mest!c !+,ence ,a)s are ery str!ct. -+r e.am/,e, O.*. S!m/s+n )+0,"
n+t hae 1+tten a)ay )!th a20se !n Ne) *ersey. A s/+0se +r s!1n!3!cant +ther c+0," ca,, the
/+,!ce an" !3 there are any s!1ns +3 /hys!ca, !n40r!es the /+,!ce are a0t+mat!ca,,y req0!re" t+
arrest the acc0se" a20ser. Een )!th+0t !n"e/en"ent )!tnesses an" n+ /hys!ca, !n40r!es,
/+,!ce may arrest the acc0se" /ers+n. The /+,!ce are req0!re" t+ 1!e the !ct!m !n3+rmat!+n
a2+0t the!r r!1hts an" t+ he,/ them. Am+n1 +ther th!n1s, /+,!ce m0st )r!te 0/ a re/+rt.
Een "0r!n1 the een!n1, eery t+)n M0n!c!/a, C+0rt +r S0/er!+r C+0rt can !ss0e a
Restra!n!n1 Or"er, )h!ch !s a ,e1a,,y en3+rcea2,e "+c0ment. The Tem/+rary Restra!n!n1
Or"er 5TRO6 )!,, /r+h!2!t the "e3en"ant%a20ser 3r+m any c+ntact )!th the !ct!m +r enter!n1 the
res!"ence.
7n,!8e a cr!m!na, case )here a /ers+n !s /r+!"e" )!th ,en1thy "!sc+ery r!1hts, a
"+mest!c !+,ence hear!n1 a,,+)s 40"1es t+ !ss0e 3ar9reach!n1 +r"ers. A "+mest!c !+,ence
hear!n1 !s 0s0a,,y he," )!th!n +n,y ten 5#$6 "ays a3ter the 3!,!n1 +3 an e. /arte c+m/,a!nt an"
tem/+rary restra!n!n1 +r"er. A3ter a hear!n1, N*SA &C: &:9&; 526 a,,+)s the Chancery
D!!s!+n, -am!,y <art *0"1e t+ 1rant s02stant!a, re,!e3 t+ the c+m/,a!nant.
The Ne) *ersey S0/reme C+0rt has a,rea"y 3+0n" that the ten9"ay /r+!s!+n c+m/+rts
)!th the req0!rements +3 "0e /r+cess, 20t can 2e "e,aye" 3+r ,!m!te" reas+ns.
In =.E.S. . *.C.S., #': N.*. >$;, >&> 5&$$>6, the C+0rt he,":
?the ten9"ay /r+!s!+n "+es n+t /rec,0"e a c+nt!n0ance )here 30n"amenta, 3a!rness
"!ctates a,,+)!n1 a "e3en"ant a""!t!+na, t!me. In"ee", t+ the e.tent that c+m/,!ance )!th the
ten9"ay /r+!s!+n /rec,0"es mean!n130, n+t!ce an" an +//+rt0n!ty t+ "e3en", the /r+!s!+n
m0st y!e," t+ "0e /r+cess req0!rements.? [Interna, q0+tat!+ns an" c!tat!+ns +m!tte".(
D!sc+ery n+t man"at+ry !n D+mest!c V!+,ence 3am!,y cases
D+mest!c !+,ence act!+ns are ?s0mmary act!+ns,? a 3act that !nherent,y /rec,0"es the r!1ht t+
"!sc+ery. See, e.1., =.E.S., s0/ra, #': N.*. at >&>. =+)eer, the A//e,,ate D!!s!+n, !n
Cres/+ Cres/+ @$A N* S0/er. &: 5A//. D!. &$$;6, a33!rme" as c+nst!t0t!+na,, n+te" that
+ne tr!a, c+0rt has "eterm!ne" that, !n acc+r"ance )!th R0,e :::9#5"6, a "e3en"ant may see8
,eae t+ +2ta!n "!sc+ery !n s0ch a matter 0/+n a sh+)!n1 +3 1++" ca0se. De/+s . De/+s,
>$' N.*. S0/er. >;B, @$$ 5Ch. D!. #;;'6. The A//e,,ate C+0rt a1ree" )!th the +/!n!+n +3
*0"1e D!,ts !n De/+s that !n c+m/e,,!n1 c!rc0mstances, )here a /artyCs a2!,!ty t+ a"eq0ate,y
/resent e!"ence "0r!n1 a "+mest!c !+,ence act!+n may 2e s!1n!3!cant,y !m/a!re", a tr!a, 40"1e
may, !n the e.erc!se +3 s+0n" "!scret!+n, /erm!t ,!m!te" "!sc+ery !n +r"er t+ /reent an
!n40st!ce. *0"1es are n+t req0!re" t+ 2e +2,!!+0s t+ a /artyCs c,a!m 3+r "!sc+ery !n c+m/e,,!n1
c!rc0mstances een th+01h the c+0rt r0,es "+ n+t e./ress,y a0th+r!De re,!e3. See, e.1., Ke,,am
. -e,!c!an+, >'B N.*. S0/er. :A$, :A' 5A//. D!. &$$:6.
