Norristown Family Law Blog

Who keeps the marital home after a divorce?

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Monday, June 17, 2019.

Whether you have lived in your home for a few years or several decades, you likely have an emotional attachment to it. You may have raised your kids there, made it your own, created hundreds of fond memories and more.

In a divorce, determining the fate of your home can be complicated. Pennsylvania follows equitable distribution guidelines when dividing the marital property of a divorcing couple. As your home is likely one of your most significant marital assets, deciding who, if anyone, will retain the home can involve careful consideration of your options.

Divorce doesn’t have to be a long process

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Friday, May 31, 2019.

Many people dread divorce for many reasons, including a fear that the process will take a long time. While it’s true that more complicated divorces can take longer to complete, there are certain instances where Pennsylvania’s divorce code allows for an expedited process.

There are two grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania that may lead to less time in the court room and a quicker finalization. If your situation fits either of these situations, you may be able to have a quicker resolution. The two grounds that can allow for a quicker divorce are:

Getting Your Family Back On Track After Bankruptcy

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Written By Jennifer Pell

There were 773,375 bankruptcy claims filed in 2018, according to the 2018 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary. Compared to the previous year, this was a 2% drop for consumer bankruptcies and a 4% drop for business ones. However, with personal debt in the U.S. recently topping $13.5 trillion, it looks like these figures will rise in 2019. When bankruptcy strikes a family, it can cause stress and pressure among individuals. It's also common for marriages to break down in the midst of a bankruptcy. But, with the right legal support, it's possible to rebuild your family setup and get back on your feet.

How to establish a good parenting plan for your kids

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

You got married, had children, and now you are facing a divorce. It is one of the most frightening experiences for parents, when faced with making legal decisions that impact the welfare of their growing child. You never want to be the source of their pain and sadness. However, you must go your separate way with the other parent.

Parenting plans allow you to have a set of boundaries and expectations while you live separate lives in separate homes. Creating a successful parenting plan is your next step in the journey. It starts by having a mutual love and devotion to the best interest of your child with the other parent. This is foundational to any successful parenting plan that allows a child to thrive under the conditions of divorce and separation.

Want to make your divorce as stress-free as possible?

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

Deciding to split from a spouse is a big decision, but you have decided it is the right choice for you. Just because you have settled on divorce does not mean you want a bunch of drama. In fact, you would like to avoid as much fighting and stress as possible.

A good option may be an alternative dispute resolution like a collaborative law divorce. Here is what you need to know about the process and whether it may work for you.

Innocent Spouse Relief: What You Need to Know & How to File

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC posted in Guest Posts on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Written by: Claudia Revermann, Co-Founder of Lucent Tax Relief, Attorney at Law, CPA

Only around 5% of married Americans choose to file their taxes separately. Typically, the benefits of joint filing outweigh the risks. However, filing jointly with your spouse means that you are both liable for each other's tax responsibilities. The IRS refers to this as joint and several liability.

This marriage of liability means that even if your spouse was the only one with a job and you file jointly, you are individually 100% responsible for ensuring that the taxes are filed, are correct and complete, and any balances are paid on time even if you made no income and wouldn't otherwise owe anything.

Blending Families: Try These Tips for a Smooth Transition

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

Written By Jennifer Pell

Sixty-five percent of remarriages involve children and blending two families. Moving in with a new spouse and their children is a huge transition for everyone involved, not just the children, but also the parents on both sides. There are a multitude of factors to take into account when blending a family, but here are some tips on making the move as easy as possible for everyone involved.

Before everyone moves in together, you and your partner should sit down and agree together on how your new, blended household will run. First and foremost, it is important that the parents agree and form a united front, as this will be the most important factor in the stepparents establishing and maintaining authority. Aside from household details, there may also be legal considerations to discuss with an attorney before the families are integrated.

Why Didn't She Just Leave?

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

Written by Robert Davidson - Author of THE BEAST I LOVED: A Battered Woman's Desperate Struggle to Survive

There are many issues regarding domestic violence, but the one that, to me, is most infuriating, most unfair, and most misunderstood is the most commonly asked question of all: "Why didn't she just leave?" But that should not be the question. The question should be, "Why do men batter women?" And as a society, "How do we stop it?" That's what we should be asking.

Don't Believe The Con Man

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

Written by Robert Davidson - Author of THE BEAST I LOVED: A Battered Woman's Desperate Struggle to Survive

Domestic violence is all about power and the need to control, which comes from the monumental insecurity virtually all batterers suffer from. Like little children, they have a constant, nagging, inescapable fear of abandonment that they never outgrew like normal children do, and so carry around their warped perception of a fearful world that leads so reliably-and unfairly-to the abuse of their partners.

When should you consider hiring an attorney for a divorce?

On behalf of Law Offices of Maribeth Blessing, LLC on Monday, January 28, 2019.

There are many things to manage when going through a divorce. You must divide your assets, decide who will keep the marital home and determine child custody, if you share children.

Depending on your specific situation and relationship, a divorce can be relatively simple or incredibly complex. You may be wondering if hiring a divorce attorney is necessary.