On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.
Written By Jennifer Pell
The Affordable Care Act stipulates that minor children must be covered by some form of health insurance. Despite this law, 5% of U.S children under the age of 18 were uninsured in 2017, according to Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families. When a couple with children choose to divorce, both parents can become embroiled in a bitter dispute. However, research has found that children from these families are more likely to get sick. Therefore, for the sake of your child's post-break-up health, it's essential that you get their health insurance policy and its associated costs organized amicably.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Thursday, January 3, 2019.
Written By Jennifer Pell
Handing over the cash or keys for a motor vehicle is an important part of growing up for many American teens. There's a huge level of responsibility attached to motoring; despite this, many young drivers don't take this responsibility to heart. For instance, 10% of drunk driving fatalities are caused by drivers under 21.
Juvenile delinquency has a complex and sensitive interaction with family law. Dealing with the range of motoring offenses in a way that is sufficiently punitive while safeguarding your child's development - and their road safety - can be a difficult process. Proper management starts with organizational skills.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Tuesday, December 18, 2018.
Going through a divorce often brings out the worst in people. Former spouses accuse each other of dishonesty and rehash old arguments. When children are involved, things can get particularly heated. You and your soon-to-be ex love your children, so you each want to spend as much time with them as possible. This can lead to conflict.
Even if you and your former partner disagree about custody, that does not mean a nasty court case is inevitable. There are alternative dispute resolutions, like child custody mediation.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Written By Jennifer Pell
Among Americans aged 50 and older, divorce rates have doubled since the 1990s, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. Researchers postulate various reasons for this boom in what is sometimes termed 'gray divorce'. On the one hand, we are living longer than ever before. Thus, someone in their 50s has decades of life ahead, and may find that over the years, they have become incompatible with their spouse. Secondly, there is less stigma associated with divorce - which is just as well considering that the current divorce rate stands at 40 to 50%. If you are undergoing a divorce in your 50s or later, how can you make the most of this new opportunity for growth?
Divorces are stressful and painful for everyone involved, but the little ones often are the ones who suffer the most, and good parents are well aware of this. A survey conducted for the American Sociological Review revealed that around 50% of American children have experienced, or will experience, the divorce of their parents. Understandably, parents are so emotionally entangled in their own struggles and the processes of a divorce that they might overlook the needs of their children. They are sometimes haunted by the guilt and fear that what they're doing might affect their kid's health and happiness, but it's possible to manage these feelings and prevent the worst from happening.
Keep communication open
Some parents believe it's best to stay together for the sake of the children, even if the marriage itself is not working. However, the constant fighting and tension of a bad relationship can be even more harmful for the kids than a reasonably well-carried out divorce. Dealing with emotional distress at home is psychologically damaging for the little ones, so don't let your guilt or your fears guide your decisions, even for their sake. Instead, you should be honest with your children and keep open channels of communication from both sides. Make sure they understand they will be loved no matter what happens, and that they will never be alone, even in the toughest of times.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Friday, November 16, 2018.
You have accepted your marriage is no longer working, and you want to move forward with your life. Though you know a divorce is the next step, you and your soon-to-be ex want to avoid as much conflict and pain as possible.
You just are not sure the best way to go about that. One option you may consider is a collaborative law divorce.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Monday, October 15, 2018.
For parents of minor-aged children who divorce or split up, in addition to decisions related to child custody and visitation, child support obligations and amounts must be decided. In Pennsylvania, the amount of child support each parent is required to pay is calculated by the Court who examines several factors including each parent’s monthly income and needs of a child.
In most cases, Pennsylvania Support Guidelines are applied and calculated without question. However, in cases where one or both parents earn substantial incomes that exceed $30,000 per month, other factors may be taken into consideration when determining support amounts.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.
Many pop culture portrayals of stepparents cast these family members as villains or having a contentious relationship with their stepchild. In reality, some stepparents are more loving and parental to their spouse's children than biological parents.
Children who feel a close bond with their stepparent and don’t have that same connection to a biological parent may want to ask their stepparent to adopt them. A quick YouTube search of “stepparent adoption” will produce a few tear-jerking videos.
On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Wednesday, July 25, 2018.
It's happened. Next week August begins. Department stores are putting away their summer gear and replacing their barbecue displays with school supplies and other back-to-school "essentials." Whether you want to believe it or not, summer is fast coming to a close. Pretty soon the kids will head back to school (perhaps giving you a much-needed break!).
However, with the back-to-school season on the horizon, you may have some anxiety beyond the stress of getting everyone back onto the school schedule with proper bedtimes and homework routines. That anxiety is this: who's going to pay for all those back-to-school supplies?