The Cres/+ c+0rt he," ?=ere, the rec+r" reea,s that at n+ t!me "!" "e3en"ant see8 ,eae t+
c+n"0ct any "!sc+ery /r+cee"!n1s.? There3+re, !t !s !m/+rtant 3+r "e3ense c+0nse, t+ "eman"
"!sc+ery.
In <e/e <e/e, &:A N.*. S0/er. #:' 5Chan. D!. #;;&6 he," that the c+n3!"ent!a,!ty
/r+!s!+n +3 rec+r" 8ee/!n1 0n"er the D+mest!c V!+,ence act a//,!es t+ the rec+r"s 8e/t +n
3!,e )!th the C,er8 +3 the S0/er!+r C+0rt.
The -am!,y *0"1e <+)ers:
At the hear!n1 the 40"1e +3 the -am!,y <art +3 the Chancery D!!s!+n +3 the S0/er!+r C+0rt may
!ss0e an +r"er 1rant!n1 any +r a,, +3 the 3+,,+)!n1 re,!e3:EE
5#6 An +r"er restra!n!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m s024ect!n1 the !ct!m t+ "+mest!c !+,ence, as
"e3!ne" !n th!s act.EE
5&6 An +r"er 1rant!n1 e.c,0s!e /+ssess!+n t+ the /,a!nt!33 +3 the res!"ence +r h+0seh+,"
re1ar",ess +3 )hether the res!"ence +r h+0seh+," !s 4+!nt,y +r s+,e,y +)ne" 2y the /art!es +r
4+!nt,y +r s+,e,y ,ease" 2y the /art!es. Th!s +r"er sha,, n+t !n any manner a33ect t!t,e +r !nterest
t+ any rea, /r+/erty he," 2y e!ther /arty +r 2+th 4+!nt,y. I3 !t !s n+t /+ss!2,e 3+r the !ct!m t+
rema!n !n the res!"ence, the c+0rt may +r"er the "e3en"ant t+ /ay the !ct!mCs rent at a
res!"ence +ther than the +ne /re!+0s,y share" 2y the /art!es !3 the "e3en"ant !s 3+0n" t+
hae a "0ty t+ s0//+rt the !ct!m an" the !ct!m req0!res a,ternat!e h+0s!n1.E
E5>6 An +r"er /r+!"!n1 3+r /arent!n1 t!me.
