If you are a parent who is getting a divorce in Pennsylvania and custody and visitation will be decided in a child custody hearing, you might wonder what factors the judge will consider. First, you should understand that courts generally operate from the assumption...
Family Law
How will the court divide up our property when we divorce?
One of the most challenging parts of a divorce is determining how to split up the assets you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have acquired over the course of your relationship. Family law courts vary from state to state when it comes to property division rules. Some...
Divorce need not be adversarial
Although the divorce process can be contentious and adversarial at times, it certainly does not have to be. Sometimes, a marriage or a partnership just stops working. The legal term for this in Pennsylvania is an "irretrievable breakdown" of the marriage. And, if both...
In Pennsylvania, separation can be grounds for no-fault divorce
Sometimes a marriage just stops working for one reason or another, and whether consciously or not, spouses start living their own lives without regard for the other spouse. Under Pennsylvania family law, this is known as living "separate and apart." And living...
Don’t rely on a handshake to settle child custody issues
People can be pleasant in Pennsylvania. Divorcing parents who get along well may be tempted to make decisions about child custody informally and agree on them with nothing but a handshake. Unfortunately, the waters of child custody are not always smooth. Custody...
Is spousal support available in Pennsylvania?
Divorce can be a stressful experience, especially when it could result in a financial disparity between the parties involved. For example, a stay-at-home parent who has never worked outside the home would be in a far more precarious financial position than the...
How do medical expenses impact my child support order?
This blog recently discussed child support modifications. Another concern that may arise in the context of child support, and may result in a need for a modification, is medical expenses. Parents may wonder how their child's medical expenses may impact their child...
Help when a child support modification is needed
Life does not remain static following a divorce and circumstances change, especially as children grow and develop. Life events can make changes to a previous child support, or child custody, order necessary. A change in circumstances such as a loss of a job, a change...
Adoption process steps in Pennsylvania
In the state of Pennsylvania, there are numerous adoption agencies available to help families seeking to grow through the adoption process adopt a child. After an agency has been selected, the adoptive parents need to complete an application to begin the adoption...
The property division process in Pennsylvania
Property division is an important concern for divorcing spouses. In Pennsylvania, equitable property division rules are followed when dividing marital property. Marital property is generally subject to division when a couple in Pennsylvania makes the decision to...