New Jersey

New Jersey Following are some prices recorded March 21 to April 16. Absecon 503 Lazy Ln. , $300,000. Brigantine 246 S. Third St. , $820,000. 7 Surfside Rd. , $325,000. Egg Harbor Township 13 Stafford Ave. , $205,000. Galloway 723 E. Great Creek Rd. , $329,700. Linwood 3 Fischer Rd. , $456,000. Margate 109 N. Douglas Ave. , $649,000. 404 N. Douglas Ave. , $325,000. Ventnor 11 N. Melbourne Ave. , $480,000.

Like most states, New Jersey lets its judges decide whether alimony should be awarded in a divorce. Judges also determine how much is paid and for how long. Now, some advocates want the Legislature to limit judicial discretion in alimony decisions, arguing that long-term awards can discourage ex-spouses from earning. On the flip side, some alimony recipients say judges have unjustly denied them reasonable payments, causing financial hardship for a family that suddenly loses its breadwinner.

New Jersey is No. 1. Those pulling up roots have put the Garden State in the top spot nationally for outbound residents - at least, so says United Van Lines. The company has released its 2012 migration study, listing the most moved-into states and those that people are leaving. National trends show people leaving the Northeast and heading to the Southeast and Northwest. The main reasons are jobs, housing, taxes, and weather, said economist Michael Stoll, chair of the department of public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Get your vote on. Today is the deadline for residents of New Jersey to register to vote in the general election on Nov. 6. The election will decided the presidential race between President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney, as well as the senate race in New Jersey between incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and GOP challenger Joe Kyrillos. Applications are available at www.Elections.NJ.gov . They must be postmarked by today, Oct. 16, to be accepted. Voters can also register directly at Motor Vehicle Commission offices and Human Services offices.

For New Jersey winemakers and wine sippers, Tuesday may be a day to uncork that bottle of vintage champagne. Or not. Noon on that day is the deadline for Gov. Christie to sign a bill that would permit direct shipping of wine to consumers. If he doesn't sign, the measure dies. The direct-shipping bill was the last measure passed on Monday, the final day of the lame-duck legislative session. The bill would permit wineries that produce less than 250,000 gallons a year in New Jersey or any other state to ship directly to consumers.