5@6 An +r"er req0!r!n1 the "e3en"ant t+ /ay t+ the !ct!m m+netary c+m/ensat!+n 3+r ,+sses
s033ere" as a "!rect res0,t +3 the act +3 "+mest!c !+,ence. The +r"er may req0!re the
"e3en"ant t+ /ay the !ct!m "!rect,y, t+ re!m20rse the V!ct!ms +3 Cr!me C+m/ensat!+n B+ar"
3+r any an" a,, c+m/ensat!+n /a!" 2y the V!ct!ms +3 Cr!me C+m/ensat!+n B+ar" "!rect,y t+ +r
+n 2eha,3 +3 the !ct!m, an" may req0!re that the "e3en"ant re!m20rse any /art!es that may
hae c+m/ensate" the !ct!m, as the c+0rt may "eterm!ne. C+m/ensat+ry ,+sses sha,,
!nc,0"e, 20t n+t 2e ,!m!te" t+, ,+ss +3 earn!n1s +r +ther s0//+rt, !nc,0"!n1 ch!," +r s/+0sa,
s0//+rt, +0t9+39/+c8et ,+sses 3+r !n40r!es s0sta!ne", c+st +3 re/a!r +r re/,acement +3 rea, +r
/ers+na, /r+/erty "ama1e" +r "estr+ye" +r ta8en 2y the "e3en"ant, c+st +3 c+0nse,!n1 3+r the
!ct!m, m+!n1 +r +ther trae, e./enses, reas+na2,e att+rneyCs 3ees, c+0rt c+sts, an"
c+m/ensat!+n 3+r /a!n an" s033er!n1. Fhere a//r+/r!ate, /0n!t!e "ama1es may 2e a)ar"e"
!n a""!t!+n t+ c+m/ensat+ry "ama1es.E
E5:6 An +r"er req0!r!n1 the "e3en"ant t+ rece!e /r+3ess!+na, "+mest!c !+,ence c+0nse,!n1
3r+m e!ther a /r!ate s+0rce +r a s+0rce a//+!nte" 2y the c+0rt an", !n that eent, req0!r!n1
the "e3en"ant t+ /r+!"e the c+0rt at s/ec!3!e" !ntera,s )!th "+c0mentat!+n +3 atten"ance at
the /r+3ess!+na, c+0nse,!n1. The c+0rt may +r"er the "e3en"ant t+ /ay 3+r the /r+3ess!+na,
c+0nse,!n1.
E5B6 An +r"er restra!n!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m enter!n1 the res!"ence, /r+/erty, sch++,, +r /,ace
+3 em/,+yment +3 the !ct!m +r +3 +ther 3am!,y +r h+0seh+," mem2ers +3 the !ct!m an"
req0!r!n1 the "e3en"ant t+ stay a)ay 3r+m any s/ec!3!e" /,ace that !s name" !n the +r"er an"
!s 3req0ente" re10,ar,y 2y the !ct!m +r +ther 3am!,y +r h+0seh+," mem2ers.E
E5'6 An +r"er restra!n!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m ma8!n1 c+ntact )!th the /,a!nt!33 +r +thers,
!nc,0"!n1 an +r"er 3+r2!""!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m /ers+na,,y +r thr+01h an a1ent !n!t!at!n1 any
c+mm0n!cat!+n ,!8e,y t+ ca0se ann+yance +r a,arm !nc,0"!n1, 20t n+t ,!m!te" t+, /ers+na,,
)r!tten, +r te,e/h+ne c+ntact )!th the !ct!m +r +ther 3am!,y mem2ers, +r the!r em/,+yers,
em/,+yees, +r 3e,,+) )+r8ers, +r +thers )!th )h+m c+mm0n!cat!+n )+0," 2e ,!8e,y t+ ca0se
ann+yance +r a,arm t+ the !ct!m.EE
5A6 An +r"er req0!r!n1 that the "e3en"ant ma8e +r c+nt!n0e t+ ma8e rent +r m+rt1a1e
/ayments +n the res!"ence +cc0/!e" 2y the !ct!m !3 the "e3en"ant !s 3+0n" t+ hae a "0ty t+
s0//+rt the !ct!m +r +ther "e/en"ent h+0seh+," mem2ersG /r+!"e" that th!s !ss0e has n+t
2een res+,e" +r !s n+t 2e!n1 ,!t!1ate" 2et)een the /art!es !n an+ther act!+n.EE
5;6 An +r"er 1rant!n1 e!ther /arty tem/+rary /+ssess!+n +3 s/ec!3!e" /ers+na, /r+/erty, s0ch
as an a0t+m+2!,e, chec82++8, "+c0mentat!+n +3 hea,th !ns0rance, an !"ent!3!cat!+n "+c0ment,
a 8ey, an" +ther /ers+na, e33ects.E
E5#$6 An +r"er a)ar"!n1 emer1ency m+netary re,!e3, !nc,0"!n1 emer1ency s0//+rt 3+r m!n+r
ch!,"ren, t+ the !ct!m an" +ther "e/en"ents, !3 any. An +n1+!n1 +2,!1at!+n +3 s0//+rt sha,, 2e
"eterm!ne" at a ,ater "ate /0rs0ant t+ a//,!ca2,e ,a).E
E5##6 An +r"er a)ar"!n1 tem/+rary c0st+"y +3 a m!n+r ch!,".
