Kern, Joseph D.

Experienced Divorce Lawyer Morristown New Jersey

Matthew A. Sumner is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Matrimonial Law Attorney.He brings thirty years of courtroom experience in heading the family law section of Maynard, Truland & Sumner, LLC.A 1974 graduate of Rutgers College and 1978 graduate of Seton Hall University Law School, Mr. Sumner was first licensed to practice law before the New Jersey Bar in 1978, and subsequently licensed in New York, Maine and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

During law school, Mr. Sumner served as the Matrimonial Motions Clerk to three Superior Court Judges sitting in the Passaic County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. His experience led to a long list of accomplishments such as being recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel member, Certified Mediator, and as a Superior Court Civil Court Arbitrator.

His Family Court practice includes divorce, custody, child support, alimony, division of property, and post divorce judgment proceedings. He vigorously represents clients in domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, and DYFS cases in the Superior and Administrative Law Courts. He has also argued cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court, as well as the Appellate, Trial and Federal Courts. Outside of Court, Mr. Sumner is experienced in negotiating and drafting separation agreements, parenting plans, property settlements and pre-marital agreements.

Mr. Sumner has varied experience such as being elected to his local Board of Education, Chairman of the Passaic County Bar Association Attorney Referral Service, a volunteer attorney for the New Jersey Parental Representation Unit, a Senior Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has received numerous pro bono awards for service to indigent defendants. Mr. Sumner sat as a Judge in High School Moot Court Competitions and served in the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Association for Justice, and several state and local bar associations.

Family Law Areas of Practice Include:

• Adoption
• Alimony
• Annulment
• Appeals
• Arbitration
• Child Abuse
• Child Support
• Child Neglect
• Custody
• Divorce Domestic Violence
• Department of Youth & Family Services (DYFS)
• Interstate and International Custody and Support Matters
• Juvenile Crime
• Grandparent Rights
• Modification of Custody and Support
• Mediation
• Mediator and Arbitrator Services
• Parenting Time
• Paternity
• Post-Judgment Applications
• Post-Secondary Educational Expenses
• Pre-nuptial
• Property Settlement Agreements
• Removal or Prevention of Removal of Children from New Jersey
• Separation Agreements
• Trials and Hearings
• Visitation
• Worker's Compensation