Blog

1/4/19

Juvenile Driving And Its Impact On Family Law

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, 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...

12/18/18

Why you may want to consider mediation for child custody

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...

12/10/18

How to Cope with Later Life Divorce

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,...

12/3/18

Protect your children’s emotional well-being during your divorce

Written By Jennifer Pell 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...

11/16/18

Is the collaborative law approach right for your divorce?

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. Collaborative law is a form of alternative dispute resolution. It keeps...

10/18/18

Is divorce mediation right for us?

Not every couple who is looking to divorce wants to duke it out. Many are looking for respectful, amicable ways to end a marriage. If you are interested in a more peaceful process for your divorce, it may be worth considering whether mediation is right for you. What is mediation? The purpose of mediation is to settle disputes without going to court. It is a facilitated process in which the parties arrive at their own...

10/15/18

Calculating The Reasonable Needs Of A Child: Lessons From Hanrahan v. Bakker

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, t 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. Child Support Calculations In High-Income...

8/14/18

Can my child ask their stepparent to adopt them?

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...

7/25/18

Braving back-to-school shopping as a single parent

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...

6/25/18

Coping with an aggressive ex when relocating after divorce

The divorce is finally over. You and your child can now work on getting your lives back on track and moving toward your new futures. For many people, finding a new home is the perfect way to get a fresh start. Don’t be too hasty to start packing, though, it may be illegal for you to move in the wake of your divorce. If your former spouse has any custody rights, you are required to...