5#&6 An +r"er req0!r!n1 that a ,a) en3+rcement +33!cer acc+m/any e!ther /arty t+ the res!"ence
+r any share" 20s!ness /rem!ses t+ s0/er!se the rem+a, +3 /ers+na, 2e,+n1!n1s !n +r"er t+
ens0re the /ers+na, sa3ety +3 the /,a!nt!33 )hen a restra!n!n1 +r"er has 2een !ss0e". Th!s
+r"er sha,, 2e restr!cte" !n "0rat!+n..
EE5#>6 An +r"er 1rant!n1 any +ther a//r+/r!ate re,!e3 3+r the /,a!nt!33 an" "e/en"ent ch!,"ren,
/r+!"e" that the /,a!nt!33 c+nsents t+ s0ch re,!e3, !nc,0"!n1 re,!e3 req0este" 2y the /,a!nt!33 at
the 3!na, hear!n1, )hether +r n+t the /,a!nt!33 req0este" s0ch re,!e3 at the t!me +3 the 1rant!n1 +3
the !n!t!a, emer1ency +r"er.EE
5#@6 An +r"er that req0!res that the "e3en"ant re/+rt t+ the !nta8e 0n!t +3 the -am!,y <art +3 the
Chancery D!!s!+n +3 the S0/er!+r C+0rt 3+r m+n!t+r!n1 +3 any +ther /r+!s!+n +3 the +r"er.EE
5#:6 In a""!t!+n t+ the +r"er req0!re" 2y th!s s02sect!+n /r+h!2!t!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m
/+ssess!n1 any 3!rearm, the c+0rt may a,s+ !ss0e an +r"er /r+h!2!t!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m
/+ssess!n1 any +ther )ea/+n en0merate" !n s02sect!+n r. +3 N.*.S.&C:>;9# an" +r"er!n1 the
search 3+r an" se!D0re +3 any 3!rearm +r +ther )ea/+n at any ,+cat!+n )here the 40"1e has
reas+na2,e ca0se t+ 2e,!ee the )ea/+n !s ,+cate". The 40"1e sha,, state )!th s/ec!3!c!ty the
reas+ns 3+r an" sc+/e +3 the search an" se!D0re a0th+r!De" 2y the +r"er.E
E5#B6 An +r"er /r+h!2!t!n1 the "e3en"ant 3r+m sta,8!n1 +r 3+,,+)!n1, +r threaten!n1 t+ harm, t+
sta,8 +r t+ 3+,,+), the c+m/,a!nant +r any +ther /ers+n name" !n the +r"er !n a manner that,
ta8en !n the c+nte.t +3 /ast act!+ns +3 the "e3en"ant, )+0," /0t the c+m/,a!nant !n reas+na2,e
3ear that the "e3en"ant )+0," ca0se the "eath +r !n40ry +3 the c+m/,a!nant +r any +ther
/ers+n.
5#'6 An +r"er req0!r!n1 the "e3en"ant t+ 0n"er1+ a /sych!atr!c ea,0at!+n.
E33ect!e Se/tem2er #, &$##, the C+0rt R0,es )ere re!se"
::>9'. A""!t!+na, Reme"!es +n V!+,at!+n +3 Or"ers Re,at!n1 t+ <arent!n1 T!me, A,!m+ny, +r
S0//+rt
5a6 C0st+"y +r <arent!n1 T!me Or"ers. On 3!n"!n1 that a /arty has !+,ate" an
+r"er res/ect!n1 c0st+"y +r /arent!n1 t!me, the c+0rt may +r"er, !n a""!t!+n t+ the reme"!es
/r+!"e" 2y R. #:#$9>, any +3 the 3+,,+)!n1 reme"!es, e!ther s!n1,y +r !n c+m2!nat!+n: 5#6
c+m/ensat+ry t!me )!th the ch!,"renG 5&6 ec+n+m!c sanct!+ns, !nc,0"!n1 20t n+t ,!m!te" t+ the
a)ar" +3 m+netary c+m/ensat!+n 3+r the c+sts res0,t!n1 3r+m a /arentCs 3a!,0re t+ a//ear 3+r
sche"0,e" /arent!n1 t!me +r !s!tat!+n s0ch as ch!," care e./enses !nc0rre" 2y the +ther
/arentG 5>6 m+"!3!cat!+n +3 trans/+rtat!+n arran1ementsG 5@6 /!c890/ an" ret0rn +3 the ch!,"ren
!n a /02,!c /,aceG 5:6 c+0nse,!n1 3+r the ch!,"ren +r /arents +r any +3 them at the e./ense +3
the /arent !n !+,at!+n +3 the +r"erG 5B6 tem/+rary +r /ermanent m+"!3!cat!+n +3 the c0st+"!a,
arran1ement /r+!"e" s0ch re,!e3 !s !n the 2est !nterest +3 the ch!,"renG 5'6 /art!c!/at!+n 2y the
/arent !n !+,at!+n +3 the +r"er !n an a//r+e" c+mm0n!ty ser!ce /r+1ramG 5;6 !ncarcerat!+n,
)!th +r )!th+0t )+r8 re,easeG 5;6 !ss0ance +3 a )arrant t+ 2e e.ec0te" 0/+n the 30rther
!+,at!+n +3 the 40"1ment +r +r"erG an" 5#$6 any +ther a//r+/r!ate eq0!ta2,e reme"y.
