NJSBA Family Law Section

 View Only

Answer and Counterclaim and/or Cross Motion to Dismiss

  • 1.  Answer and Counterclaim and/or Cross Motion to Dismiss

    Posted 04-29-2015 09:57 PM

    Greetings,

    I represent a woman, Defendant, who was served with divorce papers and a motion for pendente lite.  The Defendant claims they were married in 1996 in a foreign country.  My client claims she was never married.  After some calls, I received a copy of a divorce complaint that was previously filed in 2009 by the Plaintiff but named another woman.  My question is whether I should file an Answer and counterclaim (frivolous litigation) and simultaneously respond to the pendente lite motion by filing a cross motion to dismiss the complaint?  If I do both, do I still need to defend the pendente lite motion or can I ask for it to be stayed pending the outcome of the cross-motion to dismiss?  Will I waive my objection to pendente lite if I do not respond to it in my cross?

     Thank you.

    ------------------------------
    Wendy Armour Esq.
    Metuchen NJ
    (732)966-7505
    ------------------------------