The 20r"en +3 /r++3 !n a DOMESTIC VIOLENCE hear!n1 !s +n,y ?2y a /re/+n"erance
+3 e!"ence? an" n+t ?2ey+n" a reas+na2,e "+02t.?
S+met!mes a 3am!,y 3r!en" can act as a 1+ 2et)een 3+r the /art!es an" enc+0ra1e the
c+m/,a!nant t+ "!sm!ss the char1es s+ 3am!,y c+0nse,!n1 an" re0n!3!cat!+n can ta8e /,ace. A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE c+m/,a!nant can 2e )!th"ra)n. =+)eer, !3 the /+,!ce s!1ns a
cr!m!na, c+m/,a!nt, +n,y the /r+sec0t+r can ma8e a m+t!+n t+ "!sm!ss.
Kenneth A. Vercammen !s an E"!s+n, M!"",ese. C+0nty, N* tr!a, att+rney )h+ has /02,!she"
#&: art!c,es !n nat!+na, an" Ne) *ersey /02,!cat!+ns +n 20s!ness an" ,!t!1at!+n t+/!cs. =e
+3ten ,ect0res t+ tr!a, ,a)yers +3 the Amer!can Bar Ass+c!at!+n, Ne) *ersey State Bar
Ass+c!at!+n an" M!"",ese. C+0nty Bar Ass+c!at!+n.
=e !s a h!1h,y re1ar"e" ,ect0rer +n ,!t!1at!+n !ss0es 3+r the Amer!can Bar Ass+c!at!+n, ICLE,
Ne) *ersey State Bar Ass+c!at!+n an" M!"",ese. C+0nty Bar Ass+c!at!+n. =!s art!c,es hae
2een /02,!she" 2y Ne) *ersey La) *+0rna,, ABA La) <ract!ce Mana1ement Ma1aD!ne, an"
Ne) *ersey La)yer. =e !s the E"!t+r !n Ch!e3 +3 the Ne) *ersey M0n!c!/a, C+0rt La) Re!e).
Mr. Vercammen !s a rec!/!ent +3 the N*SBA9 HLD Ser!ce t+ the Bar A)ar".
=e has sere" as a S/ec!a, Act!n1 <r+sec0t+r !n n!ne "!33erent c!t!es an" t+)ns !n Ne) *ersey
an" a,s+ s0ccess30,,y han",e" +er One9th+0san" M0n!c!/a, C+0rt an" S0/er!+r C+0rt
matters !n the /ast #& years.
In h!s /r!ate /ract!ce, he has "e+te" a s02stant!a, /+rt!+n +3 h!s /r+3ess!+na, t!me t+ the
/re/arat!+n an" tr!a, +3 ,!t!1ate" matters. =e has a//eare" !n C+0rts thr+01h+0t Ne) *ersey
seera, t!mes each )ee8 +n Cr!m!na, /ers+na, !n40ry matters, M0n!c!/a, C+0rt tr!a,s, an"
c+nteste" <r+2ate hear!n1s. =e seres as the E"!t+r +3 the /+/0,ar ,e1a, )e2s!te
))).n4,a)s.c+m